Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.

For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.

Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.

O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.

Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.

I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.

I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.

By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.

With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments.

Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.

Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.

With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.

I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.

I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.

I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words.

Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.

Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.

I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.

Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.

Remove from me reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.

For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.

My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.

I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy justifications.

Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.

My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in thy words.

Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.

I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.

I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame.

I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.

Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I will always seek after it.

Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will keep it with my whole heart.

Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired.

Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness.

Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.

Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear.

Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy judgments are delightful.

Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy justice.

Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation according to thy word.

So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I have trusted in thy words.

And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words, I have hoped exceedingly.

So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever.

And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy commandments.

And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.

I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved.

And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in thy justifications.

Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast given me hope.

This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath enlivened me.

The proud did iniquitously altogether: but I declined not from thy law.

I remembered, O Lord, thy judgments of old: and I was comforted.

A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

Thy justifications were the subject of my song, in the place of my pilgrimage.

In the night I have remembered thy name, O Lord: and have kept thy law.

This happened to me: because I sought after thy justifications.

O Lord, my portion, I have said, I would keep thy law.

I entreated thy face with all my heart: have mercy on me according to thy word.

I have thought on my ways: and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

I am ready, and am not troubled: that I may keep thy commandments.

The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the judgments of thy justification.

I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy commandments.

The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy justifications.

Thou hast done well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word.

Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments.

Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy word.

Thou art good; and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications.

The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I will seek thy commandments with my whole heart.

Their heart is curdled like milk: but I have meditated on thy law.

It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy justifications.

The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and silver.

Thy hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.

They that fear thee shall see me, and shall be glad: because I have greatly hoped in thy words.

I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth thou hast humbled me.

O! let thy mercy be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for thy law is my meditation.

Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in thy commandments.

Let them that fear thee turn to me: and they that know thy testimonies.

Let my heart be undefiled in thy justifications, that I may not be confounded.

My soul hath fainted after thy salvation: and in thy word I have very much hoped.

My eyes have failed for thy word, saying: When wilt thou comfort me?

For I am become like a bottle in the frost: I have not forgotten thy justifications.

How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law.

All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me.

They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken thy commandments.

Quicken thou me according to thy mercy: and I shall keep the testimonies of thy mouth.

And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon, and he made affinity with Pharao, the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city of David: until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: for there was no temple built to the name of the Lord until that day.

And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts of David, his father; only he sacrificed in the high places, and burnt incense.

He went therefore to Gabaon, to sacrifice there: for that was the great high place: a thousand victims for holocausts, did Solomon offer upon that altar, in Gabaon.

And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, saying: Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.

And Solomon said: Thou hast shewed great mercy to thy servant David, my father, even as he walked before thee in truth, and justice, and an upright heart with thee: and thou hast kept thy great mercy for him, and hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David, my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and come in;

And thy servant is in the midst of the people which thou hast chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

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?

And the word was pleasing to the Lord, that Solomon had asked such a thing.

And the Lord said to Solomon: Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life nor riches, nor the lives of thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself wisdom to discern judgment;

Behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given thee a wise and understanding heart, in so much that there hath been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee.

Yea, and the things also which thou didst not ask, I have given thee; to wit, riches and glory: so that no one hath been like thee among the kings in all days heretofore.

And if thou wilt walk in my ways, and keep my precepts and my commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen thy days.

And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream: and when he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered holocausts, and sacrificed victims of peace offerings, and made a great feast for all his servants.

Then there came two women that were harlots, to the king, and stood before him.

And one of them said: I beseech thee, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber.

And the third day after I was delivered, she also was delivered; and we were together, and no other person with us in the house; only we two.

And this woman’s child died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him.

And rising in the dead time of the night, she took my child from my side, while I, thy handmaid, was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and laid her dead child in my bosom.

And when I arose in the morning, to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently, when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine which I bore.

And the other woman answered: It is not so as thou sayest, but thy child is dead, and mine is alive. On the contrary, she said; Thou liest: for my child liveth, and thy child is dead. And in this manner they strove before the king.

Then said the king: The one saith, My child is alive, and thy child is dead. And the other answereth: Nay; but thy child is dead, and mine liveth.

The king therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when they had brought a sword before the king,

Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.

But the woman, whose child was alive, said to the king; (for her bowels were moved upon her child) I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor thine; but divide it.

The king answered, and said: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed; for she is the mother thereof.

And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.

And king Solomon reigned over all Israel:

And these were the princes which he had: Azarias, the son of Sadoc, the priest:

Elihoreph, and Ahia, the sons of Sisa, scribes: Josaphat, the son of Ahilud, recorder:

Banaias, the son of Joiada, over the army: and Sadoc, and Abiathar, priests.

Azarias, the son of Nathan, over them that were about the king: Zabud, the son of Nathan, the priest, the king’s friend:

And Ahisar, governor of the house: and Adoniram, the son of Abda, over the tribute.

And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and for his house hold: for every one provided necessaries, each man his month in the year.

And these are their names: Benhur, in mount Ephraim.

Bendecar, in Macces, and in Salebim, and in Bethsames, and in Elon, and in Bethanan.

Benhesed, in Aruboth: his was Socho, and all the land of Epher.

Benabinadab, to whom belonged all Nephath-Dor: he had Tapheth, the daughter of Solomon, to wife.

Bana, the son of Ahilud, who governed Thanac, and Mageddo, and all Bethsan, which is by Sarthana, beneath Jezrael, from Bethsan unto Abelmehula, over against Jecmaan.

Bengaber, in Ramoth Galaad: he had the town of Jair, the son of Manasses, in Galaad: he was chief in all the country of Argob, which is in Basan, threescore great cities with walls, and brazen bolts.

Ahinadab, the son of Addo, was chief in Manaim.

Achimaas, in Nephthali: he also had Basemath, the daughter of Solomon, to wife.

Baana, the son of Husi, in Aser, and in Baloth.

Josaphat, the son of Pharue, in Issachar.

Semei, the son of Ela, in Benjamin.

Gaber, the son of Uri, in the land of Galaad, in the land of Sehon, the king of the Amorrhites, and of Og, the king of Basan, over all that were in that land.

Juda and Israel were innumerable, as the sand of the sea in multitude; eating and drinking, and rejoicing.

And Solomon had under him all the kingdoms, from the river to the land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt: and they brought him presents, and served him all the days of his life.

And the provision of Solomon, for each day, was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal;

Ten fat oxen, and twenty out of the pastures, and a hundred rams; besides venison of harts, roes, and buffles, and fatted fowls.

For he had all the country which was beyond the river, from Thaphsa to Gazan, and all the kings of those countries: and he had peace on every side round about.

And Juda, and Israel, dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon.

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand for the saddle.

And the foresaid governors of the king fed them; and they furnished the necessaries also for king Solomon’s table, with great care, in their time.

They brought barley also, and straw for the horses and beasts, to the place where the king was, according as it was appointed them.

And God gave to Solomon wisdom, and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, as the sand that is on the sea shore.

And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians;

And he was wiser than all men: wiser than Ethan, the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Dorda, the sons of Mahol, and he was renowned in all nations round about.

Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a thousand and five.

And he treated about trees, from the cedar that is in Libanus, unto the hyssop that cometh out of the wall: and he discoursed of beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom.

And Solomon gave orders to all Israel, to the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, and to the rulers, and to the judges of all Israel, and the heads of the families:

And he went with all the multitude to the high place of Gabaon, where was the tabernacle of the covenant of the Lord, which Moses the servant of God made, in the wilderness.

For David had brought the ark of God from Cariathiarim to the place, which he had prepared for it, and where he had pitched a tabernacle for it, that is, in Jerusalem.

And the altar of brass, which Beseleel the son of Uri the son of Hur had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and all the assembly sought it:

And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar, before the tabernacle of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up on it a thousand victims.

And behold that night God appeared to him, saying: Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.

And Solomon said to God: Thou hast shewn great kindness to my father David: and hast made me king in his stead.

Now therefore, O Lord God, let thy word be fulfilled, which thou hast promised to David my father: for thou hast made me king over thy great people, which is as innumerable as the dust of the earth.

Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may come in and go out before thy people: for who can worthily judge this thy people, which is so great?

And God said to Solomon: Because this choice hath pleased thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, and wealth, and glory, nor the lives of them that hate thee, nor many days of life: but hast asked wisdom and knowledge, to be able to judge my people, over which I have made thee king,

Wisdom and knowledge are granted to thee: and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and glory, so that none of the kings before thee, nor after thee, shall be like thee.

Then Solomon came from the high place of Gabaon to Jerusalem before the tabernacle of the covenant, and reigned over Israel.

And he gathered to himself chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen: and he placed them in the cities of the chariots, and with the king in Jerusalem.

And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees as sycamores, which grow in the plains in great multitude.

And there were horses brought him from Egypt, and from Coa by the king’s merchants, who went, and bought at a price,

A chariot of four horses for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: in like manner market was made in all the kingdoms of the Hethites, and of the kings of Syria.

A psalm on Solomon.

Give to the king thy judgment, O God, and to the king’s son thy justice: To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.

Let the mountains receive peace for the people: and the hills justice.

He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the children of the poor: and he shall humble the oppressor.

And he shall continue with the sun and before the moon, throughout all generations.

He shall come down like rain upon the fleece; and as showers falling gently upon the earth.

In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.

And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

Before him the Ethiopians shall fall down: and his enemies shall lick the ground.

The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts:

And all kings of the earth shall adore him: all nations shall serve him.

For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had no helper.

He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor.

He shall redeem their souls from usuries and iniquity: and their names shall be honourable in his sight.

And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Arabia, for him they shall always adore: they shall bless him all the day.

And there shall be a firmament on the earth on the tops of mountains, above Libanus shall the fruit thereof be exalted: and they of the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth.

Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before the sun. And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify him.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone doth wonderful things.

And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever: and the whole earth shall be filled with his majesty. So be it. So be it.

The praises of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.