² Solomon had answers for all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her.

⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

¹⁵ I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

³⁴ In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

¹¹ He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret^[a] of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

²⁹ God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.