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Jeremiah's Message concerning Jehoiakim

13 Doomed is the one who builds his house by injustice
    and enlarges it by dishonesty;
who makes his people work for nothing
    and does not pay their wages.
14 Doomed is the one who says,
    “I will build myself a mansion
    with spacious rooms upstairs.”
So he puts windows in his house,
    panels it with cedar,
    and paints it red.
15 Does it make you a better king
    if you build houses of cedar,
    finer than those of others?
Your father enjoyed a full life.
    He was always just and fair,
    and he prospered in everything he did.
16 He gave the poor a fair trial,
    and all went well with him.
That is what it means to know the Lord.
17 But you can only see your selfish interests;
    you kill the innocent
    and violently oppress your people.
The Lord has spoken.

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13 “Woe(A) to him who builds(B) his palace by unrighteousness,
    his upper rooms by injustice,
making his own people work for nothing,
    not paying(C) them for their labor.
14 He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace(D)
    with spacious upper rooms.’
So he makes large windows in it,
    panels it with cedar(E)
    and decorates it in red.(F)

15 “Does it make you a king
    to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
    He did what was right and just,(G)
    so all went well(H) with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,(I)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know(J) me?”
    declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,(K)
on shedding innocent blood(L)
    and on oppression and extortion.”(M)

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