²² But this word of God came to Shemaiah^(A) the man of God:^{(B) 23} “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ²⁴ ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.

³ But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:

¹³ “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell^(A) the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson^(B) and obey my words?’ declares the Lord.

⁴ The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.^(A) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’^(B)

⁹ “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice;^(A) show mercy and compassion to one another.^(B)