Messages about the Kings

13 “Woe to him who builds his house (A)without righteousness,
And his upstairs rooms without justice,
Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay
And (B)does not give him his wages,
14 Who says, ‘I will (C)build myself a large house
With spacious upstairs rooms,
And cut out its windows,
[a]Paneling it with (D)cedar and painting it [b]bright red.’
15 Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?
Did your father not eat and drink
And (E)do justice and righteousness?
Then it was (F)well for him.
16 He pled the cause of the (G)afflicted and the poor,
Then it was well.
(H)Is that not what it means to know Me?”
Declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
Are intent only upon your own (I)dishonest gain,
And on (J)shedding innocent blood,
And on practicing oppression and extortion.”

18 Therefore this is what the Lord says regarding (K)Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

“They will not (L)mourn for him:
(M)Oh, my brother!’ or, ‘Oh, sister!’
They will not mourn for him:
‘Oh, for the master!’ or, ‘Oh, for his splendor!’
19 He will be (N)buried with a donkey’s burial,
Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 22:14 Or Paneled
  2. Jeremiah 22:14 Or vermilion

A Message about Jehoiakim

13 And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim,[a]
    who builds his palace with forced labor.[b]
He builds injustice into its walls,
    for he makes his neighbors work for nothing.
    He does not pay them for their labor.
14 He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace
    with huge rooms and many windows.
I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar
    and paint it a lovely red.’
15 But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!
    Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink.
But he was just and right in all his dealings.
    That is why God blessed him.
16 He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,
    and everything went well for him.
Isn’t that what it means to know me?”
    says the Lord.
17 “But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty!
    You murder the innocent,
    oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

18 Therefore, this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah:

“The people will not mourn for him, crying to one another,
    ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’
His subjects will not mourn for him, crying,
    ‘Alas, our master is dead! Alas, his splendor is gone!’
19 He will be buried like a dead donkey—
    dragged out of Jerusalem and dumped outside the gates!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 22:13a The brother and successor of the exiled Jehoahaz. See 22:18.
  2. 22:13b Hebrew by unrighteousness.