1Kings:3

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* Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt , and married Pharaoh 's daughter ; then he brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his own house , and the house of the LORD , and the wall all around Jerusalem . * Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places , because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days . * And Solomon loved the LORD , walking in the statutes of his father David , except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places . * Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there , for that was the great high place : Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar . * At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night ; and God said , "Ask ! What shall I give you ?" * And Solomon said : "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father , because he walked before You in truth , in righteousness , and in uprightness of heart with You ; You have continued this great kindness for him , and You have given him a son to sit on his throne , as it is this day . * Now , O LORD my God , You have made Your servant king instead of my father David , but I am a little child ; I do not know how to go out or come in . * And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen , a great people , too numerous to be numbered or counted . * Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people , that I may discern between good and evil . For who is able to judge this great people of Yours ?" * The speech pleased the LORD , that Solomon had asked this thing . * Then God said to him : "Because you have asked this thing , and have not asked long life for yourself , nor have asked riches for yourself , nor have asked the life of your enemies , but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice , * behold , I have done according to your words ; see , I have given you a wise and understanding heart , so that there has not been anyone like you before you , nor shall any like you arise after you . * And I have also given you what you have not asked : both riches and honor , so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days . * So if you walk in My ways , to keep My statutes and My commandments , as your father David walked , then I will lengthen your days ." * Then Solomon awoke ; and indeed it had been a dream . And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD , offered up burnt offerings , offered peace offerings , and made a feast for all his servants . * Now two women who were harlots came to the king , and stood before him . * And one woman said , "O my lord , this woman and I dwell in the same house ; and I gave birth while she was in the house . * Then it happened , the third day after I had given birth , that this woman also gave birth . And we were together ; no one was with us in the house , except the two of us in the house . * And this woman 's son died in the night , because she lay on him . * So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side , while your maidservant slept , and laid him in her bosom , and laid her dead child in my bosom . * And when I rose in the morning to nurse my son , there he was , dead . But when I had examined him in the morning , indeed , he was not my son whom I had borne ." * Then the other woman said , "No ! But the living one is my son , and the dead one is your son ." And the first woman said , "No ! But the dead one is your son , and the living one is my son ." Thus they spoke before the king . * And the king said , "The one says , "This is my son , who lives , and your son is the dead one '; and the other says , "No ! But your son is the dead one , and my son is the living one .' * Then the king said , "Bring me a sword ." So they brought a sword before the king . * And the king said , "Divide the living child in two , and give half to one , and half to the other ." * Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king , for she yearned with compassion for her son ; and she said , "O my lord , give her the living child , and by no means kill him !" But the other said , "Let him be neither mine nor yours , but divide him ." * So the king answered and said , "Give the first woman the living child , and by no means kill him ; she is his mother ." * And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered ; and they feared the king , for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice .

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