4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding 3 was as infinite as the sand on the seashore. 4:30 Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt. 4 4:31 He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations. 5 4:32 He composed 6 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. 4:33 He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, 7 from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing 8 animals, birds, insects, and fish. 4:34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; 9 they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.
1 tn Heb “everyone who drew near to the table of King Solomon.”
2 tn Heb “barley and straw for the horses and the steeds they brought to the place which was there, each according to his measure.”
3 tn Heb “heart,” i.e., mind. (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
4 tn Heb “the wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
5 tn Heb “his name was in all the surrounding nations.”
6 tn Heb “spoke.”
7 tn Heb “he spoke about plants.”
8 tn Heb “he spoke about.”
9 tn Heb “the wisdom of Solomon.”