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.

Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him.

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

Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—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 the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon because it was the location of God’s Tent of Meeting, which Moses the servant of the LORD had 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.

Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent 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.

But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there.

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.

Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar in the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings.

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

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask, and I will give it to 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.

Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotion to my father David, and You have made me king in his place.

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.

Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to my father David be fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people as 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 grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

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;

God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern 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.”

therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”

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

So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place in Gibeon before the Tent of Meeting, and he 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.

Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him 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.

The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.

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

Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.

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.

A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.