| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 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. | 1When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan--with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones--she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. |
| 2And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain. | 2Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. |
| 3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, | 3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as 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 on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed. |
| 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 achievements and 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 did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded 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 your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear 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.” | 8Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain 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 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been 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. | 10(The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also brought algumwood 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 used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in 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 all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country. |
| 13The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, | 13The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, |
| 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. | 14not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the territories 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 two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels 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 also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three hundred shekels of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. |
| 17Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. | 17Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid 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, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. |
| 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 stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for 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 King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's day. |
| 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. | 21The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram's servants. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons. |
| 22So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. | 22King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. |
| 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 earth sought 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. | 24Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift--articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. |
| 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 four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him 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, 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 cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. |
| 28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands. | 28Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from all other 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? | 29As for the other events of Solomon's reign, 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 rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place. | 31Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king. |
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