1 Kings 12:6-11 - Rehoboam Seeks Counsel To Respond

⁶ Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who used to stand before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, - How do, ye, advise, that I answer this people?

⁷ And they spake unto him, saying - If, to-day, thou wilt be servant unto this people, and wilt serve them, - and answer them kindly, and speak unto them good words, then will they be, thy, servants, always.

⁸ But he declined the counsel of the elders which they gave him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, who were standing before himself; ⁹ and said unto them - What counsel do, ye, give as to how we shall answer this people who have spoken unto me, saying - Make a lightening of the yoke which thy father put upon us?

¹⁰ Then spake unto him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou say to this people that have spoken unto thee, saying - Thy father, made our yoke heavy, thou, therefore lighten it upon us, Thus, shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father's loins; ¹¹ Now, therefore, whereas, my father, laid upon you a heavy yoke, I, will add to your yoke, - My father, did chastise you with whips, but, I, will chastise you with scorpions.