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1 The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, so she came to test him with hard questions. She had a very large group with her. She had camels that carried spices, much gold, and valuable stones. She traveled to Jerusalem with a very large group of servants. There were many camels carrying spices, jewels, and a lot of gold. She met Solomon and asked him all the questions that she could think of.
2 Solomon answered all the questions. None of her questions was too hard for him to explain.
3 The queen of Sheba saw that Solomon was very wise. She also saw the beautiful palace he had built.
4 She saw the food at the king's table. She saw his officials meeting together. She saw the servants in the palace and the good clothes they wore. She saw his parties and the sacrifices that he offered in the Temple. She was so amazed that it took her breath away!
5 Then she said to King Solomon, "The stories I heard in my country about your great works and your wisdom are true.
6 I did not believe it until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Now I see that it is even greater than what I heard. Your wealth and wisdom is much greater than people told me.
7 Your wives and officers are very fortunate! They can serve you and hear your wisdom every day.
8 Praise the Lord your God! He was pleased to make you king of Israel. The Lord God loves Israel, so he made you the king. You follow the law and treat people fairly."
9 Then the Queen of Sheba gave King Solomon 4?tons of gold, a great many spices, and valuable stones. She gave Solomon more spices than anyone has ever brought into Israel.
10 Hiram's servants brought gold from Ophir. They also brought in jewels and a special kind of wood.
11 King Solomon used this special wood to make steps for the Lord's Temple and the king's palace. Solomon also used the algum wood to make lyres and harps for the singers. No one ever saw such beautiful things like those made from the algum wood in the country of Judah.
12 King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba everything she asked for. He gave her more than she brought to give him. Then the Queen of Sheba and her servants left and went back to their own country.
13 Every year Solomon got almost 25 tons of gold.
14 In addition to the gold brought in by the traveling merchants and traders, all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15 King Solomon made 200 large shields from hammered gold. Each shield contained about 15 pounds of gold.
16 He also made 300 small shields of hammered gold. Each shield contained almost 4 pounds of gold. The king put them in the building called the "Forest of Lebanon."
17 King Solomon also built a large throne with ivory decorations. It was covered with pure gold.
18 There were six steps leading up to the throne. The back of the throne was round at the top. There were armrests on both sides of the throne, and there were lions in the sides of the throne under the armrests.
19 There were also two lions on each of the six steps, one at each end. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.
20 All of Solomon's cups and glasses were made of gold. And all of the dishes in the building called the "Forest of Lebanon" were made from pure gold. Nothing in the palace was made from silver. There was so much gold that in Solomon's time people did not think silver was important!
21 The king also had cargo ships that went to Tarshish to trade things with other countries. Hiram's men were on these ships. Every three years the ships would come back with a new load of gold, silver, ivory, and apes and baboons.
22 King Solomon became greater in riches and wisdom than any other king on earth.
23 People everywhere wanted to see King Solomon. They wanted to hear the great wisdom that God had given him.
24 Every year people came to see the king, and everyone brought a gift. They brought things made from gold and silver, clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
25 Solomon had 4000 stalls to keep horses and chariots. He had 12,000 horse soldiers. Solomon built special cities for these chariots. So the chariots were kept in these cities. King Solomon also kept some of the chariots with him in Jerusalem.
26 Solomon was the king over all the kings from the Euphrates River all the way to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27 King Solomon had so much silver that it was as common as rocks in Jerusalem. And he had so much cedar wood that it was as common as sycamore trees in the hill country.
28 The people brought horses to Solomon from Egypt and from all the other countries.
29 Everything else Solomon did, from the beginning to the end, is written in the writings of Nathan the Prophet, in The Prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and in The Visions of Iddo the Seer. Iddo was a seer who wrote about Jeroboam son of Nebat.
30 Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for 40 years.
31 Then he died and was buried in the city of David, his father. Then Solomon's son Rehoboam became the next king.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.