1 Kings 10
1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of YHWH, she came to prove him with hard questions.
The queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she came to Jerusalem to test him with tough questions.
2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart.
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.
3 Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hidden from the king which he did not tell her.
Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing he couldn't explain to her.
4 When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon's wisdom, and the palace he had built,
5 and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his burnt offerings which he presented at the house of YHWH; it left her breathless.
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.
6 She said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom.
She told the king, “It's true what I heard in my own country about your proverbs and your wisdom!
7 However I did not believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it. Look, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
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!
8 Happy are your wives, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
How happy your people must be! How happy those who work for you, who stand here every day listening to your wisdom!
9 Blessed is YHWH your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of YHWH's everlasting love for Israel, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness."
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.”
10 She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones. There came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
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.
11 The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees and precious stones.
(Hiram's fleet of ships brought gold from Ophir, and also carried algum wood and precious stones.
12 The king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of YHWH, and for the king's house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen, to this day.
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.)
13 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
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.
14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
The weight of gold that Solomon received each year was 666 talents,
15 besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
not including that received from traders and merchants, and all the kings of Arabia and governors of the land.
16 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to each shield.
King Solomon made two hundred shields of hammered gold. Each shield required six hundred shekels of hammered gold.
17 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.
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.
18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
The king also made a great throne of ivory, and covered it with pure gold.
19 There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.
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.
20 Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom.
Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one on opposite ends of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.
21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and washing vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; it was not considered anything in the days of Solomon.
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.
22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
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.
23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
King Solomon was greater than any other king on earth in wealth and wisdom.
24 All the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
The whole world wanted to meet Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had placed in his mind.
25 They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
Year after year, every visitor would bring gifts—articles of silver and gold, clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
26 Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen. He kept them in the chariot towns, and also with him in Jerusalem.
27 The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar wood as plentiful as sycamore-figs in the foothills.
28 The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and Kue; and the king's merchants received them from Kue at a price.
Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue—the royal merchants purchased them in Kue.
29 And came up and went out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty; and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Aram, they brought them out by their means.
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.
