2 Chronicles 10:7

Verse

They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

Bible in Basic English

And they said to him, If you are kind to this people, pleasing them and saying good words to them, then they will be your servants for ever.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And they said to him: If thou please this people, and soothe them with kind words, they will be thy servants for ever.

Free Bible Version

They replied, “If you treat these people well, and please them by speaking kindly to them, they will always serve you.”

Geneva Bible 1599

And they spake vnto him, saying, If thou be kinde to this people, and please them, and speake louing words to them, they will be thy seruants for euer.

King James (Authorized) Version

And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

Translation for Translators

They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and do things that will please them, and if you say kind things to them when you answer them, they will always serve you.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

They spoke to him and said, “If you are good to this people and please them, and say good words to them, then they will always be your servants.”

Noah Webster Bible

And they spoke to him, saying, If thou wilt be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

World English Bible

They spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

Young's Literal Translation

And they speak unto him, saying, 'If thou dost become good to this people, and hast been pleased with them, and spoken unto them good words, then they have been to thee servants all the days.'

Context

Rebellion against Rehoboam

⁶Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.⁷They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

Sermons

The Lord Stirred Up the Spirit of Cyrus.

F.B. Meyer

Summary

In this verse, the young men who had grown up with King Rehoboam advised him to respond to the people's request for lighter burdens with kindness and humility. However, Rehoboam rejected their counsel and chose to respond harshly, leading to the division of the kingdom of Israel. This passage serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of pride, stubbornness, and a lack of wise leadership. It highlights the importance of seeking counsel from those with experience and wisdom, as well as the need for leaders to govern with compassion and understanding.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them--In the Book of Kings [Kg1 12:7], the words are, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt serve them." The meaning in both is the same, namely, If thou wilt make some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and restore their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and lasting attachment to thy person and government.