Chapter 3
Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
1
Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying [his] daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.
𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤉𐤕𐤇𐤕𐤍 𐤀𐤕 𐤐𐤓𐤏𐤄 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤌𐤑𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤒𐤇 𐤀𐤕 𐤐𐤓𐤏𐤄 𐤁𐤕 𐤅𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤀𐤄 𐤀𐤋 𐤏𐤉𐤓 𐤃𐤅𐤃 𐤏𐤃 𐤊𐤋𐤕𐤅 𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤀𐤕 𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤅 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤇𐤅𐤌𐤕 𐤎𐤁𐤉𐤁 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌
שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֣ן אֶת־ פַּרְעֹ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־ פַּרְעֹ֗ה בַּת־ וַיְבִיאֶ֙הָ֙ אֶל־ עִ֣יר דָּוִ֔ד עַ֣ד כַּלֹּת֗וֹ לִבְנ֤וֹת אֶת־ בֵּיתוֹ֙ וְאֶת־ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וְאֶת־ חוֹמַ֥ת סָבִֽיב׃ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם šə·lō·mōh way·yiṯ·ḥat·tên ’eṯ- par·‘ōh me·leḵ miṣ·rā·yim way·yiq·qaḥ ’eṯ- par·‘ōh baṯ- way·ḇî·’e·hā ’el- ‘îr dā·wiḏ ‘aḏ kal·lō·ṯōw liḇ·nō·wṯ ’eṯ- bê·ṯōw wə·’eṯ- bêṯ Yah·weh wə·’eṯ- ḥō·w·maṯ sā·ḇîḇ yə·rū·šā·lim — WLC · 1
2
The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet… been built.
𐤄𐤏𐤌 𐤓𐤒 𐤌𐤆𐤁𐤇𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤁𐤌𐤅𐤕 𐤊𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤋𐤔𐤌 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤋𐤀 𐤏𐤃 𐤄𐤄𐤌𐤐 𐤄𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤍𐤁𐤍𐤄
הָעָ֔ם רַ֣ק מְזַבְּחִ֖ים בַּבָּמ֑וֹת כִּ֠י בַ֙יִת֙ לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה לֹא־ עַ֖ד הָהֵֽם׃פ הַיָּמִ֥ים נִבְנָ֥ה hā·‘ām raq mə·zab·bə·ḥîm bab·bā·mō·wṯ kî ḇa·yiṯ lə·šêm Yah·weh lō- ‘aḏ hā·hêm hay·yā·mîm niḇ·nāh — WLC · 2
3
And Solomon loved the LORD [and] walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤄𐤁 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤋𐤋𐤊𐤕 𐤁𐤇𐤒𐤅𐤕 𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤅 𐤃𐤅𐤃 𐤓𐤒 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤌𐤆𐤁𐤇 𐤅𐤌𐤒𐤈𐤉𐤓 𐤁𐤁𐤌𐤅𐤕
שְׁלֹמֹה֙ אֶת־ וַיֶּאֱהַ֤ב יְהוָ֔ה לָלֶ֕כֶת בְּחֻקּ֖וֹת אָבִ֑יו דָּוִ֣ד רַ֚ק ה֥וּא מְזַבֵּ֖חַ וּמַקְטִֽיר׃ בַּבָּמ֔וֹת šə·lō·mōh ’eṯ- way·ye·’ĕ·haḇ Yah·weh lā·le·ḵeṯ bə·ḥuq·qō·wṯ ’ā·ḇîw dā·wiḏ raq hū mə·zab·bê·aḥ ū·maq·ṭîr bab·bā·mō·wṯ — WLC · 3
4
Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it [was] the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar [there].
