12:14a and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying,

He did as the young men had advised him. He said ⌊to the people⌋,
-or-
He spoke ⌊to the people⌋ as the young men had recommended. He gave them this answer:
-or-

⌊Instead⌋ he did what his young friends/counselors advised. He told the people that

12:14b “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy,

“My father laid a heavy yoke/burden on you. (plur)
-or-
“My father demanded/required that you work very hard.
-or-
his father ⌊King Solomon⌋ had forced them to do a lot of work ⌊for him⌋.

12:14c I will add to your yoke.

But I will make it very heavy indeed.
-or-
But I will demand/require more work.
-or-
But he would force them to do much more work.

12:14d Whereas my father scourged you with whips,

My father beat you (plur) with whips.
-or-
My father whipped you (plur) with ropes.
-or-
His father had had them punished with ⌊ordinary⌋ whips.

12:14e I will scourge you with scorpions.”

But I will beat you (plur) with scorpions.”
-or-
But I will punish you (plur) with whips of/with metal. ”
-or-
But he would have them punished with whips that cut/bit/stung like scorpions!

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