CAB(i)
16 Then there appeared two harlots before the king, and they stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, Hear me, my lord; I and this woman dwelt in one house, and we both delivered a child in the house.
18 And it came to pass on the third day after I was delivered, this woman also was delivered. And we were together; and there was no one with us besides our two selves in the house.
19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she laid on him.
20 And she arose in the middle of the night, and took my son from my arms, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom.
21 And I arose in the morning to suckle my son, and he was dead. And behold, I looked at him in the morning, and behold, it was not my son whom I bore.
22 And the other woman said, No, but the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son. So they spoke before the king.
23 And the king said to them, You say, This is my son, even the living one, and this woman's son is the dead one. And you say, No, but the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.
24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the live child, the suckling, in two; and give half of it to one, and half of it to the other.
26 And the woman whose the living child was, answered and said to the king, (for her heart yearned over her son), I beseech you, my lord, give her the child, and by no means slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor hers; divide it.
27 Then the king answered and said, Give the child to her that said, 'Give it to her, and by no means slay it: she is its mother.
28 And all Israel heard this judgment which the king judged, and they feared before the king; because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute judgment.