1 R ehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.

And Rehoboam goeth to Shechem, for Shechem have all Israel come to cause him to reign.

2 J eroboam the son of Nebat was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon, when he heard about the new king; so Jeroboam returned from Egypt.

And it cometh to pass, at Jeroboam son of Nebat's -- who in Egypt because he hath fled from the face of Solomon the king -- hearing, that Jeroboam turneth back out of Egypt;

3 A nd the people sent for him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came to Rehoboam, saying,

and they send and call for him, and Jeroboam cometh in, and all Israel, and speak unto Rehoboam, saying,

4 Y our father made our yoke grievous. So now make lighter the grievous service of your father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve you.

`Thy father made our yoke sharp, and now, make light of the sharp service of thy father, and of his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we serve thee.'

5 R ehoboam replied, Come again to me after three days. And the people departed.

And he saith unto them, `Yet three days -- then return ye unto me;' and the people go.

6 K ing Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who stood before Solomon his father while he was alive, saying, What counsel do you give me in reply to the people?

And king Rehoboam consulteth with the aged men who have been standing before Solomon his father in his being alive, saying, `How are ye counselling to answer this people?'

7 A nd they answered him, If you are kind to people and please them and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.

And they speak unto him, saying, `If thou dost become good to this people, and hast been pleased with them, and spoken unto them good words, then they have been to thee servants all the days.'

8 B ut the king forsook the counsel which the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who were brought up with him and stood before him.

And he forsaketh the counsel of the aged men that they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, those standing before him,

9 A nd he said to them, What answer do you advise that we give to the demand of people, Make the yoke your father put upon us lighter?

and he saith unto them, `What are ye counselling, and we answer this people that have spoken unto me, saying, Make light of the yoke that thy father put upon us?'

10 T he young men who were brought up with him said to him, Tell the people who said to you, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter: My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.

And the lads who have grown up with him, speak with him, saying, `Thus dost thou say to the people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make light of our yoke; thus dost thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father;

11 F or whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

and now, my father laid on you a heavy yoke, and I -- I add unto your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.'

12 T he third day Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam as he had said.

And Jeroboam cometh in, and all the people, unto Rehoboam on the third day, as the king spake, saying, `Return unto me on the third day.'

13 A nd the king answered them harshly, forsaking the counsel of the old men,

And the king answereth them sharply, and king Rehoboam forsaketh the counsel of the aged men,

14 A nd answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

and speaketh unto them according to the counsel of the lads, saying, `My father made your yoke heavy, and I -- I add unto it; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.'

15 S o the king did not heed the people, for it was brought about of God, that the Lord might perform His word which He spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

And the king hath not hearkened unto the people, for the revolution hath been from God, for the sake of Jehovah's establishing His word that He spake by the hand of Abijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam son of Nebat.

16 A nd when all Israel saw that the king would not listen to and heed them, they answered, What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now, David, see to your own house! So all Israel went to their homes.

And all Israel have seen that the king hath not hearkened to them, and the people send back the king, saying, `What portion have we in David? yea, there is no inheritance in a son of Jesse; each to thy tents, O Israel; now, see thy house -- David,' and all Israel go to their tents.

17 B ut as for the Israelites who dwelt in Judah’s cities, Rehoboam ruled over them.

As to the sons of Israel who are dwelling in the cities of Judah -- Rehoboam reigneth over them.

18 T hen King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, and the Israelites stoned him and he died. But King Rehoboam hastened to get up to his royal chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

And king Rehoboam sendeth Hadoram, who over the tribute, and the sons of Israel cast at him stones, and he dieth; and king Rehoboam hath strengthened himself to go up into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem;

19 A nd Israel has rebelled against the house of David to this day.

and Israel transgress against the house of David unto this day.