2 Chronicles 10

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

1Rehoboam went to Shechem because all the people of Israel had gathered there to crown him as king.

2And 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.

2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled to escape King Solomon.

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

3The people sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said,

4Thy 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.

4'Your father treated us harshly and made us carry a heavy burden. If you make our hard work easier and lighten the heavy burden he put on us, we will serve you.'

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

5Rehoboam answered, 'Come back to see me in three days.' So the people left.

6And 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?

6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the older men who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked them, 'What is your advice? How should I answer these people?'

7And 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.

7They replied, 'If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak favorable words to them, they will be your servants forever.'

8But 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.

8But Rehoboam rejected the advice the older men gave him. Instead, he consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and were now serving him.

9And 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?

9He asked them, 'What is your advice? How should we answer these people who said to me, "Lighten the burden your father put on us"?'

10And 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.

10The young men who grew up with him replied, 'Tell those people who complained about your father's heavy burden: "My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!"'

11And 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.

11'Tell them, "My father gave you a heavy burden, but I will make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with stinging scorpions!"'

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

12Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, just as the king had told them.

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

13The king spoke harshly to them. King Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older men.

14and 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.

14He followed the advice of the young men and said, 'My father made your burden heavy, but I will make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with stinging scorpions.'

15So 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.

15The king refused to listen to the people because this turn of events was from God. It happened so the LORD could fulfill the promise he had made to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah from Shiloh.

16And 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.

16When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they shouted back at him, 'What do we have to do with David? We have no share in the son of Jesse! Go home, Israel! Look after your own house, David!' So all the people of Israel went home.

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

17But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.

18Then 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.

18Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of forced labor, to talk to the people, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam quickly jumped into his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem.

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

19So Israel has been in rebellion against the family of David to this very day.