Whereasmy fatherloadedyou with a heavyyoke,I will addto your yoke;my fatherdisciplinedyou with whips,but I will disciplineyou with scorpions.'"
The youngmenwhogrewup with him spoketo him, saying,"Thusyou shall sayto thispeoplewhospoketo you, saying,'Your fathermadeour yokeheavy,now you makeit lighterfor us!' But you shall speakto them, 'My littlefingeris thickerthanmy father'sloins!
Then Jeroboamand allthe peoplecameto Rehoboamon the thirddayas the kinghad directed,saying,"Returnto me on the thirdday."
and he spoketo them according to the adviceof the youngmen,saying,"My fathermadeyour yokeheavy,but I will addto your yoke;my fatherdisciplinedyou with whips,but I will disciplineyou with scorpions."
Then Asawas angrywith the seerand puthim in prison,for he was enragedat him for this.And Asaoppressedsomeof the peopleat the sametime.
"So gonow[and] work;for you will be givennostraw,yet you must deliverthe quotaof bricks."
Woeto you, O land,whosekingis a ladand whose princesfeastin the morning.
"Is thisnot the fastwhich I choose,To loosenthe bondsof wickedness,To undothe bandsof the yoke,And to letthe oppressedgofreeAnd breakeveryyoke?
"But the nationwhichwill bringits neckunder the yokeof the kingof Babylonand servehim, I will let remainon its land,"declaresthe LORD,"and they will tillit and dwellin it."'"
"And you, sonof man,neitherfearthem norfeartheir words,thoughthistlesand thornsare with you and you siton scorpions;neitherfeartheir wordsnorbe dismayedat their presence,for they are a rebellioushouse.
"Then you will cryout in that daybecauseof your kingwhomyou have chosenfor yourselves, but the LORDwill not answeryou in that day."
