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The Third
Book of Kings 3
And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon,
and he made affinity with Pharao the king of Egypt:
for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city
of David, until he had made an end of building his own
house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem
round about.
But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: far
there was no temple built to the name of the Lord until
that day.
And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts
of David his father, only he sacrificed in the high
places: and burnt incense.
He went therefore to Gabaon, to sacrifice there: for
that was the great high place: a thousand victims for
holocausts did Solomon offer upon that altar in Gabaon.
And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night,
saying : Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.
And Solomon said: Thou hast shewn great mercy to thy
servant David my father, even at, he walked before thee
in truth, and justice, and an upright heart with thee:
and thou hast kept thy great mercy for him, and hast
given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this
day.
And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king
instead of David my father: and I am but a child, and
know not how to go out and come in.
And thy servant is in the midst of the people which
thou hast chosen, an immense people, which cannot be
numbered nor counted for multitude.
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart,
to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil.
For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people
which is so numerous?
And the word was pleasing to the Lord that Solomon had
asked such a thing.
And the Lord said to Solomon: Because thou hast asked
this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life
or riches, nor the lives of thy enemies, but hast asked
for thyself wisdom to discern judgment,
Behold I have done for thee according to thy words,
and have given thee a wise and understanding heart,
insomuch that there hath been no one like thee before
thee, nor shall arise after thee.
Yea and the things also which thou didst not ask, I
have given thee: to wit riches and glory, as that no
one hath been like thee among the kings in all days
heretofore.
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, and Beep my precepts,
and my commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen
thy days.
And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream:
and when he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the
ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered holocausts,
and sacrificed victims of peace offerings, and made
a great feast for all his servants.
Then there came two women that were harlots, to the
king, and stood before him:
And one of them said: I beseech thee, my lord, I and
this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of
a child with her in the chamber.
And the third day, after that I was delivered, she also
was delivered, and we were together, and no other person
with us in the house, only we two.
And this woman's child died in the night: for in her
sleep she overlaid him.
And rising in the dead time of the night, she took my
child from my side, while I thy handmaid was asleep,
and laid it in her bosom: and laid her dead child in
my bosom.
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck,
behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently
when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine
which I bore.
And the other woman answered: It is not so as thou sayest,
but thy child is dead, and mine is alive. On the contrary
she said: Thou liest: for my child liveth, and thy child
is dead. And in this manner they strove before the king.
Then said the king: The one saith, My child is alive,
and thy child is dead. And the other answereth: Nay,
but thy child is dead, and mine liveth.
The king therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when
they had brought a sword before the king,
Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half
to the one, and half to the other.
But the woman whose child was alive, said to the king,
(for her bowels were moved upon her child,) I beseech
thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not
kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine
nor thine, but divide it.
The king answered, and said: Give the living child to
this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the
mother thereof.
And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had
judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom
of God was in him to do judgment. |
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