1 Kings 12:9-11

Expanded Bible

⁹ Rehoboam asked them, “What is your ·advice [counsel]? How should we answer these people who said, ‘·Don’t make us work as hard as your father did’ [^LLighten the yoke that your father put on us]?”

¹⁰ The young men who had grown up with him answered, “Those people said to you, ‘Your father ·forced us to work very hard [^Lmade our yoke heavy]. Now make our work ·easier [lighter].’ You should tell them, ‘My little finger is ·bigger [thicker] than my father’s ·legs [^Lloins; ^Cmore manly]. ¹¹ ·He forced you to work hard [^LMy father loaded/burdened you with a heavy yoke], but I will ·make you work even harder [^Ladd to your yoke]. My father ·beat [scourged; disciplined; controlled] you with whips, but I will ·beat [scourge; discipline; control] you with ·whips that have sharp points [or scorpions].’”