1 Kings 12 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

1 Kings 12 (WEBP)

[1] Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
[2] When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt;
[3] and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
[4] “Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore make the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.”
[5] He said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” So the people departed.
[6] King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me to answer these people?”
[7] They replied, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever.”
[8] But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
[9] He said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may answer these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter’?”
[10] The young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Tell these people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us’— tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.
[11] Now my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’ ”
[12] So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king asked, saying, “Come to me again the third day.”
[13] The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him,
[14] and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
[15] So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
[16] When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion have we in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So Israel departed to their tents.
[17] But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
[18] Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
[19] So Israel rebelled against David’s house to this day.
[20] When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed David’s house, except for the tribe of Judah only.
[21] When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
[22] But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
[23] “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,
[24] ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.” ’ ” So they listened to Yahweh’s word, and returned and went their way, according to Yahweh’s word.
[25] Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there and built Penuel.
[26] Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to David’s house.
[27] If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
[28] So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
[29] He set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
[30] This thing became a sin, for the people went even as far as Dan to worship before the one there.
[31] He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.
[32] Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar. He did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made, and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
[33] He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn incense.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

1 Kings 12 (KJVS)

[1] And Rehoboam went () to Shechem : for all Israel were come () to Shechem to make him king ().
[2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat , who was yet in Egypt , heard () [of it], (for he was fled () from the presence of king Solomon , and Jeroboam dwelt () in Egypt ;)
[3] That they sent () and called () him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came (), and spake () unto Rehoboam , saying (),
[4] Thy father made our yoke grievous (): now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father , and his heavy yoke which he put () upon us, lighter (), and we will serve () thee.
[5] And he said () unto them, Depart () yet [for] three days , then come again () to me. And the people departed ().
[6] And king Rehoboam consulted () with the old men , that stood () before Solomon his father while he yet lived , and said (), How do ye advise () that I may () answer this people ?
[7] And they spake () unto him, saying (), If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day , and wilt serve () them, and answer () them, and speak () good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever .
[8] But he forsook () the counsel of the old men , which they had given () him, and consulted () with the young men that were grown up () with him, [and] which stood () before him:
[9] And he said () unto them, What counsel give () ye that we may () answer this people , who have spoken () to me, saying (), Make the yoke which thy father did put () upon us lighter ()?
[10] And the young men that were grown up () with him spake () unto him, saying (), Thus shalt thou speak () unto this people that spake () unto thee, saying (), Thy father made our yoke heavy (), but make thou [it] lighter () unto us; thus shalt thou say () unto them, My little [finger] shall be thicker () than my father’s loins .
[11] And now whereas my father did lade () you with a heavy yoke , I will add () to your yoke : my father hath chastised () you with whips , but I will chastise () you with scorpions .
[12] So Jeroboam and all the people came () to Rehoboam the third day , as the king had appointed (), saying (), Come to me again () the third day .
[13] And the king answered () the people roughly , and forsook () the old men’s counsel that they gave () him;
[14] And spake () to them after the counsel of the young men , saying (), My father made your yoke heavy (), and I will add () to your yoke : my father [also] chastised () you with whips , but I will chastise () you with scorpions .
[15] Wherefore the king hearkened () not unto the people ; for the cause was from the LORD , that he might perform () his saying , which the LORD spake () by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat .
[16] So () when all Israel saw () that the king hearkened () not unto them, the people answered the king , saying (), What portion have we in David ? neither [have we] inheritance in the son of Jesse : to your tents , O Israel : now see () to thine own house , David . So Israel departed () unto their tents .
[17] But [as for] the children of Israel which dwelt () in the cities of Judah , Rehoboam reigned () over them.
[18] Then king Rehoboam sent () Adoram , who [was] over the tribute ; and all Israel stoned () him with stones , that he died (). Therefore king Rehoboam made speed () to get him up () to his chariot , to flee () to Jerusalem .
[19] So Israel rebelled () against the house of David unto this day .
[20] And it came to pass, when all Israel heard () that Jeroboam was come again (), that they sent () and called () him unto the congregation , and made him king () over all Israel : there was none that followed the house of David , but the tribe of Judah only.
[21] And when Rehoboam was come () to Jerusalem , he assembled () all the house of Judah , with the tribe of Benjamin , an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men (), which were warriors () , to fight () against the house of Israel , to bring the kingdom again () to Rehoboam the son of Solomon .
[22] But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God , saying (),
[23] Speak () unto Rehoboam , the son of Solomon , king of Judah , and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin , and to the remnant of the people , saying (),
[24] Thus saith () the LORD , Ye shall not go up (), nor fight () against your brethren the children of Israel : return () every man to his house ; for this thing is () from me. They hearkened () therefore to the word of the LORD , and returned () to depart (), according to the word of the LORD .
[25] Then Jeroboam built () Shechem in mount Ephraim , and dwelt () therein; and went out () from thence, and built () Penuel .
[26] And Jeroboam said () in his heart , Now shall the kingdom return () to the house of David :
[27] If this people go up () to do () sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem , then shall the heart of this people turn again () unto their lord , [even] unto Rehoboam king of Judah , and they shall kill () me, and go again () to Rehoboam king of Judah .
[28] Whereupon the king took counsel (), and made () two calves [of] gold , and said () unto them, It is too much for you to go up () to Jerusalem : behold thy gods , O Israel , which brought thee up () out of the land of Egypt .
[29] And he set () the one in Bethel , and the other put () he in Dan .
[30] And this thing became a sin : for the people went () [to worship] before the one , [even] unto Dan .
[31] And he made () an house of high places , and made () priests of the lowest of the people , which were not of the sons of Levi .
[32] And Jeroboam ordained () a feast in the eighth month , on the fifteenth day of the month , like unto the feast that [is] in Judah , and he offered () upon the altar . So did () he in Bethel , sacrificing () unto the calves that he had made (): and he placed () in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made ().
[33] So he offered () upon the altar which he had made () in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month , [even] in the month which he had devised () of his own heart ; and ordained () a feast unto the children of Israel : and he offered () upon the altar , and burnt incense ().

