¶ And Solomon the son of David was strengthened¹ in his kingdom, and the LORD² his God was with him, and magnified³ him exceedingly.

Then Solomon⁴ spake unto all Israel, to the captains⁵ of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief⁶ of the fathers.

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon⁷; for there was the tabernacle⁸ of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant⁹ of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

But the ark¹⁰ of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched¹¹ a tent for it at Jerusalem.

Moreover the brasen¹² altar, that Bezaleel¹³ the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put¹⁴ before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand¹⁵ burnt offerings upon it.

In that night¹⁶ did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask¹⁷ what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign¹⁹ in his stead.

Now, O LORD God, let thy promise²⁰ unto David my father be established: for thou hast²¹ made me king over a people like the dust²² of the earth in multitude.

¶ Give me²³ now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out²⁴ and come in before this people: for who can²⁵ judge this thy people, that is so great?

And God said to Solomon, Because²⁶ this was²⁷ in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest²⁸ judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give²⁹ thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none³⁰ of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

¶ Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon³¹ to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned³² over Israel.

And Solomon³³ gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities³⁴, and with the king at Jerusalem.

And the king³⁵ made³⁶ silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

And Solomon³⁷ had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn³⁸: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings³⁹ of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means⁴⁰.