1 A nd Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had 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 it (now 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 spoke 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; and now lighten the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, 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 to them, Come again to 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 consulted with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, How do ye advise 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 spoke to him saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, 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 advice of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men, who had 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 to them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me saying, Lighten the yoke which thy father put upon us?

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 had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou say to the people who have spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and lighten thou it for us,—thus shalt thou say to them: My little 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 whereas my father laid a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I 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 A nd Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed saying, Come again to me on 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 advice 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 spoke to them according to 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 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 to the people; for it was brought about by God, that Jehovah might give effect to his word, which he spoke through 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 all Israel saw that the king hearkened not to them; and the people answered the king saying, What portion have we in David? and no inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel. Now see to thine own house, David! And all Israel went to 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 A nd king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the levy; but the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. And king Rehoboam hastened to mount 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 A nd Israel rebelled against the house of David, unto this day.

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