24 He sent for a sword, and when it was brought,
25 he said, “Cut the living child in two and give each woman half of it.”
26 The real mother, her heart full of love for her son, said to the king, “Please, Your Majesty, don't kill the child! Give it to her!”But the other woman said, “Don't give it to either of us; go ahead and cut it in two.”
27 Then Solomon said, “Don't kill the child! Give it to the first woman — she is its real mother.”
28 When the people of Israel heard of Solomon's decision, they were all filled with deep respect for him, because they knew then that God had given him the wisdom to settle disputes fairly.