1 Kings 3
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Solomon's Rule Consolidated

(2 Chronicles 1:1-6; Psalm 45:1-17; Psalm 72:1-20)

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1Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.1Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.1Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.1And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.1Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. Solomon brought her to live in the city of David until he finished building his palace, the LORD's temple, and the wall surrounding Jerusalem.
2The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD.2The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD.2The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.2Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.2However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the LORD's name had not been built.
3Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.3Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.3Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.3And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.3Solomon loved the LORD by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

(2 Chronicles 1:7-13)

4The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.
5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, "Ask what you wish me to give you."5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask. What should I give you?"

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

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6Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.6Then Solomon said, "You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.6And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.6And Solomon replied, "You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today."
7"Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.7And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.7"Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.7And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.7 LORD my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David's place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.
8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.8And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.8"Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.8Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a people too numerous to be numbered or counted.
9So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”9"So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"9Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?9So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

God Grants Wisdom, Riches, Honor

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10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.10It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.10And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this.
11So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,11And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,11God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,11And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;11So God said to him, "Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice,
12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.12behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.12behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.12I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.
13Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both wealth and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.13"I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.13In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life.
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14And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."14And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”14"If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days."14And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.14If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life."
15Then Solomon awoke--and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.15And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.15Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.15And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.15Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant, and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.

Solomon Judges Wisely

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16Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.16Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.16Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him.16Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.16Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
17One of them said, "Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me.17The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.17The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.17And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.17One woman said, "Please my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was in the house.
18The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.18Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house.18"It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house.18And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.18On the third day after I gave birth, she also had a baby and we were alone. No one else was with us in the house; just the two of us were there.
19"During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him.19And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.19"This woman's son died in the night, because she lay on it.19And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.19During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him.
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20So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast.20And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast.20"So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom.20And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.20She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while your servant was asleep. She laid him at her breast, and she put her dead son in my arms.
21The next morning, I got up to nurse my son--and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne."21When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne.”21"When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne."21And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.21When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead. That morning, when I looked closely at him I realized that he was not the son I gave birth to.""
22The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours." But the first one insisted, "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king.22But the other woman said, “No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine.” Thus they spoke before the king.22Then the other woman said, "No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." But the first woman said, "No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son." Thus they spoke before the king.22And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.22No," the other woman said. "My son is the living one; your son is the dead one." The first woman said, "No, your son is the dead one; my son is the living one." So they argued before the king.
23The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.'"23Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; and the other says, ‘No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’”23Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one'; and the other says, 'No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.'"23Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.23The king replied, "This woman says, 'This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,' but that woman says, 'No, your son is dead, and my son is alive.'"
24Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king.24And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought before the king.24The king said, "Get me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king.24And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.24The king continued, "Bring me a sword." So they brought the sword to the king.
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25He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."25And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.”25The king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other."25And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.25Solomon said, "Cut the living boy in two and give half to one and half to the other."
26The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"26Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.”26Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!"26Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.26The woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she felt great compassion for her son. "My lord, give her the living baby," she said, "but please don't have him killed!" But the other one said, "He will not be mine or yours. Cut him in two!"
27Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."27Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.”27Then the king said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother."27Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.27The king responded, "Give the living baby to the first woman, and don't kill him. She is his mother."
28When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.28And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.28When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.28And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.28All Israel heard about the judgment the king had given, and they stood in awe of the king because they saw that God's wisdom was in him to carry out justice.



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