⁶Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had attended his father Solomon when he was alive, asking, “How do you advise me to respond to this people?”

⁷They replied, “If you will be kind to this people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

⁸But he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him, and he consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, the ones attending him.

Read in Logos

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.

NLTNew Living Translation

Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”

The older counselors replied, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”

But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had been serving before Solomon his father when he was alive, saying, “What word do you advise to answer this people?” And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them, then speak good words to them. Then they will be your servants forever.” But he forsook the advice of the elders that advised him and took counsel of the young men who had grown up with him who were serving before him.

KJV 1900King James Version

And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

Public Domain