1This is what the LORD says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there,
2saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David—you and your officials and your people who enter these gates.
3This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.
4For if you will indeed carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses—they and their officials and their people.
5But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’”
6For this is what the LORD says concerning the house of the king of Judah:
7I will appoint destroyers against you,
8And many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’
9Then people will reply, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.’”
10Do not weep for the dead king;
11For this is what the LORD says concerning Shallum 22:11 Shallum was also called Jehoahaz. son of Josiah, king of Judah, who succeeded his father Josiah but has gone forth from this place: “He will never return,
12but he will die in the place to which he was exiled; he will never see this land again.”
13“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,
14who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace,
15Does it make you a king to excel 22:15 Or because you enclose yourself in cedar?
16He took up the cause of the poor and needy,
17“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing
18Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:
19He will be buried like a donkey,
20Go up to Lebanon and cry out;
21I warned you when you were secure.
22The wind will drive away all your shepherds,
23O inhabitant of Lebanon,22:23 That is, the palace in Jerusalem; see 1 Kings 7:2.
24“As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniah 22:24 Coniah is a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 28. son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off.
25In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who want to take your life—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Chaldeans.22:25 That is, the Babylonians
26I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another land, where neither of you were born—and there you both will die.
27You will never return to the land for which you long.”
28Is this man Coniah a despised and shattered pot,
29O land, land, land,
30This is what the LORD says: