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.

And Solomon the son of David strengthened himself in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and caused him to become exceedingly great.

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 said Solomon unto all Israel, to the captains of the thousands and of the hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the chiefs of the family divisions [that they should go with him].

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.

Thereupon went Solomon, and all the assembly with him, to the high-place that was at Gib'on; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, 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.

Nevertheless the ark of God had David brought up from Kiryath-ye'arim to [the place which] David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at 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 copper altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur, had made, he placed before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the assembly sought for it.

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.

And Solomon sacrificed there on the copper altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered upon it a thousand burnt-offerings.

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

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

8 Solomon responded to God, “You showed trustworthy love without limit to my father David, and you have made me king in his place.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shown unto David my father great kindness, and hast made me king in his stead.

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 thy word unto David my father be verified; for thou hast 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?”

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who could [otherwise] judge this thy great people?

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;

And God said unto Solomon, Whereas this hath been in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of thy enemies, and hast not even asked long life; but hast asked for thyself wisdom and knowledge, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee 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] are the wisdom and the knowledge granted unto thee; and riches, and wealth, and honor, will I give thee, such as no kings that have been before thee have had, and the like of which after thee none shall have.

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

Then came Solomon from the high-place that was at Gib'on to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and 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.

And Solomon brought together chariots and horsemen; and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, and he placed them in the chariot-cities, and with the king at 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.

And the king rendered the silver and gold at Jerusalem like stones, and cedar-trees he rendered as the sycamore-trees that are in the lowlands for abundance.

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

And Solomon had his horses brought out of Egypt; a company of the king's merchants bought a quantity at a price.

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.

And they brought up, and fetched out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty; and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.