Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

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

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

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

— 1 Kings 3:7–9 (KJV)

About This Prayer

When God appeared to the new king Solomon in a dream and said "Ask what I shall give thee," Solomon asked for none of the things kings usually want — long life, riches, victory. He admitted he felt like a child in a job too big for him, and asked for an understanding heart instead. Scripture says this answer pleased the Lord, and Solomon's wisdom became famous across the ancient world. The prayer's power is its honesty: it begins with "I know not" before it ever asks for anything.

When to Pray This

Pray this when a responsibility feels bigger than you are — a new job, a new baby, leading a team, caring for aging parents, or any decision where good and bad are hard to tell apart. Starting where Solomon started, with an honest "I don't know how to do this," is itself a kind of wisdom.