1 Kings 3:8-10

3:8 Your servant stands ¹  among your chosen people; ²  they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. 3:9 So give your servant a discerning mind ³  so he can make judicial decisions for ⁴  your people and distinguish right from wrong. ⁵  Otherwise ⁶  no one is able ⁷  to make judicial decisions for ⁸  this great nation of yours.” ⁹  3:10 The Lord ¹⁰  was pleased that Solomon made this request. ¹¹ 

[3:8]  ¹ tn There is no verb expressed in the Hebrew text; “stands” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[3:8]  ² tn Heb “your people whom you have chosen.”

[3:9]  ³ tn Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)

[3:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “to judge.”

[3:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “to understand between good and evil.”

[3:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.

[3:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”

[3:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “to judge.”

[3:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “your numerous people.”

[3:10]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in v.15 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

[3:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “And the thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, for Solomon asked for this thing.”