English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and 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.

1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind.

2And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her.

2And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain.

3And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,

4the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.

4the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

5And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom,

5She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true.

6but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard.

6But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not half of the greatness of your wisdom was told to me. You have far exceeded the report I heard.

7Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

7How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

8Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”

8Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to carry out justice and righteousness.”

9Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

9Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10Moreover, the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones.

10(The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones.

11And the king made from the algum wood supports for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, lyres also and harps for the singers. There never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah.

11The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

12And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what she had brought to the king. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.

12King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.

13Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

13The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents,

14besides that which the explorers and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.

14not including the revenue from the merchants and traders. And all the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels of beaten gold went into each shield.

15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield.

16And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; 300 shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

16He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

17The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold.

17Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

18The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests,

18The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.

19while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom.

19Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

20All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.

20All 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, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.

21For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

21For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

22Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

22So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

23And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.

23All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

24Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

24Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

25And Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

25Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

26And he ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt.

26He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.

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

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

28And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands.

29Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

29As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?

30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

31And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

31And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

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.

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