3Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”
6And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
7“Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. 8Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. 9So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, 12I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. 13In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. 14If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”