4
Thy father oppressed 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, and 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.
12
So Jeroboam, and all the people came to Roboam the third day, as he commanded them.
13
And the king answered roughly, leaving the counsel of the ancients.
14
And he spoke according to the advice of the young men: My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, which I will make heavier: my father beat you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions.