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The Book of Proverbs is part of The Easy Modern English Bible – Expanded Translation series. The Easy Modern English Bible uses simple words, clear sentences, and preserves the deep meaning of God’s wisdom. Would you like to read the Bible and understand every word in it? Now the Book of Proverbs is available in modern English – Expanded Translation. The language of the Book of Proverbs is so clear and easy to follow that even first-time readers will find it inspiring. Read, reflect, and discuss God’s Word together!
Receive Wisdom for Every Day – How One Dream of King Solomon Changed an Entire Nation
Imagine God came to you and said, “I will give you whatever you ask.” What would you request? A house by the ocean? Astronaut-level health? A million—or better yet, ten million, just to be safe? Pause for a moment. Think about it. Don’t give the “right” answer like you’re in a job interview. Be honest. What do you really want?
Now picture a young king—Solomon—who has just begun to rule a nation. The crown shines on his head. He has power. He has authority. But he has zero experience.
Intimidating? Absolutely. A massive country filled with disputes, complaints, and human drama. Solomon must make hundreds of decisions, and any one of them could go wrong. One night, God appears to him in a dream and says, “Solomon, I will give you whatever you ask.”
So this is his moment. Long life? Of course. And not just survival—real living. Wealth? Why not? Enough gold that you weigh it instead of counting it. Victory over enemies? Let them be too afraid even to sneeze!
But what does Solomon ask? He says, “God, give me a wise heart so I can judge fairly and make the right decisions.” Not exactly the “take everything and take more” mindset.
God is pleased with his answer. He says, “You will receive wisdom greater than any ruler before or after you. And as a bonus, I will also give you wealth, honor, and long life.” See the pattern? Wisdom became the key to everything else.
The wisdom God gave Solomon wasn’t just high intelligence or life experience. It was the ability to see beneath the surface. Because of that, he made decisions that brought peace instead of chaos.
Forty years in power—and not a single war in Israel. The economy flourished. There was so much silver people stopped counting it. Gold shone so brightly the sun might have needed sunglasses. Solomon’s accountant probably shrugged and wrote in the report: “Don’t worry. There’s plenty of gold. And even more silver.”
Neighboring nations didn’t plot against Israel; they built diplomatic relationships. Swords rusted. Israel was respected. Leaders came to Solomon not with threats, but with gifts. The temple he built became one of the most magnificent structures of the ancient world.
Solomon wrote the Book of Proverbs. He reflected on everything: love and hatred, honesty and lies, wisdom and foolishness. It seemed like no one could surpass that level of insight.
Then, centuries later, Jesus Christ steps onto the stage of history and calmly declares, “Something greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42). And the story of the world pauses.
Jesus isn’t simply comparing Himself to Solomon. He is claiming something far bigger. If Solomon represented the peak of human wisdom, then Christ is the source of divine wisdom itself.
The apostle Paul explains this in Ephesians 1:17–18. He prays that believers would receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation so they may know God more deeply.
What does this mean? It means every believer now has access to wisdom that surpasses Solomon’s. This wisdom helps us understand God’s will, make sound decisions, and face life without panic.
If we have such potential for wisdom in Christ, the real question is: how do we grow in it? Read the Book of Proverbs. It isn’t a collection of pretty quotes. It’s a practical guide for living well.
Proverbs 3:16 says, “Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” The principle hasn’t changed since Solomon’s time: wisdom is the key to every blessing we could hope for.
God hasn’t changed either. He still looks not only at our requests, but at our priorities. You can chase money and end up catching stress and burnout. Or you can pursue wisdom and one day notice that success is following you. Wisdom must be sought. Foolishness shows up on its own.
When we seek God’s wisdom, we receive more than we expect. That wisdom is now available to everyone who believes in Jesus: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). So ask—and receive.
Don’t just pray for wisdom. Read the Book of Proverbs in a clear, modern translation. It has 31 chapters. One chapter a day. In a month, you can read the whole book. Build that rhythm. Apply what you read. Then wisdom won’t remain theory. It will shape your character. It will become your inner compass. And you will be able to make wise decisions—again and again.