5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, Ask what [you wish that] I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shown unto thy servant David, my father, great mercy, according to the way he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great mercy that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as [it is] this day.
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a tender young man; I do not know [how] to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant [is] in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give, therefore, thy servant a hearing heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked for thyself long life neither hast asked riches for thyself nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to hear judgment,
12 behold, I have done according to thy words: behold, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.