1 Kings 10

1When the queen of Sheba heard the report of Solomon because of Yahweh's name, she came to test him with riddles.

2She came to Jerusalem with a formidable retinue, camels bearing spices, vast quantities of gold, and precious stones; and when she reached Solomon, she told him everything that was on her heart.

3Solomon told her all her matters; no matter was hidden from the king that he did not tell her.

4When the queen of Sheba saw all Solomon's wisdom and the house that he had built,

5And the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his attendants, their garments, his cupbearers, and the ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh—there was no more spirit in her.

6She said to the king, "The report I heard in my land about your deeds and your wisdom was true."

7I did not believe the reports until I came and my eyes confirmed it. Behold, they told me not even half. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame that I heard.

8How happy your men are, how happy these servants of yours who stand continually before you, hearing your wisdom.

9May Yahweh your God be blessed, who took delight in you to place you on Israel's throne, because Yahweh loved Israel forever; therefore he established you as king to uphold justice and righteousness.

10She gave the king 120 talents of gold, spices in very great abundance, and precious stones; no such spices came again in such abundance as those the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

11Moreover, Hiram's fleet that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir almug trees in very great abundance and precious stones.

12The king made pillars from the almug trees for the house of Yahweh and for the king's house, harps and psalteries for the singers; no such almug trees have come, nor have any been seen, to this day.

13King Solomon gave Sheba's queen everything she desired, whatever she asked, besides what he gave her from his royal generosity. Then she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.

14Now the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold.

15besides that from the traders, the merchants' traffic, all the kings of Arabia, and the governors of the country.

16King Solomon made two hundred shields of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one shield.

17The king put three hundred shields of beaten gold—three manehs of gold went up on one shield—in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

18The king made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with refined gold.

19The throne had six steps, its top round behind, armrests on either side by the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.

20Twelve lions stood upon the six steps there, on one side and the other; nothing like it was made in any kingdom.

21All King Solomon's drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold; there was no silver, nor was it considered anything in the days of Solomon.

22For the king had a Tarshish fleet at sea with Hiram's fleet, and every three years the Tarshish fleet would come carrying gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

23King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

24All the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

25Year by year, everyone brought his gift: silver vessels, gold vessels, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules.

26Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, which he stationed in chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as common as the sycamores in the lowlands, because of their abundance.

28Horses for Solomon were brought out from Egypt and Kue; the king's merchants bought them from Kue for a price.

29A chariot came up and went out from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty; so for all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria, they brought them out by their hand.