1 A nd Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

Then Rehoboam went to Shechem. All Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

2 A nd it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon,) that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard about it, he returned from Egypt. For Jeroboam had run to Egypt to get away from King Solomon.

3 A nd they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spake to Rehoboam, saying,

And the people sent for him. Jeroboam and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

4 T hy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

“Your father gave us a heavy load to carry. So now make our work easier than your father made us work. Do not let our load be as heavy as the one he put on us. And we will work for you.”

5 A nd he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

Rehoboam said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people left.

6 A nd king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?

Then King Rehoboam spoke with the leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He said, “Tell me, how do you think I should answer these people?”

7 A nd they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

They said to him, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8 B ut he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.

But Rehoboam would not listen to the wise words of the leaders. He spoke with the young men who grew up with him and served him.

9 A nd he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?

He said to them, “Tell me, how do you think I should answer these people who have said to me, ‘Do not let our load be as heavy as the one your father put on us’?”

10 A nd the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.

The young men who grew up with him said to him, “Say this to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our load heavy, but you make it easier for us.’ Tell them, ‘My little finger is bigger around than my father’s body!

11 A nd now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

My father gave you a heavy load. I will add to your load. My father punished you with whips. But I will punish you with scorpions.’”

12 S o Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had told them, saying, “Return to me on the third day.”

13 A nd the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

The king answered them with strong words. King Rehoboam did not listen to the wise words of the leaders.

14 a nd spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Instead he listened to the words of the young men. And he said to them, “My father made your load heavy, but I will add to it. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.”

15 S o the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was brought about of God, that Jehovah might establish his word, which he spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

So the king did not listen to the people. God made this happen so that He might make His Word come true which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 A nd when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel departed unto their tents.

All Israel saw that the king did not listen to them. So the people said to the king, “What share do we have in David? We have no share in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now look to your own house, David!” So all Israel left and went to their tents.

17 B ut as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

But Rehoboam ruled over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah.

18 T hen king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to taskwork; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, the man who made the people work. But the people of Israel killed him with stones. So King Rehoboam got on his war-wagon in a hurry, to go to Jerusalem.

19 S o Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

Israel has been against the family of David to this day.