Jeremiah 22:13-19

New International Reader's Version

¹³ The Lord says, “How terrible it will be for King Jehoiakim!
    He builds his palace
    by mistreating his people.
He builds its upstairs rooms
    with money gained by sinning.
He makes his own people work for nothing.
    He does not pay them for what they do.
¹⁴ He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace.
    It will have large rooms upstairs.’
So he makes big windows in it.
    He covers its walls with cedar boards.
    He decorates it with red paint.

¹⁵ “Jehoiakim, does having more and more cedar boards
    make you a king?
Your father Josiah had enough to eat and drink.
    He did what was right and fair.
    So everything went well with him.
¹⁶ He stood up for those who were poor or needy.
    So everything went well with him.
That is what it means to know me,”
    announces the Lord.
¹⁷ “Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind
    is to get rich by cheating others.
You would even kill people who are not guilty
    of doing anything wrong.
You would mistreat them.
    You would take everything they own.”

“His people will not mourn for him.
    They will not say,
    ‘My poor brother! My poor sister!’
They will not mourn for him.
    They will not say,
    ‘My poor master! How sad that his glory is gone!’
¹⁹ In fact, he will be buried like a donkey.
    His body will be dragged away and thrown
    outside the gates of Jerusalem.”