1 T hen Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

¶ And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come together in Shechem to make him king.

2 W hen Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt.

And when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, heard it, who was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of Solomon, the king, Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

3 S o they sent and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

4 “ Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Thy father made our yoke grievous; now, therefore, ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

5 H e said to them, “Return to me again in three days.” So the people departed.

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

6 T hen King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?”

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon, his father, while he yet lived, saying, What do you counsel to reply to this people?

7 T hey spoke to him, saying, “If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou wilt seek the good of this people and please them and speak good words to them, they will be thy slaves for ever.

8 B ut he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.

But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

9 S o he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

And he said unto them, What do you counsel us to reply to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?

10 T he young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’ Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins!

Then the young men that were brought up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spoke unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.

11 W hereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

For 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.

12 S o Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, “Return to me on the third day.”

¶ So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had commanded, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

13 T he king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.

And the king answered them roughly, for King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men

14 H e 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 disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

and 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.

15 S o the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God that the Lord might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

So the king did not hearken unto the people, for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah, the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.

16 W hen all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king, saying, “ What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel; Now look after your own house, David.” So all Israel departed to their tents.

And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David or inheritance in the son of Jesse? Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now, David, see to thine own house! So all Israel went to their tents.

17 B ut as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

But Rehoboam reigned over the sons of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah.

18 T hen King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, and the sons of Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the tribute and the sons of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. So King Rehoboam made speed to get into a chariot and fled to Jerusalem.

19 S o Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Thus Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.