Young’s Literal Translation

1 Kings 12 (YLT)

[1] And Rehoboam goeth to Shechem, for to Shechem hath all Israel come to make him king.
[2] And it cometh to pass, at Jeroboam son of Nebat’s hearing (and he is yet in Egypt where he hath fled from the presence of Solomon the king, and Jeroboam dwelleth in Egypt),
[3] that they send and call for him; and they come-Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel-and speak unto Rehoboam, saying,
[4] ‘Thy father made hard our yoke, and thou, now, make light some of the hard service of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we serve thee.’
[5] And he saith unto them, ‘Go-yet three days, and come back unto me;’ and the people go.
[6] And king Rehoboam consulteth with the elders who have been standing in the presence of Solomon his father, in his being alive, saying, ‘How are ye counselling to answer this people?’
[7] And they speak unto him, saying, ‘If, to-day, thou art servant to this people, and hast served them, and answered them, and spoken unto them good words, then they have been to thee servants all the days.’
[8] And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing before him;
[9] and he saith unto them, ‘What are ye counselling, and we answer this people, who have spoken unto me, saying, Lighten somewhat of the yoke that thy father put upon us?’
[10] And they speak unto him-the lads who had grown up with him-saying, ‘Thus dost thou say to this people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make it light upon us; thus dost thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father;
[11] and now, my father laid on you a heavy yoke, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I-I chastise you with scorpions.’
[12] And they come-Jeroboam and all the people-unto Rehoboam, on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, ‘Come back unto me on the third day.’
[13] And the king answereth the people sharply, and forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him,
[14] and speaketh unto them, according to the counsel of the lads, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I-I chastise you with scorpions;’
[15] and the king hearkened not unto the people, for the revolution was from Jehovah, in order to establish His word that Jehovah spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam son of Nebat.
[16] And all Israel see that the king hath not hearkened unto them, and the people send the king back word, saying, ‘What portion have we in David? yea, there is no inheritance in the son of Jesse; to thy tents, O Israel; now see thy house, O David!’ and Israel goeth to its tents.
[17] As to the sons of Israel, those dwelling in the cities of Judah-over them reign doth Rehoboam.
[18] And king Rehoboam sendeth Adoram who is over the tribute, and all Israel cast at him stones, and he dieth; and king Rehoboam hath strengthened himself to go up into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem;
[19] and Israel transgresseth against the house of David unto this day.
[20] And it cometh to pass, at all Israel’s hearing that Jeroboam hath returned, that they send and call him unto the company, and cause him to reign over all Israel; none hath been after the house of David save the tribe of Judah alone.
[21] And Rehoboam cometh to Jerusalem, and assembleth all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors, to fight with the house of Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
[22] And the word of God is unto Shemaiah a man of God, saying,
[23] ‘Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people, saying,
[24] Thus said Jehovah, Ye do not go up nor fight with your brethren the sons of Israel; turn back each to his house, for from Me hath this thing been;’ and they hear the word of Jehovah, and turn back to go according to the word of Jehovah.
[25] And Jeroboam buildeth Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelleth in it, and goeth out thence, and buildeth Penuel;
[26] and Jeroboam saith in his heart, ‘Now doth the kingdom turn back to the house of David-
[27] if this people go up to make sacrifices in the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, then hath the heart of this people turned back unto their lord, unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they have slain me, and turned back unto Rehoboam king of Judah.’
[28] And the king taketh counsel, and maketh two calves of gold, and saith unto them, ‘Enough to you of going up to Jerusalem; lo, thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.’
[29] And he setteth the one in Beth-El, and the other he hath put in Dan,
[30] and this thing becometh a sin, and the people go before the one-unto Dan.
[31] And he maketh the house of high places, and maketh priests of the extremities of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi;
[32] and Jeroboam maketh a festival in the eighth month, in the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival that is in Judah, and he offereth on the altar-so did he in Beth-El-to sacrifice to the calves which he made, and he hath appointed in Beth-El the priests of the high places that he made.
[33] And he offereth up on the altar that he made in Beth-El, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month that he devised of his own heart, and he maketh a festival to the sons of Israel, and offereth on the altar-to make perfume.