2 Chronicles 9:4-8

9:4 the food in his banquet hall, ¹  his servants and attendants ²  in their robes, his cupbearers in their robes, and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the Lord’s temple, ³  she was amazed. ⁴  9:5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight ⁵  was true! 9:6 I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! ⁶  Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me. 9:7 Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy! ⁷  9:8 May the Lord your God be praised because he favored ⁸  you by placing you on his throne as the one ruling on his behalf! ⁹  Because of your God’s love for Israel and his lasting commitment to them, ¹⁰  he made you king over them so you could make just and right decisions.” ¹¹ 

[9:4]  ¹ tn Heb “the food on his table.”

[9:4]  ² tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”

[9:4]  ³ tc The Hebrew text has here, “and his upper room [by] which he was going up to the house of the Lord.” But עֲלִיָּתוֹ (’aliyyato, “his upper room”) should be emended to עֹלָתוֹ, (’olato, “his burnt sacrifice[s]”). See the parallel account in 1 Kgs 10:5.

[9:4]  ⁴ tn Or “it took her breath away”; Heb “there was no breath still in her.”

[9:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “about your words [or perhaps, “deeds”] and your wisdom.”

[9:6]  ⁹ tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”

[9:7]  ¹³ tn Heb “How happy are your men! How happy are these servants of yours, who stand before you continually, who hear your wisdom!”

[9:8]  ¹⁷ tn Or “delighted in.”

[9:8]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “as king for the Lord your God.”

[9:8]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “to make him stand permanently.”

[9:8]  ²⁰ tn Heb “to do justice and righteousness.”