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14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[a] falls,
    but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 11.14 Or an army

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(A)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(B)

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for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
    and in abundance of counselors there is victory.(A)

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Surely you need guidance to wage war,
    and victory is won through many advisers.(A)

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22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
    but with many advisers they succeed.(A)

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22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(A)
    but with many advisers(B) they succeed.(C)

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18 Plans are established by taking advice;
    wage war by following wise guidance.(A)

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18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(A)

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22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    but folly is the punishment of fools.(A)

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22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(A)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

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The Northern Tribes Secede

12 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.(A) When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam remained in Egypt.(B) And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now, therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you.”(C) He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away.(D)

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” They answered him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”(E) But he disregarded the advice that the older men gave him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him.(F) He said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 The young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus you should say to this people who spoke to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us’; thus you should say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. 11 Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’ ”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had said, “Come to me again the third day.”(G) 13 The king answered the people harshly. He disregarded the advice that the older men had given him 14 and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”(H) 15 So the king did not listen to the people because it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord to fulfill his word that the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.(I)

16 When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king,

“What share do we have in David?
    We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
To your tents, O Israel!
    Look now to your own house, O David.”

So Israel went away to their tents.(J) 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah.(K) 18 When King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam then hurriedly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.(L) 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.(M)

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Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam(A)

12 Rehoboam went to Shechem,(B) for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled(C) from King Solomon), he returned from[a] Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a heavy yoke(D) on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders(E) who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer,(F) they will always be your servants.”

But Rehoboam rejected(G) the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged(H) you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord,(I) to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah(J) the Shilonite.

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share(K) do we have in David,
    what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!(L)
    Look after your own house, David!”

So the Israelites went home.(M) 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah,(N) Rehoboam still ruled over them.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram,[b](O) who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death.(P) King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David(Q) to this day.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 12:2 Or he remained in
  2. 1 Kings 12:18 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 4:6 and 5:14); Hebrew Adoram

The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers,[a] you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers.(A) And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us,(B) and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.(C) 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?(D) 11 On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”(E)

12 The whole assembly kept silence and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles.(F) 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers,[b] listen to me.(G) 14 Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,

16 ‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;
    from its ruins I will rebuild it,
        and I will set it up,(H)
17 so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—
    even all the gentiles over whom my name has been called.
Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things 18         known from long ago.’[c]

19 “Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from sexual immorality and from whatever has been strangled[d] and from blood.(I) 21 For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every Sabbath in the synagogues.”(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 15.7 Gk Men, brothers
  2. 15.13 Gk Men, brothers
  3. 15.18 Other ancient authorities read things. Known to God from of old are all his works.’
  4. 15.20 Other ancient authorities lack and from whatever has been strangled

The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.(A) God, who knows the heart,(B) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,(C) just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them,(D) for he purified their hearts by faith.(E) 10 Now then, why do you try to test God(F) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke(G) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace(H) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders(I) God had done among the Gentiles through them.(J) 13 When they finished, James(K) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.(L) 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16 “‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’[b](M)
18     things known from long ago.[c](N)

19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,(O) from sexual immorality,(P) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(Q) 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
  2. Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  3. Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things’— / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago

11 Clearly the princes of Zoan are foolish;
    the wise counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel.
How can you say to Pharaoh,
    “I am one of the sages,
    a descendant of ancient kings”?(A)
12 Where now are your sages?
    Let them tell you and make known
    what the Lord of hosts has planned against Egypt.(B)
13 The princes of Zoan have become fools,
    and the princes of Memphis are deluded;
those who are the cornerstones of its tribes
    have led Egypt astray.(C)
14 The Lord has poured into them[a]
    a spirit of confusion;
and they have made Egypt stagger in all its doings
    as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 19.14 Gk Compare Tg: Heb it

11 The officials of Zoan(A) are nothing but fools;
    the wise counselors(B) of Pharaoh give senseless advice.(C)
How can you say to Pharaoh,
    “I am one of the wise men,(D)
    a disciple of the ancient kings”?

12 Where are your wise men(E) now?
    Let them show you and make known
what the Lord Almighty
    has planned(F) against Egypt.
13 The officials of Zoan(G) have become fools,
    the leaders of Memphis(H) are deceived;
the cornerstones(I) of her peoples
    have led Egypt astray.
14 The Lord has poured into them
    a spirit of dizziness;(J)
they make Egypt stagger in all that she does,
    as a drunkard staggers(K) around in his vomit.

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