3. The people of the northern tribes sent for him, and then they all went together to Rehoboam and said to him,
4. “Your father Solomon treated us harshly and placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter and make life easier for us, we will be your loyal subjects.”
5. “Come back in three days and I will give you my answer,” he replied. So they left.
6. King Rehoboam consulted the older men who had served as his father Solomon's advisers. “What answer do you advise me to give these people?” he asked.
7. They replied, “If you want to serve this people well, give a favourable answer to their request, and they will always serve you loyally.”
8. But he ignored the advice of the older men and went instead to the young men who had grown up with him and who were now his advisers.
9. “What do you advise me to do?” he asked. “What shall I say to the people who are asking me to make their burdens lighter?”
10. They replied, “This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!’
11. Tell them, ‘My father placed heavy burdens on you; I will make them even heavier. He beat you with a whip; I'll flog you with a horsewhip!’ ”
12. Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to King Rehoboam, as he had instructed them.
13. The king ignored the advice of the older men and spoke harshly to the people,
14. as the younger men had advised. He said, “My father placed heavy burdens on you; I will make them even heavier. He beat you with a whip; I'll flog you with a horsewhip!”