Bible story
Solomon’s Wisdom Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped bible story prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father, Solomon was offered anything he wanted. He asked for wisdom to know right from wrong. You were pleased with that choice. Make my first requests look like his. I know the pull to ask for what I want most, as if that were the end goal. But wisdom is a different kind of asking. With wisdom, other good things find their place. Without it, even good things can become traps. Solomon started with a good heart, but he later drifted into excess. Give me his early heart. Spare me his later drift. Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
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 great people of yours?”
1 Kings 3:9God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,
1 Kings 3:11
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray solomon’s wisdom prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in 1 Kings 3:9, 1 Kings 3:11. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.