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Chapter 3
1 And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon, and he made affinity with Pharao the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
2 But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: far there was no temple built to the name of the Lord until that day.
3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts of David his father, only he sacrificed in the high places: and burnt incense.
4 He went therefore to Gabaon, to sacrifice there: for that was the great high place: a thousand victims for holocausts did Solomon offer upon that altar in Gabaon.
5 And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, saying: Ask what you will that I should give you.
6 And Solomon said: you have shewn great mercy to your servant David my father, even at, he walked before you in truth, and justice, and an upright heart with you: and you have kept your great mercy for him, and have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O Lord God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and come in.
8 And your servant is in the midst of the people which you have chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore to your servant an understanding heart, to judge your people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, your people which is so numerous?
10 And the word was pleasing to the Lord that Solomon had asked such a thing.
11 And the Lord said to Solomon: Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, nor the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself wisdom to discern judgment,
12 Behold I have done for you according to your words, and have given you a wise and understanding heart, insomuch that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall arise after you.
13 Yea and the things also which you did not ask, I have given you: to wit riches and glory, as that no one has been like you among the kings in all days heretofore.
14 And if you will walk in my ways, and Beep my precepts, and my commandments, as your father walked, I will lengthen your days.
15 And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream: and when he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered holocausts, and sacrificed victims of peace offerings, and made a great feast for all his servants.
16 Then there came two women that were harlots, to the king, and stood before him:
17 And one of them said: I beseech you, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber.
18 And the third day, after that I was delivered, she also was delivered, and we were together, and no other person with us in the house, only we two.
19 And this woman's child died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him.
20 And rising in the dead time of the night, she took my child from my side, while I your handmaid was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine which I bore.
22 And the other woman answered: It is not so as you say, but your child is dead, and mine is alive. On the contrary she said: you lie: for my child lives, and your child is dead. And in this manner they strove before the king.
23 Then said the king: The one said, My child is alive, and your child is dead. And the other answers: Nay, but your child is dead, and mine lives.
24 The king therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when they had brought a sword before the king,
25 Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26 But the woman whose child was alive, said to the king, (for her bowels were moved upon her child,) I beseech you, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it.
27 The king answered, and said: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the mother thereof.
28 And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.