Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean {men}. {mean...: Heb. obscure men}

Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour {it}, and {there be} none to quench {it} in Bethel.

For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.

Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which {were} over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I {am} the LORD their God, and will hear them.

That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD {was} with them.

For my yoke {is} easy, and my burden is light.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean {men}. {mean...: Heb. obscure men}

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.

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who {was} in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard {it}, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. {slothful: or, deceitful}

Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour {it}, and {there be} none to quench {it} in Bethel.