1 Kings 11

But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

King Solomon, with a heart full of love, was drawn to many foreign women, including Pharaoh's daughter and ladies from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and Hittite.

Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

These women came from nations God had forbidden the Israelites to marry into, for, he said, they would surely turn their hearts to their gods. Despite this, Solomon, blinded by love, held on to these women.

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

He was married to 700 princesses and had 300 concubines. Yet, his wives led his heart astray.

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

As Solomon aged, his wives led him to worship other gods, straying his heart from God. Unlike his father David, Solomon's devotion to God was not pure.

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

Solomon was drawn to Ashtoreth, the Zidonians' goddess, and to Milcom, a detestable deity of the Ammonites.

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

Solomon did what was evil in God's eyes, straying from the path of full devotion that his father David had followed.

Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

Solomon, driven by misguided devotion, constructed a shrine on a hill overlooking Jerusalem. This was for Chemosh, a detestable god of Moab, and for Molech, a similarly despised deity of the Ammonites.

And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

In the same way, he did for all his foreign wives, who passionately worshipped and offered sacrifices to their own gods.

And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

The Lord was angry with Solomon, for he had turned his heart away from the God of Israel, who had revealed Himself to him not once, but twice.

And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

God had explicitly told him not to worship other gods. Yet he did not keep God's command.

Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

So the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this and have not kept my covenant or the rules I set for you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants."

Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

Despite this, I won't act during your lifetime, out of respect for your father David. However, I will take it away from your son's grasp.

Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.

Though I won't take away the entire kingdom, I'll give your son one tribe. I do this out of respect for my servant David, and for the beloved city of Jerusalem that I have chosen.

And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.

The LORD, in His divine wisdom, provoked a rival against Solomon - Hadad, an Edomite of royal lineage.

For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

When David was in Edom and Joab, the army's leader, had gone up to bury the fallen, after he had killed every male in Edom, it happened.

(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

Joab and all of Israel stayed there for half a year, ensuring not a single man in Edom was left standing.

That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

A terrified young Hadad, along with a few loyal servants of his father from Edom, fled to Egypt for safety.

And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.

They left Midian, journeying to Paran, recruiting men along the way. Their path led them to Egypt, to the Pharaoh himself. The Pharaoh welcomed them, providing a home, food, and land.

And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

Pharaoh was so impressed with Hadad that he gifted him his sister-in-law, Queen Tahpenes' sister, as his wife.

And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.

Tahpenes' sister gave birth to his son, Genubath, and Tahpenes herself weaned him within the grand walls of Pharaoh's palace. Genubath grew up alongside Pharaoh's own sons, part of the royal household.

And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.

When Hadad in Egypt learned of David's death and the demise of Joab, the army's leader, he pleaded with Pharaoh, "Please let me return to my homeland."

Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

Pharaoh questioned him, "What did you miss in my presence that you yearn for your homeland?" He replied, "Nothing, but I still wish to leave."

And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

God ignited a new challenge for him, sparking the opposition of Rezon, son of Eliadah. Rezon had escaped from his ruler, King Hadadezer of Zobah.

And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

He rallied men to his side, rising to lead them after David's victory in Zobah. They journeyed to Damascus, made it their home, and ruled there.

And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

Throughout Solomon's reign, he was a constant thorn in Israel's side. In addition to the trouble stirred up by Hadad, he despised Israel and ruled over Syria with a cold heart.

And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.

Jeroboam, son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda whose mother was a widow named Zeruah, was one of Solomon's servants, yet he dared to rebel against the king.

And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

This is how he came to rebel against the king: Solomon had constructed Millo and mended the broken parts of his father David's city.

And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

Jeroboam was a brave and strong man. Solomon, noticing how hard the young man worked, put him in charge of all the forced labor from the tribes of Joseph.

And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

During that period when Jeroboam left Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh crossed paths with him. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in an open field.

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

With a surge of emotion, Ahijah seized his new robe, tearing it passionately into twelve distinct pieces.

And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

He told Jeroboam, "Take these ten pieces. God promises, 'I will take the kingdom from Solomon and give you control over ten tribes.'"

(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

But for my loyal servant David and for beloved Jerusalem, the city I chose from all of Israel's tribes, I will preserve one tribe.

Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

They've abandoned me, choosing to worship foreign gods like Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom. They've strayed from my path, ignoring what's right and disregarding my laws, unlike David who faithfully followed them.

Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

Though I won't strip him of his entire kingdom, I'll ensure he remains a leader all his life, honoring my loyal servant David, whom I selected for his unwavering obedience to my laws and commands.

But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and give it to you: ten tribes.

And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

I will grant one tribe to his son, so that my loyal servant David may always have a guiding light in Jerusalem, the city I've personally chosen as the home for my name.

And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

I will choose you, and you'll rule as your heart wishes, becoming the king of Israel.

And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

If you listen to my guidance, follow my path, and do what's right, keeping my rules and commands just as my servant David did, I promise to be with you. I'll build you a lasting royal line, just like I did for David, and I'll give Israel to you.

And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

I will indeed bring hardship upon David's descendants, but it won't last forever.

Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

Solomon, filled with rage and intent on murder, pursued Jeroboam. Fearful for his life, Jeroboam escaped to Egypt, seeking refuge under King Shishak's protection. He remained hidden there until Solomon's death.

And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

Isn't the rest of Solomon's life, his actions, and his wisdom, all documented in his own book?

And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

Solomon, with his wisdom and grace, ruled Jerusalem and all of Israel for a heartfelt span of forty years.

And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

Solomon joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to peace in his father David's city. His son Rehoboam ascended the throne in his place.