Old Testament

New Testament

1 Kings 12:8-16 Modern English Version (MEV)

8. But he rejected the advice that the old men gave him and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and who stood before him,

9. and he said to them, “What advice do you give on how we should answer this people, who have spoken to me saying, ‘Make the yoke your father put on us lighter’?”

10. And the young men who grew up with him said, “Thus shall you answer this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger will be thicker than my father’s loins!

11. Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your burden. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions!’ ”

12. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had appointed, saying, “Come to me again the third day.”

13. The king answered the people roughly and forsook the counsel the old men gave him,

14. and instead spoke to them following the advice of the young men. He said, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your burden. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”

15. Thus the king did not listen to the people, for the cause was from the Lord, that He might fulfill His saying, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16. So when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people responded to the king, saying, “What portion do we have in David?We also do not have an inheritance in the son of Jesse.To your tents, O Israel,and see to your own house, David!”So the people of Israel departed to their tents.

Read complete chapter 1 Kings 12