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.

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Footnotes

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

13 (A)“Woe to him who builds his house by (B)unrighteousness,
    and his upper rooms by injustice,
(C)who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing
    and does not give him his wages,
14 who says, ‘I will build myself a great house
    with spacious upper rooms,’
who cuts out windows for it,
    paneling it with cedar
    and (D)painting it with vermilion.
15 Do you think you are a king
    because you compete in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
    and (E)do justice and righteousness?
    (F)Then it was well with him.
16 (G)He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
    (H)then it was well.
Is not this (I)to know me?
    declares the Lord.
17 But you have eyes and heart
    only for your dishonest gain,
(J)for shedding innocent blood,
    and for practicing oppression and violence.”

18 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

(K)“They shall not lament for him, saying,
    (L)‘Ah, my brother!’ or ‘Ah, sister!’
They shall not lament for him, saying,
    (M)‘Ah, lord!’ or ‘Ah, his majesty!’
19 With the burial of a donkey (N)he shall be buried,
    dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem.”

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