2 Chronicles 9
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New American Standard Bible 1995New International Version
1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with difficult questions. She had a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and a large amount of gold and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was on her heart.1When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan--with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones--she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind.
2Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from Solomon which he did not explain to her.2Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her.
3When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house which he had built,3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built,
4the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, she was breathless.4the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.
5Then she said to the king, "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.5She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.
6"Nevertheless I did not believe their reports until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You surpass the report that I heard.6But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard.
7"How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.7How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!
8"Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the LORD your God; because your God loved Israel establishing them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness."8Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness."
9Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold and a very great amount of spices and precious stones; there had never been spice like that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.9Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
10The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones.10(The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also brought algumwood and precious stones.
11From the algum trees the king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that was seen before in the land of Judah.11The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)
12King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested besides a return for what she had brought to the king. Then she turned and went to her own land with her servants.12King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
13Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,13The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,
14besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.14not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the territories brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of beaten gold on each large shield.15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield.
16He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.16He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three hundred shekels of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
17Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.17Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with pure gold.
18There were six steps to the throne and a footstool in gold attached to the throne, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.18The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them.
19Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.19Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.
20All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.20All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's day.
21For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.21The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram's servants. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.
22So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.22King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
23And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.23All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
24They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses and mules, so much year by year.24Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift--articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.
25Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.25Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.
26He was the ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River even to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt.26He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.
27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland.27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.
28And they were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all countries.28Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from all other countries.
29Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?29As for the other events of Solomon's reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?
30Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David; and his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.31Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
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2 Chronicles 8
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