Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible
Bishop's Bible
1 Kings 3:9
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?
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
Hebrew Names Version
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?
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?
King James 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?
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?
English Standard Version
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
New Century Version
I ask that you give me a heart that understands, so I can rule the people in the right way and will know the difference between right and wrong. Otherwise, it is impossible to rule this great people of yours."
I ask that you give me a heart that understands, so I can rule the people in the right way and will know the difference between right and wrong. Otherwise, it is impossible to rule this great people of yours."
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."
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."
Amplified Bible
"So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?"
"So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?"
New American Standard Bible
"So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this great people of Yours?"
"So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this great people of Yours?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
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?
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?
Legacy Standard Bible
So give Your slave a listening heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this glorious people of Yours?"
So give Your slave a listening heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this glorious people of Yours?"
Contemporary English Version
Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.
Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, give your servant an understanding heart able to administer justice to your people, so that I can discern between good and bad — for who is equal to judging this great people of yours?"
Therefore, give your servant an understanding heart able to administer justice to your people, so that I can discern between good and bad — for who is equal to judging this great people of yours?"
Darby Translation
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?
Easy-to-Read Version
So I ask you to give me the wisdom to rule and judge them well and to help me know the difference between right and wrong. Without such great wisdom, it would be impossible to rule this great nation."
So I ask you to give me the wisdom to rule and judge them well and to help me know the difference between right and wrong. Without such great wisdom, it would be impossible to rule this great nation."
George Lamsa Translation
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people and to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people and to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Good News Translation
So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?"
So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?"
Lexham English Bible
Give to your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad, because who is able to judge this, your difficult people?"
Give to your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad, because who is able to judge this, your difficult people?"
Literal Translation
Also give to Your servant an understanding heart, to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this, Your great people?
Also give to Your servant an understanding heart, to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this, Your great people?
Miles 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?
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?
American Standard Version
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?
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
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?
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?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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?'
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?'
King James Version (1611)
Giue therefore thy seruant an understanding heart, to iudge thy people, that I may discerne betweene good and bad: for who is able to iudge this thy so great a people?
Giue therefore thy seruant an understanding heart, to iudge thy people, that I may discerne betweene good and bad: for who is able to iudge this thy so great a people?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thou shalt give therefore to thy servant a heart to hear and to judge thy people justly, and to discern between good and evil: for who will be able to judge this thy great people?
Thou shalt give therefore to thy servant a heart to hear and to judge thy people justly, and to discern between good and evil: for who will be able to judge this thy great people?
English Revised Version
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?
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?
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?"
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor thou schalt yyue to thi seruaunt an herte able to be tauyt, `that is, liytned of thee, that he may deme the puple, and iuge bitwixe good and yuel; for who may deme this puple, thi puple, this miche puple?
Therfor thou schalt yyue to thi seruaunt an herte able to be tauyt, `that is, liytned of thee, that he may deme the puple, and iuge bitwixe good and yuel; for who may deme this puple, thi puple, this miche puple?
Young's Literal Translation
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?'
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?'
Update Bible Version
Give your slave 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?
Give your slave 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?
Webster's Bible Translation
Give 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?
Give 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?
World English Bible
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?
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?
New King James Version
Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
New Living Translation
Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?"
Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?"
New Life Bible
So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and know the difference between good and bad. For who is able to judge Your many people?"
So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and know the difference between good and bad. For who is able to judge Your many people?"
New Revised Standard
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wilt thou, then, give unto thy servant, a heart that hearkeneth, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad, - for who is able to judge this thine honoured people?
Wilt thou, then, give unto thy servant, a heart that hearkeneth, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad, - for who is able to judge this thine honoured people?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people, which is so numerous?
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people, which is so numerous?
Revised Standard Version
Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?"
Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?"
