1 ^vSolomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into ^wthe city of David until he had finished ^xbuilding his own house ^yand the house of the Lord ^zand the wall around Jerusalem. 2 ^aThe people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.

3 Solomon ^bloved the Lord, ^cwalking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, ^dfor that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 ^eAt Gibeon ^fthe Lord appeared to Solomon ^gin a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because ^hhe 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 ⁱhave given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, ^jyou have made your servant king in place of David my father, ^kalthough I am but a little child. I do not know ^lhow to go out or come in. 8 ^mAnd your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, ⁿtoo many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 ^oGive your servant therefore an understanding mind ^pto govern your people, that I may ^qdiscern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And 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, 12 behold, ^rI now do according to your word. Behold, ^sI give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 ^tI give you also what you have not asked, ^uboth riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, ^vas your father David walked, then ^wI will lengthen your days.”

15 And Solomon ^xawoke, 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.