Study Desk

^(C1)In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon ^(C2)in a dream at night; and God said, "^(C3)Ask what you wish Me to give you."

Then Solomon said, "^(C1)You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, ^(C2)according as he walked before You in ^(F1)truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and ^(C3)You have ^(F2)reserved for him this great faithfulness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

"And now, LORD my God, ^(C1)You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet ^(C2)I am like a little boy; ^(C3)I do not know how to ^(F1)go out or come in.

"And ^(C1)Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, ^(C2)a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.

"So ^(C1)give Your servant ^(F1)an understanding heart to judge Your people, ^(C2)to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this ^(F2)great people of Yours?"

Now ^(F1)it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

And God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing, and have ^(C1)not asked for yourself ^(F1)a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,

behold, ^(C1)I have done according to your words. Behold, ^(C2)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.

"^(C1)I have also given you what you have not asked, both ^(C2)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

"And ^(C1)if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will ^(C2)prolong your days."

Then ^(C1)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 ^(C2)held a feast for all his servants.