2 Chronicles 1

1 Solomon, son of David, strengthened his hold over the kingdom, and the Lord God was with him and made him extremely powerful.

And Solomon the son of David was established over his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and increased him exceedingly.

2 Solomon sent for all the Israelite leaders, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every family leader.

And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands, and to the captains of hundreds, and to the judges, and to all the rulers over Israel, even the heads of the families;

3 Solomon went with the whole assembly to the high place at Gibeon, for this was the site of God's Tent of Meeting that Moses, the Lord's servant, had made in the wilderness.

and Solomon and all the congregation went to the high place that was in Gabaon, where was God's tabernacle of witness, which Moses the servant of the Lord made in the wilderness.

4 David had brought up the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place in Jerusalem where he had set up a tent for it.

But David had brought up the ark of God out of the city of Cariathiarim; for David had prepared a place for it, for he had pitched a tabernacle for it in Jerusalem.

5 However, the bronze altar made by Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, was there in front of the Tent of the Lord, so that is where Solomon and the assembly went to worship.

And the brazen altar which Beseleel the son of Urias, the son of Or, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation enquired at it.

6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord, in front of the Tent of Meeting. There he presented one thousand burnt offerings.

And Solomon brought [victims] there to the brazen altar that was before the Lord in the tabernacle, and offered upon it a thousand whole burnt offerings.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and told him, “Ask what you want me to give you.”

In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I shall give you.

8 Solomon responded to God, “You showed trustworthy love without limit to my father David, and you have made me king in his place.

And Solomon said to God, You have dealt very mercifully with my father David, and have made me king in his stead.

9 Lord God, please keep the promise you made to my father David. You have made me king over a nation that has as many people as the dust of the earth.

And now, O Lord God, let, I pray you, your name be established upon David my father; for you have made me king over a people numerous as the dust of the earth.

10 Please give me wisdom and knowledge to lead this people—for who can rule with justice this great people of yours?”

Now give me wisdom and understanding, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who shall judge this your great people?

11 God told Solomon: “Because this is what you really wanted, and you didn't ask for wealth, possessions, or honor, or the death of those who hate you, or for a long life, but instead you asked for wisdom and knowledge so you can rule with justice my people that I have made you king over;

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked great wealth, nor glory, nor the life of your enemies, and you have not asked long life; but have asked for yourself wisdom and understanding, that you might judge my people, over whom I have made you king:

12 wisdom and knowledge is given to you. I will give you wealth, possessions, and honor as well, much more than any king who came before you has had, or who comes after you will ever have.”

I give you this wisdom and understanding; and I will give you wealth, and riches, and glory, so that there shall not have been [any] like you amongst the kings before you, neither shall there be such after you.

13 Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tent of Meeting in Gibeon, and he ruled over Israel.

And Solomon came from the high place that was in Gabaon to Jerusalem, [from] before the tabernacle of witness, and reigned over Israel.

14 Solomon built up an army of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he placed in the chariot cities, and also with him in Jerusalem.

And Solomon collected chariots and horsemen: and he had fourteen hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen: and he set them in the cities of chariots, and the people [were] with the king in Jerusalem.

15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar wood as plentiful as sycamore-figs trees in the foothills.

And the king made silver and gold in Jerusalem [to be] as stones, and cedars in Judea as sycamores in the plain for multitude.

16 Solomon imported horses for himself from Egypt and Kue; the king's traders bought them in Kue.

And Solomon imported horses from Egypt, and the charge of the king's merchants for going [was as follows], and they traded,

17 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred silver shekels, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. In the same way they exported them to all the Hittite kings and the Aramean kings.

and went and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred [pieces] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty [pieces] of silver: and so they brought for all the kings of the Chettites, and for the kings of Syria by their means.