The first word in the Hebrew of this verse is the one translated also. In some cases it may be better translated “In addition to this…” or “What is more…” (Revised English Bible). It introduces other gifts that God decided to give to Solomon in addition to the wisdom that he had requested.
Riches: See the comment on this noun in verse 11.
Honor renders a Hebrew noun that may be translated “respect,” “honor,” “glory” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), or “distinction.” In this context, of course, the English word “glory” does not mean something shiny but rather “receiving respect and honor from other people.”
No other king shall compare with you is literally “there shall not be like you a man among kings.” In a number of languages it will be necessary to specify the basis of comparison or lack of comparison. The context makes it clear that the comparison involves wealth and honor. Some other ways of saying this are “no king on earth will have as much wealth and esteem as you will have” and “you will be richer and more respected than any other king.”
The words all your days are not in the Septuagint, which is followed by New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the longer reading of the Masoretic Text. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament notes that it is strange to find the words all your days at the very end of the verse. We would expect the last half of the verse to say “both riches and honor all your days, so that no other king shall compare with you”; and this is, indeed, the text that New Revised Standard Version follows. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests, however, that the words all your days come at the end so that no other king may be understood to refer to all kings who have come before Solomon, as well as those who rule other kingdoms at the same time that he does. The Hebrew verb here supports this understanding. Compare Contemporary English Version: “You’ll be rich and respected as long as you live, and you’ll be greater than any other king.” This leaves open the possibility that kings of all times are included.
The interpretation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament is most likely correct, but it is also possible that the comparison is intended to refer only to other kings ruling at the same time as Solomon. For the whole verse compare “What is more, I give you those things for which you did not ask, such wealth and glory as no king of your time can match” (Revised English Bible) and “… I give you both riches and honor, that there will not be any king like you during your lifetime” (Anchor Bible). See also New Century Version, which has “I will also give you what you did not ask for: riches and honor. During your life no other king will be as great as you.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .