2 Chronicles 10:3–11

³⸤Israel⸥ sent for Jeroboam and invited him back. Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said, ⁴“Your father made us carry a heavy burden. Reduce the hard work and lighten the heavy burden he put on us, and we will serve you.” 

⁵He said to them, “Come back the day after tomorrow.” So the people left. 

⁶King Rehoboam sought advice from the older leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked, “What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?” 

⁷They told him, “If you are good to these people and try to please them by speaking gently to them, then they will always be your servants.” 

⁸But he ignored the advice the older leaders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. ⁹He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?” 

¹⁰The young men who had grown up with him answered, “This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is heavier than my father’s whole body.¹¹If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.’ ”