1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make 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. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, 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. 5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

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? 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. 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. 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? 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. 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.

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

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. 17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 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. 19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

1 罗波安到示剑去， 因为全体以色列人都去了示剑， 要立他作王。

2 那时， 尼八的儿子耶罗波安， 因为逃避所罗门王， 住在埃及； 他一听见这事， 就从埃及回来。

3 他们派人去叫耶罗波安回来； 他就和全体以色列人来见罗波安， 对他说：

4 "你父亲使我们所负的轭甚重， 现在求你减轻你父亲加在我们身上的劳役和重轭， 我们就服事你。"

5 罗波安对他们说： "三天以后你们再来见我吧！ "众人就离去了。

6 罗波安王和一些在他父亲所罗门在世的时候， 侍立在所罗门面前的老人商议， 说： "你们有什么提议， 我好回复这班民众呢？"

7 他们对他说： "如果王善待人民， 使他们喜悦， 对他们说好话， 他们就必永远作你的仆人。"

8 王不接受这些老人的意见， 却去和那些同他一起长大， 侍立在他面前的年轻人商议，

9 问他们： "这人民对我说： 求你减轻你父亲加在我们身上的重轭吧。你们有什么提议， 我好回复他们呢？"

10 那些同他一起长大的年轻人对他说： "这人民对王说： ‘你父亲使我们所负的轭甚重， 现在求你减轻些吧。’王要这样对他们说： ‘我的小拇指比我父亲的腰还粗呢。

11 我父亲把重轭加在你们身上， 我必使你们负更重的轭； 我父亲用鞭打你们， 我却要用蝎子鞭责打你们。’"

12 耶罗波安和全体人民都遵照罗波安王所说"你们第三天再来见我"的话， 第三天来见罗波安。

13 罗波安王很严厉地回答他们。罗波安王不接受老人的意见，

14 却照着年轻人的主意对他们说： "我父亲使你们负重轭， 我必使你们负更重的轭； 我父亲用鞭子责打你们， 我却要用蝎子鞭责打你们。"

15 王不听从人民的要求， 这事原是出于 神， 为要实现耶和华借着示罗人亚希雅对尼八的儿子耶罗波安所说的话。

16 以色列人见王不听他们的要求， 就对王说： "我们和大卫有什么关系呢？我们和耶西的儿子并不相干。以色列人哪， 各回各家去吧， 大卫啊， 现在只顾你自己的家吧。"于是全体以色列人都回自己的家去了。

17 只有那些住在犹大众城镇的以色列人， 罗波安仍然作他们的王。

18 罗波安王差派了监管苦工的哈多兰到以色列人那里去， 以色列人就用石头把他打死了。罗波安王急忙上车， 逃回耶路撒冷去了。

19 这样， 以色列人背叛了大卫家， 直到今日。