Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's fame connected with the name of the LORD and came to test him with riddles.

1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.

2She came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind.

2She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.

3So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her.

3And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.

4When the queen of Sheba observed all of Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built,

4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

5the food at his table, his servants' residence, his attendants' service and their attire, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the LORD's temple, it took her breath away.

5the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.

6She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true.

6And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom,

7But I didn't believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard.

7but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.

8How happy are your men. How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom.

8Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

9Blessed be the LORD your God! He delighted in you and put you on the throne of Israel, because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel. He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness."

9Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”

10Then she gave the king four and a half tons of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did such a quantity of spices arrive as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11In addition, Hiram's fleet that carried gold from Ophir brought from Ophir a large quantity of almug wood and precious stones.

11Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a very great amount of almug wood and precious stones.

12The king made the almug wood into steps for the LORD's temple and the king's palace and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before did such almug wood arrive, and the like has not been seen again.

12And the king made of the almug wood supports for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers. No such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.

13King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire--whatever she asked--besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country.

13And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.

14The weight of gold that came to Solomon annually was twenty-five tons,

14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

15besides what came from merchants, traders' merchandise, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.

15besides that which came from the explorers and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the west and from the governors of the land.

16King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; fifteen pounds of gold went into each shield.

16King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels of gold went into each shield.

17He made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; nearly four pounds of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

17And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

18The king also made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with fine gold.

18The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold.

19The throne had six steps; there was a rounded top at the back of the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.

19The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests,

20Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.

20while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.

21All of King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon's time,

21All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.

22for the king had ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram's fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

22For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

23King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom.

23Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

24The whole world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

24And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.

25Every man would bring his annual tribute: items of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, and horses and mules.

25Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

26Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen and stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

26And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.

27And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.

28Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue at the going price.

28And Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s traders received them from Kue at a price.

29A chariot was imported from Egypt for fifteen pounds of silver, and a horse for nearly four pounds. In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram through their agents.

29A chariot could be imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver and a horse for 150, and so through the king’s traders they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.