2 Chronicles 10:1-11 ▼

1 And Roboam went to Sichem: for thither all Israel were assembled, to make him king.

2 And when Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who was in Egypt, (for he was fled thither from Solomon,) heard it, forthwith he returned.

3 And they sent for him, and he came with all Israel, and they spoke to Roboam, saying:

4 Thy father oppressed us with a most grievous yoke, do thou govern us with a lighter hand than thy father, who laid upon us a heavy servitude, and ease some thing of the burden, that we may serve thee.

5 And he said to them: Come to me again after three days. And when the people were gone,

6 He took counsel with the ancients, who had stood before his father Solomon, while he yet lived, saying: What counsel give you to me, that I may answer the people?

7 And they said to him: If thou please this people, and soothe them with kind words, they will be thy servants for ever.

8 But he forsook the counsel of the ancients, end began to treat with the young men, that had been brought up with him, and were in his train.

9 And he said to them: What seemeth good to you? or what shall I answer this people, who have said to me: Ease the yoke which thy father laid upon us?

10 But they answered as young men, and brought up with him in pleasures, and said: Thus shalt thou speak to the people, that said to thee: Thy father made our yoke heavy, do thou ease it: thus shalt thou answer them: My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father.

11 My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, and I will add more weight to it: my father beat you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions.