10 The Queen of Sheba heard news that Solomon was a great king who served the Lord . [ a ] So she came to ask Solomon some difficult questions to see how wise he was. 2 She arrived at Jerusalem with a big group of servants. She had many camels that carried spices. They also carried a lot of gold and valuable jewels. When she came to Solomon, she talked to him about everything that was in her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing that was too difficult for the king to explain to her. 4 The Queen of Sheba saw that Solomon was very wise. [ b ] She saw the palace that he had built. 5 She saw all the food that he ate in his palace. She saw all his servants and officers and their beautiful clothes. She saw the servants who prepared his food and wine. She saw the burnt offerings that he offered in the Lord 's temple. All these things caused her to hold her breath in surprise. 6 She said to the king, ‘In my own country I heard news about your wisdom and about all the things that you had done. Everything that I heard was true! 7 But I did not believe those things until I came here. Now I have seen everything with my own eyes, and it is true! Really, they told me less than half of what was true! You are even wiser and richer than the report that people told me. 8 God has blessed your people and your officers! They are always with you, and they can listen to your wise words. 9 So we praise the Lord your God! He is happy with you and he has chosen you to rule Israel. The Lord 's love for Israel will continue for ever. So he has made you king to rule in a fair and honest way.’
10 The Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon more than 4,000 kilograms of gold, a lot of spices and many valuable jewels. Nobody has ever brought such a big number of spices as she gave to the king.
11 Hiram's ships had brought gold from Ophir. They also brought from there large loads of good wood, and valuable jewels. 12 The king used the wood to make steps for the Lord 's temple and for the king's palace. He also used it to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nobody has ever seen such valuable wood, even until today.
13 So King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all the gifts that he chose for her. He gave her everything that she wanted. Then she left Solomon and she returned to her own country with her servants.
14 Solomon received 25 tons of gold each year.
15 He also received money from traders, from the kings of Arabia and from the rulers of each region in Israel.
16 King Solomon's workers used gold to make 200 large shields. They hit the gold with hammers to make it flat. They used about four kilograms of gold to cover each shield. 17 They also made 300 small shields in the same way. They used about 2 kilograms of gold to cover each shield. He put these shields in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. [ c ]
18 The king used ivory to make a large throne. He covered it with gold. 19 There were six steps up to the throne. The back of the throne was a round shape at the top. On both sides of the seat there were places for the king to put his arms. An image of a lion stood on each side of the throne. 20 There were 12 more images of lions on the six steps. There was one lion at each end of every step. There was no throne like it in any other kingdom. 21 They used gold to make all King Solomon's cups that he drank from. In the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon, all the dishes and other things were made with gold. They used pure gold. They did not make anything with silver. In Solomon's time, people did not think that silver was very valuable.
22 The king had many large ships that could sail across the seas. [ d ] They sailed with King Hiram's ships. Every three years they returned to Solomon with their loads. They brought to him gold, silver and ivory. They also brought apes and monkeys. [ e ]
23 King Solomon was richer and wiser than any other king in the world. 24 People from every nation in the world wanted to talk to Solomon. They wanted to listen to the wisdom that God had given to him. 25 Every year, people who came to visit Solomon brought him gifts. They brought things that were made from silver and gold, as well as clothes, weapons, spices, horses and mules.
26 Solomon brought together many chariots and horses for his soldiers to ride. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept some of them in Jerusalem where he lived as king. He put the others in cities that he had chosen for this.
27 While Solomon ruled as king, there was as much silver in Jerusalem as stones! There was as much wood from cedar trees as there were fig trees that grew in the low hills in the west. 28 Solomon brought his horses from Egypt and from Kue. He sent traders to Kue to buy them for him. 29 Each chariot that they bought in Egypt cost 600 pieces of silver. Each horse cost 150 pieces of silver. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.
10 The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, so she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She traveled to Jerusalem with a very large group of servants. There were many camels carrying spices, jewels, and a lot of gold. She met Solomon and asked him all the questions that she could think of. 3 Solomon answered all the questions. None of her questions was too hard for him to explain. 4 The queen of Sheba saw that Solomon was very wise. She also saw the beautiful palace he had built. 5 She saw the food at the king’s table. She saw his officials meeting together. She saw the servants in the palace and the good clothes they wore. She saw his parties and the sacrifices that he offered in the Lord ’s Temple. She was so amazed, she could hardly breathe!
6 Then she said to King Solomon, “The stories I heard in my country about your great works and your wisdom are true. 7 I did not believe it until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Now I see that it is even greater than what I heard. Your wealth and wisdom are much greater than people told me. 8 Your wives [ a ] and officers are very fortunate, because they serve you and hear your wisdom every day. 9 Praise the Lord your God! He was pleased to make you king of Israel. Because of the Lord ’s unending love for Israel, he has made you king to rule with justice and fairness.”
10 Then the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon 4 1/2 tons [ b ] of gold, a huge amount of spices, and precious stones. She gave him more spices than anyone has ever brought into Israel.
11 Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir. They also brought jewels and a special kind of wood. [ c ] 12 Solomon used this special wood to build supports in the Temple and the palace as well as harps and lyres for the singers. That was the last time such a large shipment of that kind of wood was brought to Israel. There hasn’t been any seen around here since then. [ d ]
13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she asked for. He gave her more than she brought to give him. Then the queen of Sheba and her servants left and went back to their own country.
14 Every year King Solomon received almost 25 tons [ e ] of gold. 15 In addition to the gold brought in by the traveling merchants and traders, all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold. He used about 15 pounds [ f ] of gold for each shield. 17 He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold. He used almost 4 pounds [ g ] of gold for each shield. The king put them in the Forest-of-Lebanon House. [ h ]
18 King Solomon also built a large throne with ivory decorations. It was covered with pure gold. 19 There were six steps leading up to the throne. The back of the throne was round at the top. There were armrests on both sides of the throne, and there were lions in the sides of the throne under the armrests. 20 There were also two lions on each of the six steps, one at each end. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.
21 All of Solomon’s cups and glasses were made of gold, and all the dishes [ i ] in the building called the Forest of Lebanon were made from pure gold. Nothing in the palace was made from silver. There was so much gold that in Solomon’s time people did not think silver was important.
22 The king also had many cargo ships [ j ] that he sent out to trade things with other countries. These were Hiram’s ships. Every three years the ships would come back with a new load of gold, silver, ivory, and apes and baboons.
23 King Solomon became greater in riches and wisdom than any other king on earth. 24 People everywhere wanted to see King Solomon and listen to the great wisdom that God had given him. 25 Every year people came to see the king and brought gifts made from gold and silver, clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
26 Solomon had a great number of chariots and horses. He had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horse soldiers. He built special cities for these chariots. So the chariots were kept in these cities. King Solomon also kept some of the chariots with him in Jerusalem. 27 The king made Israel very rich. In the city of Jerusalem, silver was as common as rocks and cedar wood was as common as the many fig trees growing on the hills. 28 Solomon brought horses from Egypt and Kue. His traders bought them in Kue and brought them to Israel. 29 A chariot from Egypt cost about 15 pounds of silver, and a horse cost almost 4 pounds [ k ] of silver. Solomon sold horses and chariots to the kings of the Hittites and the Arameans.
10 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord , she came to prove him with hard questions.
2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord ; there was no more spirit in her.
6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
9 Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord , and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.