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤋𐤊 𐤂𐤁𐤏𐤍𐤄 𐤋𐤆𐤁𐤇 𐤔𐤌 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤄𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋𐤄 𐤄𐤁𐤌𐤄 𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤉𐤏𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤋𐤐 𐤏𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤄𐤌𐤆𐤁𐤇
הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ גִּבְעֹ֙נָה֙ לִזְבֹּ֣חַ שָׁ֔ם כִּ֥י הִ֖יא הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה הַבָּמָ֣ה שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה יַעֲלֶ֣ה אֶ֤לֶף עֹלוֹת֙ עַ֖ל הַהֽוּא׃ הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ ham·me·leḵ way·yê·leḵ giḇ·‘ō·nāh liz·bō·aḥ šām kî hî hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh hab·bā·māh šə·lō·mōh ya·‘ă·leh ’e·lep̄ ‘ō·lō·wṯ ‘al ha·hū ham·miz·bê·aḥ — WLC · 4
5
One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask -, [and] I will give it to you!”
𐤄𐤋𐤉𐤋𐤄 𐤁𐤂𐤁𐤏𐤅𐤍 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤍𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤀𐤋 𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤁𐤇𐤋𐤅𐤌 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤔𐤀𐤋 𐤌𐤄 𐤀𐤕𐤍 𐤋𐤊
הַלָּ֑יְלָה בְּגִבְע֗וֹן יְהֹוָ֛ה נִרְאָ֧ה אֶל־ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בַּחֲל֣וֹם אֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁאַ֖ל מָ֥ה אֶתֶּן־ לָֽךְ׃ hal·lā·yə·lāh bə·ḡiḇ·‘ō·wn Yah·weh nir·’āh ’el- šə·lō·mōh ba·ḥă·lō·wm ’ĕ·lō·hîm way·yō·mer šə·’al māh ’et·ten- lāḵ — WLC · 5
6
Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart… And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤀𐤕𐤄 𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕 𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋 𐤇𐤎𐤃 𐤏𐤌 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤊 𐤀𐤁𐤉 𐤃𐤅𐤃 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤊 𐤁𐤀𐤌𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤑𐤃𐤒𐤄 𐤅𐤁𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤕 𐤋𐤁𐤁 𐤏𐤌𐤊 𐤅𐤕𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤋𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤄𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋 𐤄𐤇𐤎𐤃 𐤅𐤕𐤕𐤍 𐤋𐤅 𐤁𐤍 𐤉𐤔𐤁 𐤏𐤋 𐤊𐤎𐤀𐤅 𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤊𐤉𐤅𐤌
שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַתָּ֨ה עָשִׂ֜יתָ גָּדוֹל֒ חֶ֣סֶד עִם־ עַבְדְּךָ֙ אָבִי֮ דָוִ֣ד כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ הָלַ֨ךְ לְפָנֶ֜יךָ בֶּאֱמֶ֧ת וּבִצְדָקָ֛ה וּבְיִשְׁרַ֥ת לֵבָ֖ב עִמָּ֑ךְ וַתִּשְׁמָר־ ל֗וֹ אֶת־ הַזֶּ֔ה הַגָּדוֹל֙ הַחֶ֤סֶד וַתִּתֶּן־ ל֥וֹ בֵ֛ן יֹשֵׁ֥ב עַל־ כִּסְא֖וֹ הַזֶּֽה׃ כַּיּ֥וֹם šə·lō·mōh way·yō·mer ’at·tāh ‘ā·śî·ṯā gā·ḏō·wl ḥe·seḏ ‘im- ‘aḇ·də·ḵā ’ā·ḇî ḏā·wiḏ ka·’ă·šer hā·laḵ lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā be·’ĕ·meṯ ū·ḇiṣ·ḏā·qāh ū·ḇə·yiš·raṯ lê·ḇāḇ ‘im·māḵ wat·tiš·mār- lōw ’eṯ- haz·zeh hag·gā·ḏō·wl ha·ḥe·seḏ wat·tit·ten- lōw ḇên yō·šêḇ ‘al- kis·’ōw haz·zeh kay·yō·wm — WLC · 6
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.
