SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.
Reading edition
“And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon she came to prove him with hard questions. And she gave the king of gold and of spices a very great store, and precious stones."—Kings x.
Uttermost parts of the earth Had heard the wondrous fame Of Solomon’s most mighty acts,— The greatness of his name. Thence came the Queen of Sheba down With camels bearing gold, And precious stones, and spices sweet,— Their worth has ne’er been told. Arabian spices—such a store Was never seen again Within the Holy Land as then The queen brought in her train. Communing with King Solomon Of what was in her heart, With questions hard she led the king His wisdom to impart. Then said the queen, “In mine own land Of thy great name I heard, The wisdom and prosperity God had on thee conferred. “The fame of thy most mighty acts So filled me with surprise That I resolved to venture down And see with mine own eyes, “And bring a present from the East,— Spices, and gems, and gold; O king! I heard a true report, Yet half has ne’er been told. “Thrice happy are thy men, great king, And these thy servants, too, Who wait before thee all the day, And see what thou dost do. “And blessed be the Lord thy God, Who takes delight in thee; Because the Lord loved Israel well, Thy wisdom now they see. “Then of his royal bounty he Gave what the queen liked best, And thus King Solomon dismissed His pleased and grateful guest.