2 Chronicles, 10

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

1. Rehoboam went to Shechem where all the people of northern Israel had gone to proclaim him king.

2. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who [was] in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard [it], that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

2. As soon as Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news - he was still in Egypt where he had gone to escape from king Solomon - he returned from Egypt.

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

3. The people of the northern tribes sent for him, and he came with the whole assembly. And they said this to Rehoboam,

4. 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.

4. "Your father placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter for us, we will serve you."

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

5. He said, "Come back to me in three days." And the people went away.

6. And 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?

6. King Rehoboam consulted the older men who had served as advisers to his father Solomon and asked them, "What reply do you advise me to give to this people?"

7. And they spake unto 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.

7. They said, "If you are kind to these people and listen to them and treat them fairly, then they will serve you forever."

8. 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.

8. But he rejected the advice given him by the elders and consulted the bloody young men who had grown up with him.

9. And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?

9. He asked, "How do you advise us to answer these people who have said to me, 'Lighten the burden your father put on us'?"

10. And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou [it] somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins.

10. The bloody young men who had grown up with him replied, "Give this answer to these people who have said, 'Your father gave us a heavy burden to bear, you must lighten it for us.' Say this to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!

11. For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.

11. My father made you bear a heavy burden, but I will make it heavier still! My father beat you with whips; I am going to beat you with bullwhips!"

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

12. Jeroboam with all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day according to what the king had said, "Come back to me on the third day."

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

13. King Rehoboam, rejecting the advice of the elders, gave them a harsh answer

14. And answered them after the advice 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.

14. and spoke to them as the bloody young men had recommended, "My father made you bear a heavy burden, but I will make it heavier still. My father beat you with whips; I am going to beat you with bullwhips!"

15. So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

15. The king in fact paid no attention to the people's wishes, and this was brought about by God to carry out what Yahweh had spoken through Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

16. 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? and [we have] none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: [and] now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

16. When all Israel saw that the king paid no attention to their wishes, they gave him this answer: "Down with David and his descendants! What have they ever done for us? To your tents, men of Israel; let's go home. From now on let Rehoboam look out for himself!"

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

17. So the people of Israel rebelled and Rehoboam was left with those people of Israel who lived in the towns of Judah.

18. Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that [was] over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to [his] chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

18. King Rehoboam sent Adoram who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death;

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

19. whereupon King Rehoboam was obliged to mount his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. And the people of Israel have been in rebellion against the family of David until the present day.