𐤅𐤏𐤕𐤄 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉 𐤀𐤕𐤄 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤊 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤕 𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤁𐤉 𐤃𐤅𐤃 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤅𐤀𐤍𐤊𐤉 𐤒𐤈𐤍 𐤍𐤏𐤓 𐤋𐤀 𐤀𐤃𐤏 𐤑𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤀
וְעַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י אַתָּה֙ עַבְדְּךָ֔ הִמְלַ֣כְתָּ אֶֽת־ אָבִ֑י דָּוִ֣ד תַּ֖חַת וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ קָטֹ֔ן נַ֣עַר לֹ֥א אֵדַ֖ע צֵ֥את וָבֹֽא׃ wə·‘at·tāh Yah·weh ’ĕ·lō·hāy ’at·tāh ‘aḇ·də·ḵā him·laḵ·tā ’eṯ- ’ā·ḇî dā·wiḏ ta·ḥaṯ wə·’ā·nō·ḵî qā·ṭōn na·‘ar lō ’ê·ḏa‘ ṣêṯ wā·ḇō — WLC · 7
8
Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people… - too numerous to count… or number.
𐤅𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤊 𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤊 𐤏𐤌𐤊 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤁𐤇𐤓𐤕 𐤏𐤌 𐤓𐤁 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤀 𐤌𐤓𐤁 𐤉𐤌𐤍𐤄 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤎𐤐𐤓
וְעַ֨בְדְּךָ֔ בְּת֥וֹךְ עַמְּךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּחָ֑רְתָּ עַם־ רָ֕ב אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־ מֵרֹֽב׃ יִמָּנֶ֛ה וְלֹ֥א יִסָּפֵ֖ר wə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā bə·ṯō·wḵ ‘am·mə·ḵā ’ă·šer bā·ḥā·rə·tā ‘am- rāḇ ’ă·šer lō- mê·rōḇ yim·mā·neh wə·lō yis·sā·p̄êr — WLC · 8
9
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?”
𐤅𐤍𐤕𐤕 𐤋𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤊 𐤔𐤌𐤏 𐤋𐤁 𐤋𐤔𐤐𐤈 𐤀𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤊 𐤋𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤍 𐤁𐤉𐤍 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤋𐤓𐤏 𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤉 𐤉𐤅𐤊𐤋 𐤋𐤔𐤐𐤈 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤄𐤊𐤁𐤃 𐤏𐤌𐤊
וְנָתַתָּ֨ לְעַבְדְּךָ֜ שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ לֵ֤ב לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶֽת־ עַמְּךָ֔ לְהָבִ֖ין בֵּֽין־ ט֣וֹב לְרָ֑ע כִּ֣י מִ֤י יוּכַל֙ לִשְׁפֹּ֔ט אֶת־ הַזֶּֽה׃ הַכָּבֵ֖ד עַמְּךָ֥ wə·nā·ṯa·tā lə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā šō·mê·a‘ lêḇ liš·pōṭ ’eṯ- ‘am·mə·ḵā lə·hā·ḇîn bên- ṭō·wḇ lə·rā‘ kî mî yū·ḵal liš·pōṭ ’eṯ- haz·zeh hak·kā·ḇêḏ ‘am·mə·ḵā — WLC · 9
10
Now it pleased… the Lord that Solomon - had made this request…
𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤅𐤉𐤉𐤈𐤁 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉 𐤀𐤃𐤍𐤉 𐤊𐤉 𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤔𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤆𐤄
הַדָּבָ֖ר וַיִּיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑י כִּ֚י שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֖ר שָׁאַ֣ל הַזֶּֽה׃ had·dā·ḇār way·yî·ṭaḇ bə·‘ê·nê ’ă·ḏō·nāy kî šə·lō·mōh ’eṯ- had·dā·ḇār šā·’al haz·zeh — WLC · 10
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—
𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤅 𐤉𐤏𐤍 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤕 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤕 𐤋𐤊 𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤌 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤕 𐤏𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤕 𐤍𐤐𐤔 𐤀𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤊 𐤅𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤕 𐤋𐤊 𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤔𐤌𐤏 𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤈
