English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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 of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with difficult questions. She had a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and a large amount of gold and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was on her heart.

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

2Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from Solomon which he did not explain to her.

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

3When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house which 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 attendance of his ministers and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, she was breathless.

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

5Then she said to the king, "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.

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.

6"Nevertheless I did not believe their reports until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You surpass the report that I heard.

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

7"How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually 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.”

8"Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the LORD your God; because your God loved Israel establishing them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do 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 one hundred and twenty talents of gold and a very great amount of spices and precious stones; there had never been spice like that which 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.

10The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees 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.

11From the algum trees the king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that was seen before 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 to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested besides a return for what she had brought to the king. Then she turned and went to her own land with her servants.

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

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

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.

14besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country 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 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of beaten gold on each large 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 made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on 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.

17Moreover, 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,

18There were six steps to the throne and a footstool in gold attached to the throne, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.

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 were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other 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 vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered valuable 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 ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

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

22So King Solomon became greater than 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.

23And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which 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.

24They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses and mules, so much year by year.

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.

25Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king 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 was the ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River even to the land of the Philistines, and 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 as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland.

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

28And they were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all countries.

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?

29Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the records 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?

30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

30Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.

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 slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David; and his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

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