| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 1The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, so she came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke with him about everything that was on her mind. |
| 2And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain. | 2So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for Solomon to explain to her. |
| 3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, | 3When the queen of Sheba observed Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built, |
| 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. | 4the food at his table, his servants' residence, his attendants' service and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and the burnt offerings he offered at the LORD's temple, it took her breath away. |
| 5She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true. | 5She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true. |
| 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. | 6But I didn't believe their reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half of your great wisdom! You far exceed the report I heard. |
| 7How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! | 7How happy are your men. How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom. |
| 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.” | 8May the LORD your God be praised! He delighted in you and put you on His throne as king for the LORD your God. Because Your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has set you over them as king to carry out justice and righteousness." |
| 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. | 9Then she gave the king four and a half tons of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There never were such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. |
| 10(The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones. | 10In addition, Hiram's servants and Solomon's servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones. |
| 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.) | 11The king made the algum wood into walkways for the LORD's temple 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. |
| 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. | 12King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire, whatever she asked--far more than she had brought the king. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country. |
| 13The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, | 13The weight of gold that came to Solomon annually was 25 tons, |
| 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. | 14besides what was brought by the merchants and traders. All the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon. |
| 15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield. | 15King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; 15 pounds of hammered gold went into each shield. |
| 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. | 16He made 300 small shields of hammered gold; about eight pounds of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. |
| 17Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. | 17The king also made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. |
| 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. | 18The throne had six steps; there was a footstool covered in gold for the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests. |
| 19Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom. | 19Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom. |
| 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. | 20All 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, |
| 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. | 21for the king's ships kept going to Tarshish with Hiram's servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. |
| 22So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. | 22King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom. |
| 23All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. | 23All the kings of the world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. |
| 24Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. | 24Each of them would bring his own gift--items of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, and horses and mules--as an annual tribute. |
| 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. | 25Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. He stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. |
| 26He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. | 26He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt. |
| 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. | 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills. |
| 28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands. | 28They were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all the countries. |
| 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? | 29The remaining events of Solomon's reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of Nathan the Prophet, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and 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 for 40 years. |
| 31And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place. | 31Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam became king in his place. |
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