אֱלֹהִ֜ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו יַעַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה וְלֹֽא־ שָׁאַ֨לְתָּ לְּךָ֜ רַבִּ֗ים יָמִ֣ים וְלֹֽא־ שָׁאַ֤לְתָּ עֹ֔שֶׁר לְּךָ֙ וְלֹ֥א שָׁאַ֖לְתָּ נֶ֣פֶשׁ אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּ לְּךָ֛ הָבִ֖ין לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ ’ĕ·lō·hîm way·yō·mer ’ê·lāw ya·‘an ’ă·šer šā·’al·tā ’eṯ- had·dā·ḇār haz·zeh wə·lō- šā·’al·tā lə·ḵā rab·bîm yā·mîm wə·lō- šā·’al·tā ‘ō·šer lə·ḵā wə·lō šā·’al·tā ne·p̄eš ’ō·yə·ḇe·ḵā wə·šā·’al·tā lə·ḵā hā·ḇîn liš·mō·a‘ miš·pāṭ — WLC · 11
12
behold, I will do what you have asked… I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.
𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤊 𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤍𐤕𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤊 𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤅𐤍𐤁𐤅𐤍 𐤋𐤁 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤀 𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤊 𐤅𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤊 𐤊𐤌𐤅𐤊 𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤒𐤅𐤌 𐤊𐤌𐤅𐤊
הִנֵּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתִי כִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָ הִנֵּ֣ה׀ נָתַ֣תִּי לְךָ֗ חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן לֵ֚ב אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־ הָיָ֣ה לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ כָּמ֙וֹךָ֙ לֹא־ יָק֥וּם כָּמֽוֹךָ׃ hin·nêh ‘ā·śî·ṯî kiḏ·ḇā·re·ḵā hin·nêh nā·ṯat·tî lə·ḵā ḥā·ḵām wə·nā·ḇō·wn lêḇ ’ă·šer lō- hā·yāh lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā wə·’a·ḥă·re·ḵā kā·mō·w·ḵā lō- yā·qūm kā·mō·w·ḵā — WLC · 12
13
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request— both riches and honor— so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.
𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤍𐤕𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤀 𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤕 𐤂𐤌 𐤏𐤔𐤓 𐤂𐤌 𐤊𐤁𐤅𐤃 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤊 𐤋𐤀 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤁𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤊𐤌𐤅𐤊
וְגַ֨ם נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־ שָׁאַ֙לְתָּ֙ גַּם־ עֹ֖שֶׁר גַּם־ כָּב֑וֹד אֲ֠שֶׁר כָּל־ יָמֶֽיךָ׃ לֹא־ אִ֛ישׁ בַּמְּלָכִ֖ים הָיָ֨ה כָמ֥וֹךָ wə·ḡam nā·ṯat·tî lāḵ ’ă·šer lō- šā·’al·tā gam- ‘ō·šer gam- kā·ḇō·wḏ ’ă·šer kāl- yā·me·ḵā lō- ’îš bam·mə·lā·ḵîm hā·yāh ḵā·mō·w·ḵā — WLC · 13
14
So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”
𐤅𐤀𐤌 𐤕𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤃𐤓𐤊𐤉 𐤋𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤇𐤒𐤉 𐤅𐤌𐤑𐤅𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤊 𐤃𐤅𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤄𐤀𐤓𐤊𐤕𐤉 𐤀𐤕 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤊𐤎
וְאִ֣ם׀ תֵּלֵ֣ךְ בִּדְרָכַ֗י לִשְׁמֹ֤ר חֻקַּי֙ וּמִצְוֺתַ֔י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבִ֑יךָ דָּוִ֣יד הָלַ֖ךְ וְהַאַרַכְתִּ֖י אֶת־ יָמֶֽיךָ׃ס wə·’im tê·lêḵ biḏ·rā·ḵay liš·mōr ḥuq·qay ū·miṣ·wō·ṯay ka·’ă·šer ’ā·ḇî·ḵā dā·wîḏ hā·laḵ wə·ha·’a·raḵ·tî ’eṯ- yā·me·ḵā — WLC · 14
15
Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings… Then he held a feast for all his servants.
𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤉𐤒𐤑 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤇𐤋𐤅𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤌𐤃 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤀𐤓𐤅𐤍 𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤕 𐤀𐤃𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤋 𐤏𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤔𐤋𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤔 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤔 𐤌𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤋𐤊𐤋 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤅𐤐
שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה וַיִּקַ֥ץ וְהִנֵּ֣ה חֲל֑וֹם וַיָּב֨וֹא יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֣ד׀ לִפְנֵ֣י׀ אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־ אֲדֹנָ֗י וַיַּ֤עַל עֹלוֹת֙ שְׁלָמִ֔ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה לְכָל־ עֲבָדָֽיו׃פ šə·lō·mōh way·yi·qaṣ wə·hin·nêh ḥă·lō·wm way·yā·ḇō·w yə·rū·šā·lim way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ lip̄·nê ’ă·rō·wn bə·rîṯ- ’ă·ḏō·nāy way·ya·‘al ‘ō·lō·wṯ šə·lā·mîm way·ya·‘aś way·ya·‘aś miš·teh lə·ḵāl ‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw — WLC · 15
Solomon Judges Wisely
16
At that time two vvv prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
𐤀𐤆 𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤆𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤕𐤁𐤀𐤍𐤄 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤕𐤏𐤌𐤃𐤍𐤄 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅
אָ֣ז שְׁתַּ֛יִם נָשִׁ֥ים זֹנ֖וֹת תָּבֹ֗אנָה אֶל־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖דְנָה לְפָנָֽיו׃ ’āz šə·ta·yim nā·šîm zō·nō·wṯ tā·ḇō·nāh ’el- ham·me·leḵ wat·ta·‘ă·mō·ḏə·nāh lə·p̄ā·nāw — WLC · 16
17
One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she [was] in the house.
𐤄𐤀𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤅𐤕𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤁𐤉 𐤀𐤃𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤄𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤉𐤔𐤁𐤕 𐤀𐤇𐤃 𐤁𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤅𐤀𐤋𐤃 𐤏𐤌𐤄 𐤁𐤁𐤉𐤕
הָֽאַחַת֙ הָאִשָּׁ֤ה וַתֹּ֜אמֶר בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י הַזֹּ֔את וְהָאִשָּׁ֣ה אֲנִי֙ יֹשְׁבֹ֖ת אֶחָ֑ד בְּבַ֣יִת וָאֵלֵ֥ד עִמָּ֖הּ בַּבָּֽיִת׃ hā·’a·ḥaṯ hā·’iš·šāh wat·tō·mer bî ’ă·ḏō·nî haz·zōṯ wə·hā·’iš·šāh ’ă·nî yō·šə·ḇōṯ ’e·ḥāḏ bə·ḇa·yiṯ wā·’ê·lêḏ ‘im·māh bab·bā·yiṯ — WLC · 17
18
- On the third day after I gave birth, this woman… also had a baby. We were alone, with no one in the house but the two of us…
𐤅𐤉𐤄𐤉 𐤄𐤔𐤋𐤉𐤔𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤋𐤋𐤃𐤕𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤄𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤂𐤌 𐤅𐤕𐤋𐤃 𐤅𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤉𐤇𐤃𐤅 𐤀𐤕𐤍𐤅 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤆𐤓 𐤁𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤆𐤅𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤁𐤁𐤉𐤕
וַיְהִ֞י הַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ בַּיּ֤וֹם לְלִדְתִּ֔י הָאִשָּׁ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את גַּם־ וַתֵּ֖לֶד וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ יַחְדָּ֗ו אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ אֵֽין־ זָ֤ר בַּבַּ֔יִת זוּלָתִ֥י שְׁתַּֽיִם־ אֲנַ֖חְנוּ בַּבָּֽיִת׃ way·hî haš·šə·lî·šî bay·yō·wm lə·liḏ·tî hā·’iš·šāh haz·zōṯ gam- wat·tê·leḏ wa·’ă·naḥ·nū yaḥ·dāw ’it·tā·nū ’ên- zār bab·ba·yiṯ zū·lā·ṯî šə·ta·yim- ’ă·naḥ·nū bab·bā·yiṯ — WLC · 18
19
During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him.
