10 Do not weep for the dead(A) king or mourn(B) his loss;
    rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,
because he will never return(C)
    nor see his native land again.

11 For this is what the Lord says about Shallum[a](D) son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: “He will never return. 12 He will die(E) in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again.”

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

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,(L)
    so all went well(M) with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,(N)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know(O) me?”
    declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,(P)
on shedding innocent blood(Q)
    and on oppression and extortion.”(R)

18 Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

“They will not mourn(S) for him:
    ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’
They will not mourn for him:
    ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
19 He will have the burial(T) of a donkey—
    dragged away and thrown(U)
    outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 22:11 Also called Jehoahaz

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