| New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. | 1Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. |
| 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt, for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. | 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it--for he was in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon's presence--Jeroboam returned from Egypt. |
| 3The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. | 3So they summoned him. Then Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam: |
| 4“Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.” | 4"Your father made our yoke difficult. Therefore, lighten your father's harsh service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." |
| 5Rehoboam replied, “Come back in three days for my answer.” So the people went away. | 5Rehoboam replied, "Return to me in three days." So the people left. |
| 6Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?” | 6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon when he was alive, asking, "How do you advise me to respond to these people?" |
| 7The older counselors replied, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.” | 7They replied, "If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever." |
| 8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. | 8But he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him, and he consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, the ones serving him. |
| 9“What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?” | 9He asked them, "What message do you advise we send back to these people who said to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us?" |
| 10The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! | 10Then the young men who had grown up with him told him, "This is what you should say to the people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us!' This is what you should say to them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins. |
| 11Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’” | 11Now therefore, my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I, with barbed whips.'" |
| 12Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision, just as the king had ordered. | 12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered, saying, "Return to me on the third day." |
| 13But Rehoboam spoke harshly to them, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors | 13Then the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the elders' advice |
| 14and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” | 14and spoke to them according to the young men's advice, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I, with barbed whips." |
| 15So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of God, for it fulfilled the LORD’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh. | 15The king did not listen to the people because the turn of events came from God, in order that the LORD might carry out His word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. |
| 16When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So all the people of Israel returned home. | 16When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people answered the king: What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Israel, each man to your tent; David, look after your own house now! So all Israel went to their tents. |
| 17But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah. | 17But as for the Israelites living in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. |
| 18King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. | 18Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. However, King Rehoboam managed to get into his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. |
| 19And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David. | 19Israel is in rebellion against the house of David until today. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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