1 Kings 3:9
7 And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
8 Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request.
11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice—
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- KJV
- Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
- WEB
- Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
- ASV
- Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?
- DARBY
- Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?
- BLB
- And give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
- ÅB
- Så gi da din tjener et hørsomt hjerte til å dømme ditt folk, til å skille mellom godt og ondt! For hvem kunne ellers dømme dette ditt folk som er så tallrikt?
- OTB
- Derfor, gi din tjener et forstandig hjerte til å styre ditt folk, for å skille mellom godt og ondt. For hvem er i stand til å styre dette ditt store folk?"
- B1930
- Så gi da din tjener et hørsomt hjerte til å dømme ditt folk, til å skille mellem godt og ondt! For hvem kunde ellers dømme dette ditt folk som er så tallrikt?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Read in contextHebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
Read in contextProverbs 16:16
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
Read in contextJohn 5:30
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Read in contextProverbs 2:3–9
if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
Read in context2 Samuel 14:17
And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”
Read in contextProverbs 3:13–18
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
Read in contextIsaiah 11:2–4
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
Read in context