1 Kings 3

2Nevertheless the people burnt incense on the high places, because a house had not yet beenbuilt to the Lord. 3And Solomon loved the Lord,so as to walk in the ordinances of David his father; only he sacrificed and burnt incense onthe high places. 4And he arose and went to Gabaon to sacrifice there, for thatwas the highest place, and great: Solomon offered a whole burnt offering of a thousandvictims on the altar in Gabaon. 5And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and the Lord said to Solomon, Asksome petition for yourself. 6And Solomon said, You have dealt very mercifully with your servant David my father accordingas he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you, and youhave kept for him this great mercy, to set his son upon his throne, asit is this day. 7And now, O Lord my God, you have appointed your servant in the room of David my father;and I am a little child, and know not my going out an my coming in. 8But your servantis in the midst of your people, whom you have chosen, a great people, which can’t be numbered. 9You shall give therefore to your servant a heart to hear and to judge your people justly,and to discern between good and evil: for who will be able to judge this your great people? 10And it was pleasing before the Lord, that Solomon asked this thing. 11And the Lord said to him, Because you have asked this thing of me, and have not askedfor yourself long life, and have not asked wealth, nor have asked the lives of your enemies, but haveasked for yourself understanding to hear judgment; 12behold, I have done according to your word: behold, I have given you an understandingand wise heart: there has not beenany one like you before you, and after you there shall not arise one like you. 13And I have given you what you have not asked, wealth and glory, so that there has notbeen any one like you among kings. 14And if you will walk in my way, to keep my commandments and my ordinances, as David yourfather walked, then will I multiply your days. 15And Solomon awoke, and, behold,it was a dream: and he arose and came to Jerusalem, and stood before the altar that was infront of the ark of the covenant of the Lord in Sion: and he offered whole burnt offerings, and sacrificedpeace-offerings, and made a great banquet for himself and all his servants. 16Then there appeared two harlots before the king, and they stood before him. 17And the one woman said, Hear me,my lord; I and this woman lived in one house, and we were delivered in the house. 18And it came to pass on the third day after I was delivered, this woman also was delivered:and wewere together; and there was no one with us besides our two selves in the house. 19And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. 20and she arose in the middle of the night, and took my son from my arms, and laid himin her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom. 21and I arose in the morning to suckle my son, and he was dead: and, behold, I consideredhim in the morning, and, behold, it was not my son whom I bore. 22And the other woman said, No, but the livingis my son, and the deadis your son. So they spoke before the king. 23and the king said to them, You say, Thisis my son,even the livingone, and this woman's sonis the dead one: and you say, No, but the livingis my son, and the deadis your son. 24And the king said, Fetch a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. 25And the king said, Divide the live child, the suckling, in two; and give half of it toone, and half of it to the other. 26And the woman whose the living child was, answered and said to the king, (for her bowelsyearned over her son) and she said, I pray you,my lord, give her the child, and in nowise kill it. But the other said, Let it be neither minenor hers; divideit. 27Then the king answered and said, Give the child to her that said, 'Give it to her, andby no means kill it:' sheis its mother. 28and all Israel heard this judgment which the king judged, and they feared before theking; because they saw that the wisdom of Godwas in him, to execute judgment.

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