8. Your servant stands among your chosen people; they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number.
9. So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”
10. The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request.
11. God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,
12. I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.
13. Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request – riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.
14. If you follow my instructions by obeying my rules and regulations, just as your father David did, then I will grant you long life.”
15. Solomon then woke up and realized it was a dream. He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant, offered up burnt sacrifices, presented peace offerings, and held a feast for all his servants.
16. Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
17. One of the women said, “My master, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was with me in the house.
18. Then three days after I had my baby, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one else in the house except the two of us.
19. This woman’s child suffocated during the night when she rolled on top of him.
20. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your servant was sleeping. She put him in her arms, and put her dead son in my arms.
21. I got up in the morning to nurse my son, and there he was, dead! But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I realized it was not my baby.”
22. The other woman said, “No! My son is alive; your son is dead!” But the first woman replied, “No, your son is dead; my son is alive.” Each presented her case before the king.