THE MESSAGE
"Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"
"Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
"So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
Contextual Overview
5 And in Gibeon the Lorde appeared to Solomon in a dreame by night, and God sayd: Aske what thou wilt, that I may geue it thee. 6 And Solomon sayde: Thou hast shewed vnto thy seruaut Dauid my father great mercie, when he walked before thee in trueth, in righteousnesse, and in plainnesse of heart with thee, and thou hast kept for him this great mercy, that thou hast geuen him a sonne to sit on his seate, as it is come to passe this day. 7 And nowe O Lord my God, it is thou that hast made thy seruaunt king in steade of Dauid my father: And I am but young, & wote not howe to go out and in. 8 And thy seruaunt is in the middest of thy people which thou hast chosen: and veryly the people are so many, that they cannot be told nor nubred for multitude. 9 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? 10 And this pleased the Lorde well that Solomon had desired this thing, 11 And God sayde vnto him: Thou hast not asked for thy selfe long lyfe, neither hast asked riches for thy selfe, nor hast asked the lyfe of thy enemies, but hast asked for thy selfe vnderstanding & discretion in iudgement: 12 Behold, I haue done according to thy wordes, lo I haue geuen thee a wyse & an vnderstanding heart, so that there was none lyke thee before thee, neither after thee shal any aryse lyke vnto thee. 13 And I haue also geuen thee that which thou hast not asked, euen rychesse and honour, so that ther shalbe no king lyke vnto thee all thy dayes. 14 And if thou wilt walke in my wayes, to kepe myne ordinaunces and my commaundementes, as thy father Dauid dyd walke, I will lengthen thy dayes.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Give therefore: 1 Chronicles 22:12, 1 Chronicles 29:19, 2 Chronicles 1:10, Psalms 119:34, Psalms 119:73, Psalms 119:144, Proverbs 2:3-9, Proverbs 3:13-18, Proverbs 16:16, James 1:5, James 3:17
understanding: Heb. hearing, Proverbs 20:12
to judge: 1 Kings 3:28, Psalms 72:1, Psalms 72:2, Proverbs 14:8, Ecclesiastes 7:11, Ecclesiastes 7:19, Ecclesiastes 9:15-18, John 5:30
discern: 2 Samuel 14:17, Isaiah 11:2-4, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 2:15, Ephesians 5:17, Philippians 1:10,*Gr: Hebrews 5:14
who is able: Exodus 3:11, Exodus 3:12, Exodus 4:10-13, Jeremiah 1:6, Matthew 3:11, Matthew 3:14, 2 Corinthians 2:16, 2 Corinthians 3:5
Reciprocal: Genesis 12:2 - General Exodus 18:17 - not good Exodus 18:21 - able men Exodus 31:3 - filled Deuteronomy 34:9 - full of the spirit 1 Kings 3:11 - discern 1 Kings 5:7 - a wise son 1 Kings 7:7 - of judgment 1 Kings 10:24 - which God 2 Kings 2:9 - Elisha said 2 Kings 15:5 - judging 1 Chronicles 11:2 - ruler 2 Chronicles 32:4 - find Job 28:12 - General Psalms 119:66 - Teach me Proverbs 1:2 - General Proverbs 2:6 - the Lord Proverbs 8:15 - decree Proverbs 18:15 - General Proverbs 25:2 - the honour Ecclesiastes 10:10 - wisdom Isaiah 11:3 - and he shall not Daniel 9:12 - our judges Matthew 12:42 - hear Romans 16:19 - yet 1 Corinthians 3:10 - as a Colossians 3:16 - all
Cross-References
Genesis 3:12
And Adam said: The woman whom thou gauest [to be] with me, she gaue me of the tree, and I dyd eate.
And Adam said: The woman whom thou gauest [to be] with me, she gaue me of the tree, and I dyd eate.
Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God sayd vnto the woman: Why hast thou done this? And the woman sayde: the serpent begyled me, and I dyd eate.
And the Lord God sayd vnto the woman: Why hast thou done this? And the woman sayde: the serpent begyled me, and I dyd eate.
Genesis 3:17
Unto Adam he sayde: Because thou hast hearkened vnto the voyce of thy wyfe, and hast eaten of the tree concernyng the whiche I commaunded thee, saying, thou shalt not eate of it, cursed is the grounde for thy sake, in sorowe shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy lyfe.
Unto Adam he sayde: Because thou hast hearkened vnto the voyce of thy wyfe, and hast eaten of the tree concernyng the whiche I commaunded thee, saying, thou shalt not eate of it, cursed is the grounde for thy sake, in sorowe shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy lyfe.
Genesis 3:19
In the sweatte of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade, tyll thou be turned agayne into the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: For dust thou art, and into dust shalt thou be turned agayne.
In the sweatte of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade, tyll thou be turned agayne into the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: For dust thou art, and into dust shalt thou be turned agayne.
Genesis 3:20
And Adam called his wyfes name Heua, because she was the mother of all lyuyng.
And Adam called his wyfes name Heua, because she was the mother of all lyuyng.
Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wyfe dyd the Lorde God make garments of skynnes, and he put them on.
Unto Adam also and to his wyfe dyd the Lorde God make garments of skynnes, and he put them on.
Genesis 4:9
And the Lorde said vnto Cain: where is Habel thy brother? Which sayde I wote not: Am I my brothers keper?
And the Lorde said vnto Cain: where is Habel thy brother? Which sayde I wote not: Am I my brothers keper?
Genesis 11:5
But the Lorde came downe to see the citie and towre whiche the chyldren of men buylded.
But the Lorde came downe to see the citie and towre whiche the chyldren of men buylded.
Genesis 16:8
And he said: Hagar Sarais mayde, whence camest thou? and whither wylt thou go? She sayde: I flee fro the face of my mistresse Sarai.
And he said: Hagar Sarais mayde, whence camest thou? and whither wylt thou go? She sayde: I flee fro the face of my mistresse Sarai.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people,.... Not an understanding of things spiritual, nor of things natural, though both were given him, but of things political, what related to the civil government, that he might be able to judge or rule the people of Israel in the best manner:
that I may discern between good and bad; not merely between moral good and evil, of which he had a discernment; but between right and wrong in any case or controversy that came before him between man and man, that so he might be able to pass a right sentence, and do justice to every one:
for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? who are so very numerous, and have so many causes to be heard and and those many of them very intricate and difficult; so that no man is equal to such arduous work, unless he has more than an ordinary capacity given him by the Lord.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
One of the chief functions of the Oriental monarch is always to hear and decide causes. Hence, supreme magistrates were naturally called “judges.” (See the introduction to the Book of Judges.) In the minds of the Jews the “judge” and the “prince” were always closely associated, the direct cognisance of causes being constantly taken by their chief civil governors. (See Exodus 2:14; Exodus 18:16, Exo 18:22; 1 Samuel 8:20; 2 Samuel 15:2-6.)
Good and bad - i. e. “right and wrong,” “justice and injustice.”
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 1 Kings 3:9. Give - an understanding heart to judge thy people — He did not ask wisdom in general, but the true science of government. This wisdom he sought, and this wisdom he obtained.
