1 Kings 10
1 The queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she came to Jerusalem to test him with tough questions.
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the LORD’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
2 She brought with her a very large entourage, with camels loaded with spices, large amounts of gold, and precious gemstones. She came to Solomon and asked him about everything she had on her mind.
She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
3 Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing he couldn't explain to her.
Solomon answered all her questions. There was not anything hidden from the king which he did not tell her.
4 When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon's wisdom, and the palace he had built,
When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
5 the food on the table, how his officials lived, how his servants operated and how they were dressed, the clothes of the waiters, and the burnt offerings he presented at the Lord's Temple, she was so astonished she could hardly breathe.
the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the LORD’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
6 She told the king, “It's true what I heard in my own country about your proverbs and your wisdom!
She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
7 But I didn't believe what they told me until I came and saw with my own eyes. In fact, I wasn't told the half of it—the extent of your wisdom far exceeds what I heard!
However, I did not believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
8 How happy your people must be! How happy those who work for you, who stand here every day listening to your wisdom!
Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
9 Praise the Lord your God who is so pleased with you, who placed you on his throne as king to rule on his behalf. Because of the love of your God for Israel he has made them secure forever, and he has made you king over them to do what is fair and right.”
Blessed is the LORD your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
10 She presented the king with one hundred and twenty talents of gold, huge amounts of spices and precious stones. Never before had there been spices like those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11 (Hiram's fleet of ships brought gold from Ophir, and also carried algum wood and precious stones.
The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.
12 The king used the algum wood to make steps for the Temple and for the royal palace, and into lyres and harps for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen before in the land of Judah.)
The king made of the almug trees pillars for the LORD’s house and for the king’s house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers; no such almug trees came or were seen to this day.
13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she wanted, whatever she asked for. This was in addition to the usual gifts he had generously given her. Then she and her attendants returned home to her own country.
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, in addition to that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
14 The weight of gold that Solomon received each year was 666 talents,
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
15 not including that received from traders and merchants, and all the kings of Arabia and governors of the land.
in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.
16 King Solomon made two hundred shields of hammered gold. Each shield required six hundred shekels of hammered gold.
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
17 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold. Each of these shields required three gold minas. The king placed them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
18 The king also made a great throne of ivory, and covered it with pure gold.
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
19 The throne had six steps, with a rounded top at the back. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with lions standing beside the armrests.
There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one on opposite ends of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.
Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
21 All of King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. No silver was used, because it was not valued in the days of Solomon.
All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver, because it was considered of little value in the days of Solomon.
22 The king had a fleet of ships from Tarshish crewed by Hiram's sailors. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive with a cargo of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
23 King Solomon was greater than any other king on earth in wealth and wisdom.
So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24 The whole world wanted to meet Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had placed in his mind.
All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
25 Year after year, every visitor would bring gifts—articles of silver and gold, clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
26 Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen. He kept them in the chariot towns, and also with him in Jerusalem.
Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. He kept them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
27 The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar wood as plentiful as sycamore-figs in the foothills.
The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
28 Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue—the royal merchants purchased them in Kue.
The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
29 A chariot imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the Hittite kings, and to the Aramean kings.
A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.
