1 Kings 3:4-13

New International Version

⁴ The king went to Gibeon^(A) to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared^(B) to Solomon during the night in a dream,^(C) and God said, “Ask^(D) for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful^(E) to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son^(F) to sit on his throne this very day.

⁷ “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child^(G) and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,^(H) a great people, too numerous to count or number.^{(I) 9} So give your servant a discerning^(J) heart to govern your people and to distinguish^(K) between right and wrong. For who is able^(L) to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked^(M) for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment^(N) in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked.^(O) I will give you a wise^(P) and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not^(Q) asked for—both wealth and honor^(R)—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal^(S) among kings.