1 Kings 3:9-28

9Give therefore to 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?1 10And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11And God said to 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 thy enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;23 12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like thee. 13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like thee all thy days.4 14And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. 15And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

16Then came there two women, that were harlots, to the king, and stood before him. 17And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. 18And it came to pass the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, except us two in the house. 19And this woman’s child died in the night; because she lay on him. 20And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thy handmaid slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21And when I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead: but when I had looked at him in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I bore. 22And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king. 23Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. 24And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. 25And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 26Then spoke the woman whose the living child was to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means slay him. But the other said, Let he be neither mine nor thine, but divide him .5 27Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and by no means slay him: she is his mother. 28And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.6