1 Kings

1When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the LORD’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.

2She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.

3Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.

4When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

5the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the LORD’s house, there was no more spirit in her.

6She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.

7However, I didn’t believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.

8Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.

9Blessed is the LORD your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”

10She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug treesand precious stones.

12The king made of the almug trees pillars for the LORD’s house and for the king’s house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers; no such almug trees came or were seen to this day.

13King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, in addition to that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.

14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talentsof gold,

15in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.

16King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekelsof gold went to one buckler.

17He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minasof gold went to one shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

18Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.

19There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.

20Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.

21All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver, because it was considered of little value in the days of Solomon.

22For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

23So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

24All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.

25Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.

26Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. He kept them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.

27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.

28The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.

29A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekelsof silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.

1And the queen of Saba, having; heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions.

2And entering into Jerusalem with a great train, and riches, and camels that carried spices, and an immense quantity of gold, and precious stones, she came to king Solomon, and spoke to him all that she had in her heart.

3And Solomon informed her of all the things she proposed to him: there was not any word the king was ignorant of, and which he could not answer her.

4And when the queen of Saba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house which he had built,

5And the meat of his table, and the apartments of his servants, and the order of his ministers, and their apparel, and the cupbearers, and the holocausts, which he offered in the house of the Lord: she had no longer any spirit in her,

6And she said to the king: The report is true, which I heard in my own country,

7Concerning thy words, and concerning thy wisdom. And I did not believe them that told me, till I came myself, and saw with my own eyes, and have found that the half hath not been told me: thy wisdom and thy works, exceed the fame which I heard.

8Blessed are thy men, and blessed are thy servants, who stand before thee always, and hear thy wisdom.

9Blessed be the Lord thy God, whom thou hast pleased, and who hath set thee upon the throne of Israel, because the Lord hath loved Israel for ever, and hath appointed thee king, to do judgment and justice.

10And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices a very great store, and precious stones: there was brought no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Saba gave to king Solomon.

11(The navy also of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir great plenty of thyine trees, and precious stones.

12And the king made of the thyine trees the rails of the house of the Lord, and of the king’s house, and citterns and harps for singers: there were no such thyine trees as these brought, nor seen unto this day.)

13And king Solomon gave the queen of Saba all that she desired, and asked of him: besides what he offered he himself of his royal bounty. And she returned, and went to her own country with her servants.

14And the weight of the gold that was brought to Solomon every year, was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold:

15Besides that which the men brought him that were over the tributes, and the merchants, and they that sold by retail, and all the kings of Arabia, and the governors of the country.

16And Solomon made two hundred shields of the purest gold: he allowed six hundred sides of gold for the plates of one shield.

17And three hundred targets of fine gold: three hundred pounds of gold covered one target: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Libanus.

18King Solomon also made a great throne of ivory: and overlaid it with the finest gold.

19It had six steps: and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were two hands on either side holding the seat: and two lions stood, one at each hand.

20And twelve little lions stood upon the six steps on the one side and on the other: there was no such work made in any kingdom.

21Moreover all the vessels, out of which king Solomon drank, were of gold: and all the furniture of the house of the forest of Libanus was of most pure gold: there was no silver, nor was any account made of it in the days of Solomon:

22For the king’s navy, once in three years, went with the navy of Hiram by sea to Tharsis, and brought from thence gold, and silver, and elephants’ teeth, and apes, and peacocks.

23And king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches, and wisdom.

24And all the earth desired to see Solomon’s face, to hear his wisdom, which God had given in his heart.

25And every one brought him presents, vessels of silver and of gold, garments and armour, and spices, and horses and mules every year.

26And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horseman: and he bestowed them in fenced cities, and with the king in Jerusalem.

27And he made silver to be as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones: and cedars to be as common as sycamores which grow in the plains.

28And horses were brought for Solomon out of Egypt, and Coa: for the king’s merchants brought them out of Coa, and bought them at a set price.

29And a chariot of four horses came out of Egypt, for six hundred sides of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And after this manner did all the kings of the Hethites, and of Syria, sell horses.