2 Chronicles 1:7-12

1:7 That night God appeared ¹  to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me ²  what I should give you.” 1:8 Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated ³  great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place. 1:9 Now, Lord God, may your promise ⁴  to my father David be realized, ⁵  for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth. 1:10 Now give me wisdom and discernment so ⁶  I can effectively lead this nation. ⁷  Otherwise ⁸  no one is able ⁹  to make judicial decisions for ¹⁰  this great nation of yours.” ¹¹ 

1:11 God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this, ¹²  and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies, ¹³  and because you did not ask for long life, ¹⁴  but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king, 1:12 you are granted wisdom and discernment. ¹⁵  Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.” ¹⁶ 

[1:7]  ¹ tn Or “revealed himself.”

[1:7]  ² tn Heb “ask.”

[1:8]  ³ tn Heb “did.”

[1:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “you word.”

[1:9]  ⁵ tn Or “be firm, established.”

[1:10]  ⁶ tn The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) following the imperative here indicates purpose/result.

[1:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “so I may go out before this nation and come in.” The expression “go out…and come in” here means “to lead” (see HALOT 425 s.v. יצא qal.4).

[1:10]  ⁸ tn Heb “for.” The word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.

[1:10]  ⁹ tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”

[1:10]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “to judge.”

[1:10]  ¹¹ tn Heb “these numerous people of yours.”

[1:11]  ¹² tn Heb “because this was in your heart.”

[1:11]  ¹³ tn Heb “the life of those who hate you.”

[1:11]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “many days.”

[1:12]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “wisdom and discernment are given to you.”

[1:12]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “which was not so for the kings who were before you, and after you there will not be so.”