5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon  * in a dream at night.  * God said, "Ask.  * What should I give you? "

6 And 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.  *,*8 Your servant is among your people you have chosen,  * a people too many to be numbered or counted.  *9 So 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? "  *

10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So 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,  *12 I 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.  *