𐤋𐤉𐤋𐤄 𐤄𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤁𐤍 𐤅𐤉𐤌𐤕 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤔𐤊𐤁𐤄 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤅
לָ֑יְלָה הַזֹּ֖את הָאִשָּׁ֥ה בֶּן־ וַיָּ֛מָת אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁכְבָ֖ה עָלָֽיו׃ lā·yə·lāh haz·zōṯ hā·’iš·šāh ben- way·yā·māṯ ’ă·šer šā·ḵə·ḇāh ‘ā·lāw — WLC · 19
20
So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She laid him in her bosom and put her dead son at my bosom.
𐤅𐤕𐤒𐤌 𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤊 𐤄𐤋𐤉𐤋𐤄 𐤅𐤕𐤒𐤇 𐤀𐤕 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤌𐤀𐤑𐤋𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤌𐤕𐤊 𐤉𐤔𐤍𐤄 𐤅𐤕𐤔𐤊𐤉𐤁𐤄𐤅 𐤁𐤇𐤉𐤒𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤊𐤉𐤁𐤄 𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤁𐤍𐤄 𐤁𐤇𐤉𐤒𐤉
וַתָּקָם֩ בְּת֨וֹךְ הַלַּ֜יְלָה וַתִּקַּ֧ח אֶת־ בְּנִ֣י מֵֽאֶצְלִ֗י וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ יְשֵׁנָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁכִּיבֵ֖הוּ בְּחֵיקָ֑הּ וְאֶת־ הִשְׁכִּ֥יבָה הַמֵּ֖ת בְּנָ֥הּ בְחֵיקִֽי׃ wat·tā·qām bə·ṯō·wḵ hal·lay·lāh wat·tiq·qaḥ ’eṯ- bə·nî mê·’eṣ·lî wa·’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā yə·šê·nāh wat·taš·kî·ḇê·hū bə·ḥê·qāh wə·’eṯ- hiš·kî·ḇāh ham·mêṯ bə·nāh ḇə·ḥê·qî — WLC · 20
21
The next morning, when I got up to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead. But when I examined him…, I realized that he was not the son I had borne.”
𐤁𐤁𐤒𐤓 𐤅𐤀𐤒𐤌 𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤒 𐤀𐤕 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤌𐤕 𐤁𐤁𐤒𐤓 𐤅𐤀𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤍𐤍 𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤋𐤀 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤉𐤋𐤃𐤕𐤉
בַּבֹּ֛קֶר וָאָקֻ֥ם לְהֵינִ֥יק אֶת־ בְּנִ֖י וְהִנֵּה־ מֵ֑ת בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וָאֶתְבּוֹנֵ֤ן אֵלָיו֙ וְהִנֵּ֛ה הָיָ֥ה לֹֽא־ בְנִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלָֽדְתִּי׃ bab·bō·qer wā·’ā·qum lə·hê·nîq ’eṯ- bə·nî wə·hin·nêh- mêṯ bab·bō·qer wā·’eṯ·bō·w·nên ’ê·lāw wə·hin·nêh hā·yāh lō- ḇə·nî ’ă·šer yā·lā·ḏə·tî — WLC · 21
22
“No,”… said the other woman, “the living one [is] my son and the dead one [is] your son.” But the first woman insisted, “No,… the dead one [is] yours and the living one [is] mine.” So they argued before the king.
