1 Kings 3:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between good and evil, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    Therefore give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil: for who is able to judge this your great people?

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Give{H5414} thy servant{H5650} therefore an understanding{H8085} heart{H3820} to judge{H8199} thy people,{H5971} that I may discern{H995} between good{H2896} and evil;{H7451} for who is able{H3201} to judge{H8199} this thy great{H3515} people?{H5971}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    Give{H5414}{(H8804)} therefore thy servant{H5650} an understanding{H8085}{(H8802)} heart{H3820} to judge{H8199}{(H8800)} thy people{H5971}, that I may discern{H995}{(H8687)} between good{H2896} and bad{H7451}: for who is able{H3201}{(H8799)} to judge{H8199}{(H8800)} this thy so great{H3515} a people{H5971}?

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Geue thy seruaunt therfore an obedient hert, that he maye iudge thy people, & vnderstonde what is good & bad: for who is able to iudge this thy mightie people?

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an vnderstanding heart, to iudge thy people, that I may discerne betweene good & bad: for who is able to iudge this thy mightie people?

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Geue therfore thy seruaunt an vnderstanding heart to iudge thy people, that I may discerne betweene good & bad: For who is able to iudge this thy so mightie a people?

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people?

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    and Thou hast given to Thy servant an understanding heart, to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?'

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Give your servant, then, a wise heart for judging your people, able to see what is good and what evil; for who is able to be the judge of this great people?

  • World English Bible (2000)

    Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people?"

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    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.”

Referenced Verses

  • Jas 1:5 : 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without rebuke, and it will be given to him.
  • 2 Sam 14:17 : 17 And your servant thought, 'May the word of my lord the king bring me peace, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil. May the LORD your God be with you.'
  • Ps 72:1-2 : 1 God, grant your judgments to the king and your righteousness to the king's son. 2 He will judge your people with righteousness and your afflicted ones with justice.
  • Prov 2:3-9 : 3 if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—the entire good path.
  • Heb 5:14 : 14 But solid food is for the mature, those who through practice have trained their senses to discern good from evil.
  • Isa 11:2-4 : 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and reverence for the LORD. 3 And his delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what his eyes see, nor decide by what his ears hear. 4 But he will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
  • John 5:30 : 30 I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
  • Prov 16:16 : 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to gain understanding rather than silver!
  • Ps 119:34 : 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with all my heart.
  • 1 Chr 22:12 : 12 Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
  • 2 Chr 1:10 : 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?
  • Ps 119:144 : 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding, that I may live.
  • 2 Cor 3:5 : 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.
  • Eph 5:17 : 17 Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
  • Jas 3:17 : 17 But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere.
  • Phil 1:10 : 10 So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
  • 1 Cor 2:14-15 : 14 But the natural person does not accept the things of God's Spirit, because they are foolishness to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person examines all things, but he himself is not subject to being examined by anyone.
  • 2 Cor 2:16 : 16 To one, we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is adequate for such a task?
  • Jer 1:6 : 6 Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD! I do not know how to speak because I am too young.'
  • Matt 3:11 : 11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
  • Matt 3:14 : 14 But John tried to stop Him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?'
  • Prov 3:13-18 : 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who obtains understanding. 14 For the profit from wisdom is better than the profit from silver, and her gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and those who hold her fast are blessed.
  • Prov 14:8 : 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand their path, but the folly of fools is deceit.
  • Prov 20:12 : 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—the Lord has made both of them.
  • Eccl 7:11 : 11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and it is an advantage for those who see the light of day.
  • Eccl 7:19 : 19 Wisdom makes a wise person stronger than ten rulers in a city.
  • Eccl 9:15-18 : 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded. 17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
  • 1 Chr 29:19 : 19 And give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep your commandments, your statutes, and your decrees, and to carry out all these plans, building the temple for which I have made preparations.
  • Ps 119:73 : 73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
  • 1 Kgs 3:28 : 28 When all Israel heard the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of the king, for they saw that he had the wisdom of God to administer justice.
  • Exod 3:11-12 : 11 But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?' 12 God reassured him, 'I will certainly be with you. And this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.'
  • Exod 4:10-13 : 10 Moses said to the LORD, 'Pardon me, Lord, but I am not eloquent—neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.' 11 The LORD said to him, 'Who gave human beings their mouths? Or who makes them mute, deaf, seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' 13 But Moses said, 'Pardon me, Lord. Please send someone else.'

