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The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

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Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk1KI">
      <div class="chapter ch3" data-usfm="1KI.3">
         <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Solomon Asks for Wisdom</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="1KI.3.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, and the wall around Jerusalem. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1KI.3.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1KI.3.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Solomon showed his love for the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1KI.3.3"></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1KI.3.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1KI.3.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">At Gibeon the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, &#8220;Ask for whatever you want me to give you.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1KI.3.5"></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1KI.3.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">Solomon answered, &#8220;You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1KI.3.6"></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1KI.3.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">&#8220;Now, </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1KI.3.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1KI.3.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1KI.3.9"></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1KI.3.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1KI.3.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">So God said to him, &#8220;Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1KI.3.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="1KI.3.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for&#8212;both wealth and honor&#8212;so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="1KI.3.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1KI.3.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Then Solomon awoke&#8212;and he realized it had been a dream.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1KI.3.15"><span class="content">He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord&#8217;s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">A Wise Ruling</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1KI.3.15"></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="1KI.3.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="1KI.3.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">One of them said, &#8220;Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="1KI.3.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="1KI.3.18"></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="1KI.3.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">&#8220;During the night this woman&#8217;s son died because she lay on him. </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="1KI.3.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="1KI.3.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">The next morning, I got up to nurse my son&#8212;and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn&#8217;t the son I had borne.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="1KI.3.21"></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="1KI.3.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">The other woman said, &#8220;No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="1KI.3.22"><span class="content">But the first one insisted, &#8220;No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.&#8221; And so they argued before the king.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="1KI.3.22"></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="1KI.3.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">The king said, &#8220;This one says, &#8216;My son is alive and your son is dead,&#8217; while that one says, &#8216;No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="1KI.3.23"></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="1KI.3.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">Then the king said, &#8220;Bring me a sword.&#8221; So they brought a sword for the king. </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="1KI.3.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">He then gave an order: &#8220;Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="1KI.3.25"></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="1KI.3.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, &#8220;Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don&#8217;t kill him!&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="1KI.3.26"><span class="content">But the other said, &#8220;Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="1KI.3.26"></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="1KI.3.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">Then the king gave his ruling: &#8220;Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="1KI.3.27"></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="1KI.3.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.</span></span></div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk1KI">
      <div class="chapter ch4" data-usfm="1KI.4">
         <div class="label">4</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Solomon&#8217;s Officials and Governors</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="1KI.4.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1KI.4.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">And these were his chief officials:</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1KI.4.2"></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1KI.4.2"><span class="content">Azariah son of Zadok&#8212;the priest;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1KI.4.2"></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1KI.4.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha&#8212;secretaries;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1KI.4.3"><span class="content">Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud&#8212;recorder;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1KI.4.3"></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1KI.4.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Benaiah son of Jehoiada&#8212;commander in chief;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1KI.4.4"><span class="content">Zadok and Abiathar&#8212;priests;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1KI.4.4"></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1KI.4.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Azariah son of Nathan&#8212;in charge of the district governors;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1KI.4.5"><span class="content">Zabud son of Nathan&#8212;a priest and adviser to the king;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1KI.4.5"></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1KI.4.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">Ahishar&#8212;palace administrator;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1KI.4.6"><span class="content">Adoniram son of Abda&#8212;in charge of forced labor.</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1KI.4.6"></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1KI.4.6"></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1KI.4.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1KI.4.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">These are their names:</span></span></div><div class="b"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1KI.4.8"></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1KI.4.8"><span class="content">Ben-Hur&#8212;in the hill country of Ephraim;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1KI.4.8"></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1KI.4.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Ben-Deker&#8212;in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1KI.4.9"></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1KI.4.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Ben-Hesed&#8212;in Arubboth (Sokoh and all the land of Hepher were his);</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1KI.4.10"></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1KI.4.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Ben-Abinadab&#8212;in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1KI.4.11"></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1KI.4.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Baana son of Ahilud&#8212;in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1KI.4.12"></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="1KI.4.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Ben-Geber&#8212;in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="1KI.4.13"></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="1KI.4.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">Ahinadab son of Iddo&#8212;in Mahanaim;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="1KI.4.14"></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1KI.4.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Ahimaaz&#8212;in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1KI.4.15"></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="1KI.4.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">Baana son of Hushai&#8212;in Asher and in Aloth;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="1KI.4.16"></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="1KI.4.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">Jehoshaphat son of Paruah&#8212;in Issachar;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="1KI.4.17"></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="1KI.4.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">Shimei son of Ela&#8212;in Benjamin;</span></span></div><div class="li1"><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="1KI.4.18"></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="1KI.4.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">Geber son of Uri&#8212;in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Solomon&#8217;s Daily Provisions</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="1KI.4.19"></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="1KI.4.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="1KI.4.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon&#8217;s subjects all his life.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="1KI.4.21"></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="1KI.4.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">Solomon&#8217;s daily provisions were thirty cors</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">4:22 </span><span class="ft">That is, probably about 5 1/2 tons or about 5 metric tons</span></span></span><span class="content"> of the finest flour and sixty cors</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">4:22 </span><span class="ft">That is, probably about 11 tons or about 10 metric tons</span></span></span><span class="content"> of meal, </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="1KI.4.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="1KI.4.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="1KI.4.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">During Solomon&#8217;s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="1KI.4.25"></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="1KI.4.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">Solomon had four</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">4:26 </span><span class="ft">Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also <span class="ref" usfm="2CH.9.25">2 Chron. 9:25</span>); Hebrew </span><span class="fqa">forty</span></span></span><span class="content"> thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">4:26 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="fqa">charioteers</span></span></span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="1KI.4.26"></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="1KI.4.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">The district governors, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king&#8217;s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. </span></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="1KI.4.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Solomon&#8217;s Wisdom</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="1KI.4.28"></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="1KI.4.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. </span></span><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="1KI.4.30"><span class="label">30</span><span class="content">Solomon&#8217;s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. </span></span><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="1KI.4.31"><span class="label">31</span><span class="content">He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite&#8212;wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. </span></span><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="1KI.4.32"><span class="label">32</span><span class="content">He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. </span></span><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="1KI.4.33"><span class="label">33</span><span class="content">He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. </span></span><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="1KI.4.34"><span class="label">34</span><span class="content">From all nations people came to listen to Solomon&#8217;s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class="body"><span class="fr">4:34 </span><span class="ft">In Hebrew texts 4:21-34 is numbered 5:1-14.</span></span></span></span></div>
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