1Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
1羅波安往示劍去，因為以色列人都到了示劍，要立他作王。
2When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard [of it] (for he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
2尼八的兒子耶羅波安先前躲避所羅門王，逃往埃及，住在那裡；他聽見這事，就從埃及回來。
3So they sent and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
3以色列人打發人去請他，他就和以色列眾人來見羅波安，對他說：
4'Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.'
4你父親使我們負重軛做苦工，現在求你使我們做的苦工負的重軛輕鬆些，我們就事奉你。
5He said to them, 'Return to me again in three days.' So the people departed.
5羅波安對他們說：第三日再來見我罷！民就去了。
6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, 'How do you counsel [me] to answer this people?'
6羅波安之父所羅門在世的日子，有侍立在他面前的老年人，羅波安王和他們商議，說：你們給我出個甚麼主意，我好回覆這民。
7They spoke to him, saying, 'If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.'
7老年人對他說：王若恩待這民，使他們喜悅，用好話回覆他們，他們就永遠作王的僕人。
8But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.
8王卻不用老年人給他出的主意，就和那些與他一同長大、在他面前侍立的少年人商議，
9So he said to them, 'What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?'
9說：這民對我說：你父親使我們負重軛，求你使我們輕鬆些；你們給我出個甚麼主意，我好回覆他們。
10The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, 'Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.' Thus you shall say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!
10那同他長大的少年人說：這民對王說：你父親使我們負重軛，求你使我們輕鬆些；王要對他們如此說：我的小拇指比我父親的腰還粗；
11'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I [will discipline you] with scorpions.''
11我父親使你們負重軛，我必使你們負更重的軛；我父親用鞭子責打你們，我要用蠍子鞭責打你們。
12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, 'Return to me on the third day.'
12耶羅波安和眾百姓遵著羅波安王所說你們第三日再來見我的那話，第三日他們果然來了。
13The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.
13羅波安王用嚴厲的話回覆他們，不用老年人所出的主意，
14He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I [will discipline you] with scorpions.'
14照著少年人所出的主意對他們說：我父親使你們負重軛，我必使你們負更重的軛；我父親用鞭子責打你們，我要用蠍子鞭責打你們。
15So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn [of events] from God that the LORD might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
15王不肯依從百姓；這事乃出於神，為要應驗耶和華藉示羅人亞希雅對尼八兒子耶羅波安所說的話。
16When all Israel [saw] that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king, saying, 'What portion do we have in David? [We have] no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel; Now look after your own house, David.' So all Israel departed to their tents.
16以色列眾民見王不依從他們，就對王說：我們與大衛有甚麼分兒呢？與耶西的兒子並沒有關涉！以色列人哪，各回各家去罷！大衛家啊，自己顧自己罷！於是，以色列眾人都回自己家裡去了。
17But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
17惟獨住在猶大城邑的以色列人，羅波安仍作他們的王。
18Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, and the sons of Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.
18羅波安王差遣掌管服苦之人的哈多蘭往以色列人那裡去，以色列人就用石頭打死他。羅波安王急忙上車，逃回耶路撒冷去了。
19So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
19這樣，以色列人背叛大衛家，直到今日。