¹⁸ When he takes the throne^(A) of his kingdom, he is to write^(B) for himself on a scroll a copy^(C) of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. ¹⁹ It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life^(D) so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees^{(E) 20} and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law^(F) to the right or to the left.^(G) Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.^(H)

¹⁷ “And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king secure my inheritance, for my lord the king is like an angel^(A) of God in discerning^(B) good and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’”

¹⁸ Then the king said to the woman, “Don’t keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you.”

“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman said.

¹⁹ The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab^(C) with you in all this?”

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. ²⁰ Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom^(D) like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.^(E)”

⁹ So give your servant a discerning^(A) heart to govern your people and to distinguish^(B) between right and wrong. For who is able^(C) to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked^(D) for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment^(E) in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked.^(F) I will give you a wise^(G) and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.