1 When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame in connection with the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. 2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices, a great amount of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything on her heart. 3 Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers and their clothing, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the house of the LORD, she was left breathless. 6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom was true. 7 But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard. 8 How happy your men are! How happy these servants of yours are, who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because of the LORD’s everlasting love for Israel, he has made you king to administer justice and righteousness.” 10 She gave the king about 9,000 pounds of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did such an abundance of spices arrive as the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon. 11 Hiram’s fleet, which carried gold from Ophir, also brought a great quantity of almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. 12 From the almug wood the king made supports for the house of the LORD and the royal palace, as well as lyres and harps for the singers. No almug wood like it has arrived or been seen again to this day. 13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she desired and asked for, besides what he gave her out of King Solomon’s royal generosity. Then she and her servants returned to her own land.

14 The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was about 25 tons, 15 besides what came from the traveling traders and the trade of the merchants, and from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land. 16 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold, using about 15 pounds of gold for each shield. 17 He also made three hundred smaller shields of hammered gold, using nearly 4 pounds of gold for each shield. The king placed them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

18 The king made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with fine gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of its back was rounded. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with two lions standing beside the armrests. 20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, on either side. Nothing like it had been made in any kingdom. 21 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. None were silver, for silver was considered of no value in Solomon’s days. 22 For the king had a fleet of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came, carrying gold, silver, ivory, monkeys, and peacocks. 23 King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom. 24 The whole earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 25 Each brought his gift: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, year after year.

26 Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. He stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as plentiful as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as abundant as the sycamore fig trees in the foothills. 28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king’s merchants bought them from Kue at a price. 29 A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for a hundred fifty. Through these merchants they were also exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.