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Chr 1:7-12
    6 verses
    86%

    7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

    8 Solomon replied to God, "You have shown great lovingkindness to my father David and have made me king in his place.

    9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

    10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?

    11 God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for wealth, possessions, honor, the death of your enemies, or even many long years—but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king—

    12 Therefore wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you wealth, possessions, and honor, such as no king before you ever had and none after you will have."

  • 1 Kgs 3:10-13
    4 verses
    83%

    10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked this.

    11 God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life, wealth for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but for discernment in administering justice,

    12 behold, I have done what you asked. I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

    13 I have also given you what you did not ask for: both wealth and honor, so that in your lifetime no king will compare to you.

  • 1 Kgs 3:5-8
    4 verses
    83%

    5 At Gibeon, the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream during the night, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

    6 Solomon replied, "You have shown great lovingkindness to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. You have continued this great kindness to him by giving him a son to sit on his throne this day."

    7 Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, but I am only a young and inexperienced servant who does not know how to carry out his duties.

    8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or record.

  • 1 Chr 29:18-19
    2 verses
    76%

    18 LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep these intentions and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and direct their hearts toward you.

    19 And give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep your commandments, your statutes, and your decrees, and to carry out all these plans, building the temple for which I have made preparations.

  • 2 Chr 9:23
    73%

    23 All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

  • 1 Kgs 3:28
    73%

    28 When all Israel heard the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of the king, for they saw that he had the wisdom of God to administer justice.

  • 2 Chr 9:7-8
    2 verses
    72%

    7 How blessed are your men, and how blessed are these servants who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

    8 May the LORD your God be praised! He delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king for the LORD your God. Because of His love for Israel and His desire to uphold them forever, He has made you king over them to govern with justice and righteousness.

  • 1 Kgs 10:24
    72%

    24 The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

  • 1 Kgs 10:8-9
    2 verses
    72%

    8 How happy your people must be! How blessed your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

    9 Praise 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 for Israel, he has made you king to uphold justice and righteousness.

  • 1 Chr 28:9
    72%

    9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

  • 1 Chr 17:19
    71%

    19 LORD, for the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and revealed all these great promises.

  • Ps 119:125
    71%

    125 I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.

  • 1 Kgs 1:20
    71%

    20 Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

  • 2 Sam 7:21
    71%

    21 Because of your word and according to your own heart, you have done all this great thing to make your servant know it.

  • 1 Kgs 8:52
    70%

    52 May Your eyes be open to Your servant’s plea and to the plea of Your people Israel, and may You listen to them whenever they call to You.

  • 1 Kgs 8:39
    70%

    39 then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. Forgive and act, and give to each one according to all they do, since You know their hearts (for You alone know every human heart),

  • 1 Kgs 8:23
    70%

    23 He said: 'LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below—keeping Your covenant and showing steadfast love to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart.'

  • 1 Kgs 1:27
    70%

    27 Is this decision from my lord the king, without letting your servants know who is to sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

  • Deut 1:13
    70%

    13 Choose for yourselves wise, discerning, and known men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.

  • Ps 119:34
    70%

    34 Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with all my heart.

  • 1 Chr 22:12
    69%

    12 Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.

  • Exod 18:19
    69%

    19 Now listen to me; I will give you advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to Him.

  • 2 Chr 6:30
    69%

    30 then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. Forgive and deal with everyone according to what they do, since You know their hearts (for You alone know the human heart).

  • Prov 1:2
    69%

    2 To know wisdom and discipline, to understand words of insight,

  • 1 Chr 29:1
    69%

    1 Then King David said to the entire assembly, "My son Solomon, the one chosen by God, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great because this temple is not for man but for the LORD God."

  • 1 Kgs 5:6-7
    2 verses
    69%

    6 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.

    7 These officers provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table, each during his assigned month, without fail.

  • 2 Chr 1:2
    68%

    2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders and heads of fathers’ households throughout Israel.

  • 2 Chr 6:19
    68%

    19 'Yet have regard for the prayer and the plea of Your servant, LORD my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant prays before You.

  • 2 Chr 10:6
    68%

    6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime, asking, "How would you advise me to answer these people?"

  • Prov 2:2
    68%

    2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding,

  • 2 Sam 14:16
    68%

    16 For the king will hear me and deliver me from the hand of the man who seeks to destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.'

  • Ps 119:66
    68%

    66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I trust in Your commandments.