19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
21 And all 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: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.
28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
10 ( A ) Now when the ( B ) queen of ( C ) Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon in relation to the name of the Lord , she came ( D ) to test him with riddles. 2 So she came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels ( E ) carrying balsam oil and a very large quantity of gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke to him about everything that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon [ a ] answered all her questions; nothing was concealed from the king which he did not explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, 5 and the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he offered at the house of the Lord , [ b ] she was breathless. 6 Then she said to the king, “It was a true [ c ] story that I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 7 But I did not believe the [ d ] stories until I came and my own eyes saw it all . And behold, the half of it was not reported to me. You have exceeded in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard. 8 ( F ) Blessed are your men, and blessed are these servants of yours who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom! 9 ( G ) Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to put you on the throne of Israel; ( H ) because the Lord loves Israel forever, He made you king, ( I ) to do justice and righteousness.” 10 Then ( J ) she gave the king [ e ] 120 talents of gold, and a very large amount of balsam oil and precious stones. Never again did such a large quantity of balsam oil come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.
11 ( K ) And the ships of Hiram as well, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a very great number of almug trees and precious stones. 12 ( L ) The king made from the almug trees supports for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, and lyres and harps for the singers; such almug trees have not come in again , nor have they been seen to this day.
13 And King Solomon granted the queen of Sheba everything she desired, whatever she requested, besides what he gave her in proportion to [ f ] his royal bounty. Then she [ g ] departed and went to her own land [ h ] together with her servants.
14 ( M ) Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was [ i ] 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traders, and the [ j ] wares of the merchants and all the kings of the ( N ) Arabs and the governors of the country. 16 ( O ) King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold, [ k ] using six hundred shekels of gold on each large shield. 17 And he made ( P ) three hundred small shields of beaten gold, [ l ] using [ m ] three minas of gold on each shield; and ( Q ) the king put them in the house of the timber of Lebanon. 18 Moreover, the king made a large throne of ( R ) ivory and overlaid it with fine gold. 19 There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its back, and [ n ] armrests [ o ] on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the [ p ] armrests. 20 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for [ q ] any other kingdom. 21 Now all King Solomon’s drinking utensils were of gold, and all the utensils of the house of the timber of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered as amounting to anything in the days of Solomon. 22 For ( S ) the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s ships; once every three years the ships of Tarshish would come carrying gold and silver, ivory, monkeys, and peacocks.
23 ( T ) So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom. 24 And all the earth was seeking the [ r ] attention of Solomon, ( U ) to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 25 And ( V ) they were bringing, everyone, [ s ] a gift: articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, balsam oil, horses, and mules, so much year by year.
26 ( W ) Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he [ t ] stationed them in the ( X ) chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27 ( Y ) And the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the [ u ] lowland. 28 ( Z ) Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants acquired them from Kue for a price. 29 A chariot [ v ] was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and [ w ] by the same means they exported them ( AA ) to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans.
10 When the queen of Sheba ( B ) heard about the fame ( C ) of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord , she came to test Solomon with hard questions. ( D ) 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan ( E ) —with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, ( F ) the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at [ a ] the temple of the Lord , she was overwhelmed.
6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe ( G ) these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth ( H ) you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear ( I ) your wisdom! 9 Praise ( J ) be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord ’s eternal love ( K ) for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice ( L ) and righteousness.”
10 And she gave the king 120 talents [ b ] of gold, ( M ) large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11 (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; ( N ) and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood [ c ] and precious stones. 12 The king used the almugwood to make supports [ d ] for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.)
13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
14 The weight of the gold ( P ) that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, [ e ] 15 not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the territories.
16 King Solomon made two hundred large shields ( Q ) of hammered gold; six hundred shekels [ f ] of gold went into each shield. 17 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three minas [ g ] of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. ( R )
18 Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. 20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. 21 All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. ( S ) Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days. 22 The king had a fleet of trading ships [ h ] ( T ) at sea along with the ships ( U ) of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.
23 King Solomon was greater in riches ( V ) and wisdom ( W ) than all the other kings of the earth. 24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom ( X ) God had put in his heart. 25 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift ( Y ) —articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.
26 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; ( Z ) he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, [ i ] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as common ( AA ) in Jerusalem as stones, ( AB ) and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig ( AC ) trees in the foothills. 28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue [ j ] —the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 29 They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. [ k ] They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites ( AD ) and of the Arameans.
