He made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
His younger advisors said: Here's what we think you should say to them: "Compared to me, my father was weak.
Three days later, Jeroboam and the others came back.
Get back to work! You won't be given straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks."
I was angry with my people. So I let you take their land and bring disgrace on them. You showed them no mercy, but were especially cruel to those who were old.
I'll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused!
Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.
I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you.
Their tails were like a scorpion's tail with a stinger that had the power to hurt someone for five months.
Locusts came out of the smoke and covered the earth. They were given the same power that scorpions have.
The locusts were allowed to make them suffer for five months, but not to kill them. The suffering they caused was like the sting of a scorpion.
and you will finally cry out for the LORD to save you from the king you wanted. But the LORD won't answer your prayers.