𐤋𐤀 𐤊𐤉 𐤅𐤕𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤕 𐤄𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤄𐤇𐤉 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤊 𐤅𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕 𐤋𐤀 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤁𐤍𐤊 𐤄𐤇𐤉 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤕𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤍𐤄 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊
לֹ֣א כִ֗י וַתֹּאמֶר֩ הָאַחֶ֜רֶת הָאִשָּׁ֨ה הַחַי֙ בְּנִ֤י הַמֵּ֔ת וּבְנֵ֣ךְ וְזֹ֤את אֹמֶ֙רֶת֙ לֹ֣א כִ֔י הַמֵּ֖ת בְּנֵ֥ךְ הֶחָ֑י וּבְנִ֣י וַתְּדַבֵּ֖רְנָה לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ lō ḵî wat·tō·mer hā·’a·ḥe·reṯ hā·’iš·šāh ha·ḥay bə·nî ham·mêṯ ū·ḇə·nêḵ wə·zōṯ ’ō·me·reṯ lō ḵî ham·mêṯ bə·nêḵ he·ḥāy ū·ḇə·nî wat·tə·ḏab·bê·rə·nāh lip̄·nê ham·me·leḵ — WLC · 22
23
Then the king replied, “This woman says, ‘- My son is alive and yours is dead,’ but that woman says, ‘No,… your son is dead and mine is alive.’”
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕 𐤆𐤄 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤇𐤉 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤊 𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤅𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕 𐤋𐤀 𐤊𐤉 𐤁𐤍𐤊 𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤇𐤉𐤐
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר זֹ֣את אֹמֶ֔רֶת זֶה־ בְּנִ֥י הַחַ֖י וּבְנֵ֣ךְ הַמֵּ֑ת וְזֹ֤את אֹמֶ֙רֶת֙ לֹ֣א כִ֔י בְּנֵ֥ךְ הַמֵּ֖ת וּבְנִ֥י הֶחָֽי׃פ ham·me·leḵ way·yō·mer zōṯ ’ō·me·reṯ zeh- bə·nî ha·ḥay ū·ḇə·nêḵ ham·mêṯ wə·zōṯ ’ō·me·reṯ lō ḵî bə·nêḵ ham·mêṯ ū·ḇə·nî he·ḥāy — WLC · 23
24
The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought him a sword -,
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤒𐤇𐤅 𐤋𐤉 𐤇𐤓𐤁 𐤅𐤉𐤁𐤀𐤅 𐤄𐤇𐤓𐤁 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר קְח֣וּ לִי־ חָ֑רֶב וַיָּבִ֥אוּ הַחֶ֖רֶב לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ham·me·leḵ way·yō·mer qə·ḥū lî- ḥā·reḇ way·yā·ḇi·’ū ha·ḥe·reḇ lip̄·nê ham·me·leḵ — WLC · 24
25
and the king declared, “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤂𐤆𐤓𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤇𐤉 𐤄𐤉𐤋𐤃 𐤋𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤕𐤍𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤇𐤑𐤉 𐤋𐤀𐤇𐤕 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤇𐤑𐤉 𐤋𐤀𐤇𐤕
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גִּזְר֛וּ אֶת־ הַחַ֖י הַיֶּ֥לֶד לִשְׁנָ֑יִם וּתְנ֤וּ אֶֽת־ הַחֲצִי֙ לְאַחַ֔ת וְאֶֽת־ הַחֲצִ֖י לְאֶחָֽת׃ ham·me·leḵ way·yō·mer giz·rū ’eṯ- ha·ḥay hay·ye·leḏ liš·nā·yim ū·ṯə·nū ’eṯ- ha·ḥă·ṣî lə·’a·ḥaṯ wə·’eṯ- ha·ḥă·ṣî lə·’e·ḥāṯ — WLC · 25
26
Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him -!” But the other [woman] said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”
𐤄𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤁𐤍𐤄 𐤄𐤇𐤉 𐤅𐤕𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤊𐤉 𐤍𐤊𐤌𐤓𐤅 𐤓𐤇𐤌𐤉𐤄 𐤏𐤋 𐤁𐤍𐤄 𐤁𐤉 𐤀𐤃𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤕𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤕𐤍𐤅 𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤇𐤉 𐤄𐤉𐤋𐤅𐤃 𐤀𐤋 𐤕𐤌𐤉𐤕𐤄𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤅𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕 𐤉𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤋𐤀 𐤂𐤌 𐤋𐤉 𐤂𐤌 𐤋𐤊 𐤂𐤆𐤓𐤅
הָאִשָּׁה֩ אֲשֶׁר־ בְּנָ֨הּ הַחַ֜י וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ כִּֽי־ נִכְמְר֣וּ רַחֲמֶיהָ֮ עַל־ בְּנָהּ֒ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֗י וַתֹּ֣אמֶר׀ תְּנוּ־ לָהּ֙ אֶת־ הַחַ֔י הַיָּל֣וּד אַל־ תְּמִיתֻ֑הוּ וְהָמֵ֖ת וְזֹ֣את אֹמֶ֗רֶת יִהְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א גַּם־ לִ֥י גַם־ לָ֛ךְ גְּזֹֽרוּ׃ hā·’iš·šāh ’ă·šer- bə·nāh ha·ḥay wat·tō·mer ’el- ham·me·leḵ kî- niḵ·mə·rū ra·ḥă·me·hā ‘al- bə·nāh bî ’ă·ḏō·nî wat·tō·mer tə·nū- lāh ’eṯ- ha·ḥay hay·yā·lūḏ ’al- tə·mî·ṯu·hū wə·hā·mêṯ wə·zōṯ ’ō·me·reṯ yih·yeh lō gam- lî ḡam- lāḵ gə·zō·rū — WLC · 26
27
Then the king gave his ruling…: “Give the living baby to the first woman -. By no means should you kill him…; she is his mother.”
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤍 𐤕𐤍𐤅 𐤄𐤇𐤉 𐤄𐤉𐤋𐤅𐤃 𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤋𐤀 𐤕𐤌𐤉𐤕𐤄𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤀𐤌𐤅
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וַיַּ֨עַן תְּנוּ־ הַחַ֔י הַיָּל֣וּד לָהּ֙ אֶת־ לֹ֣א תְמִיתֻ֑הוּ וְהָמֵ֖ת הִ֖יא אִמּֽוֹ׃ ham·me·leḵ way·yō·mer way·ya·‘an tə·nū- ha·ḥay hay·yā·lūḏ lāh ’eṯ- lō ṯə·mî·ṯu·hū wə·hā·mêṯ hî ’im·mōw — WLC · 27
28
When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of [him], for they saw that the wisdom of God [was] in him to administer justice.
𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤈 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤔𐤐𐤈 𐤅𐤉𐤓𐤀𐤅 𐤌𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤊𐤉 𐤓𐤀𐤅 𐤊𐤉 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤕 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤒𐤓𐤁𐤅 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤈𐤎
כָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ אֶת־ הַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׁפַ֣ט וַיִּֽרְא֖וּ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י רָא֔וּ כִּֽי־ חָכְמַ֧ת אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ס ḵāl yiś·rā·’êl way·yiš·mə·‘ū ’eṯ- ham·miš·pāṭ ’ă·šer ham·me·leḵ šā·p̄aṭ way·yir·’ū mip·pə·nê ham·me·leḵ kî rā·’ū kî- ḥā·ḵə·maṯ ’ĕ·lō·hîm bə·qir·bōw la·‘ă·śō·wṯ miš·pāṭ — WLC · 28