New American Standard Bible 1995

International Standard Version

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.

1When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's reputation, she traveled to Jerusalem and tested him with difficult questions. She brought along a large retinue, camels laden with spices, and lots of gold and precious stones. Upon her arrival, she spoke with Solomon about everything that was on her mind.

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

2Solomon answered all of her questions. Because nothing was hidden from Solomon, he hid nothing from her.

3When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house which he had built,

3When the queen of Sheba had seen Solomon's wisdom for herself, the palace that he had built,

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.

4the food set at his table, his servants who waited on him, his ministers in attendance and how they were dressed, his personal staff and how they were dressed, and even his personal stairway by which he went up to the LORD's Temple, she was breathless!

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

5"Everything I heard about your wisdom and what you have to say is true!" she gasped,

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.

6"but I didn't believe it at first! But then I came here and I've seen it for myself! It's amazing! I wasn't told half of what's really great about your wisdom. You're far better in person than what the reports have said about you!

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

7How blessed are your staff! And how blessed are your employees, who serve you continually and get to listen to your wisdom!

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."

8Blessed be the LORD your God, who is delighted with you! He set you in place on his throne to be king for the LORD your God. He made you king over them so you could carry out justice and implement righteousness, because your God loves Israel and intends to establish them forever."

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.

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

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

10Hiram's servants and Solomon's servants, who brought gold from Ophir, also presented algum wood and other precious stones.

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.

11The king used the algum wood to have steps made for the LORD's Temple and for the royal palace, as well as lyres and harps for the choir, and nothing like that wood had been seen before in the territory of Judah.

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.

12In return, King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and requested in addition to what she had brought for the king. Afterward, she returned to her own land, accompanied by her servants.

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

13Solomon received in any given year about 666 talents of gold,

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.

14not including revenue from traders and merchants. In addition, all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the nation brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of beaten gold on each large shield.

15King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, overlaying each shield with the gold from 600 gold pieces,

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.

16and 300 shields from beaten gold, overlaying each shield with the gold from 300 gold pieces. The king put them in his palace in the Lebanon forest.

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

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

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.

18Six steps led up to the throne. A golden footstool was attached to the throne, which had armrests on each side of the seat and two lions standing on either side of each armrest.

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.

19Twelve lions were placed on both sides of the six steps leading to the throne, and nothing comparable 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 valuable in the days of Solomon.

20All of King Solomon's drinking vessels were made of gold, and all the vessels in his palace in the Lebanon forest were made of pure gold. Silver was never considered to be valuable during the lifetime of Solomon,

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.

21because the king had ships that sailed to Tarshish accompanied by Hiram's servants. Once every three years ships from Tarshish returned, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

22So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

22As a result, King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in regards to wealth and wisdom.

23And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.

23All the kings of the earth continued to seek audiences with Solomon so they could hear the wise things that God had put in his heart.

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

24Everyone kept on bringing gifts on an annual basis, including items made of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules.

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.

25Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, along with 12,000 cavalry soldiers. He stationed them in various chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

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.

26King Solomon ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River west to the land of the Philistines and as far south as the boundary with Egypt.

27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland.

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

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

28They also kept bringing horses to Solomon from Egypt and from all of the surrounding countries.

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?

29Now the rest of Solomon's accomplishments, from first to last, are written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer pertaining to Nebat's son Jeroboam, are they not?

30Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.

30Solomon reigned for 40 years in Jerusalem over all of Israel.

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

31Then Solomon died, as had his ancestors, and his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

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The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.