1 R ehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to 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 out of Egypt.

When 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.

3 T hey sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

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

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

“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.”

5 H e said to them, “Come again to me after three days.” The people departed.

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

6 K ing Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?”

Then 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?”

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

They 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.”

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

But 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.

9 H e said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?’”

So 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’?”

10 T he young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall tell the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter on us;’ thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.

The 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!

11 N ow whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’”

Whereas 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.’”

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

13 T he king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam abandoned the counsel of the old men,

The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.

14 a nd spoke to them after the counsel 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.”

He 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.”

15 S o the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about of God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

So 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.

16 W hen all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to 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, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So all Israel departed to their tents.

When 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.

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

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

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

Then 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.

19 S o Israel rebelled against David’s house to this day.

So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.