and prosperous, but you refuse to help the poor get the justice they deserve.

Everyone is greedy and dishonest, whether poor or rich. Even the prophets and priests cannot be trusted.

I'll give their wives and fields to strangers. Everyone is greedy and dishonest, whether poor or rich. Even the prophets and priests cannot be trusted.

Rich and poor alike will die and be left unburied. No one will mourn and show their sorrow by cutting themselves or shaving their heads.

More cedar in your palace doesn't make you a better king than your father Josiah. He always did right— he gave justice to the poor and was honest.

Only the poorest people who owned no land were left behind in Judah, and Nebuzaradan gave them fields and vineyards.

The Harvest Is Brought In

Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, together with Johanan and Jonathan, the two sons of Kareah, had been officers in Judah's army. And so had Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah from Maacah. They and their troops had been stationed outside Jerusalem and had not been captured. They heard that Gedaliah had been chosen to rule Judah, and that the poorest men, women, and children had not been taken away to Babylonia. So they went to Mizpah and met with their new ruler.

People who harvest grapes leave some for the poor. Thieves who break in at night take only what they want.

He led away the people left in the city, including everyone who had become loyal to Nebuchadnezzar, the rest of the skilled workers, and even some of the poor people of Judah.

Only the very poorest were left behind to work the vineyards and the fields.