Stand near the gate of the Lord’s temple and proclaim there this message: Listen to the Lord’s word, all you of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord.

Judah mourns; her gates wither away. The people fall to the ground in sorrow, as sobs of Jerusalem ascend.

I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the gates of their country. I will bereave and destroy my people because they haven’t changed their ways.

The Lord proclaimed to me: Go and stand by the People’s Gate where Judah’s kings go in and out, and then by all the gates of Jerusalem,

and say to them: Listen to the Lord’s word, you kings of Judah, all you people of Judah, and anyone living in Jerusalem who passes through these gates.

The Lord says: Be on guard not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or conduct business at the gates of Jerusalem.

If you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and don’t conduct business at the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, if you keep the Sabbath day holy by not working,

then through the gates of this city will come kings who occupy the throne of David and their officers, all riding on chariots and horses. They will be accompanied by the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. And this city will always be inhabited.

But if you don’t obey me by keeping the Sabbath day holy, if you carry your loads and conduct your business at the gates of Jerusalem as usual, then I will set fire to those gates that will completely engulf the fortresses of Jerusalem; it will not be put out.

Listen to the Lord’s word, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne—you and your attendants, and all those who go through these gates.

If you obey this command, then through the gates of this palace will come kings who occupy the throne of David, riding on chariots and horses along with their entourage and subjects.

They will give him a donkey’s burial, dragging him outside the gates of Jerusalem and dumping him there.

Get ready to attack a nation that feels safe and secure, declares the Lord, one without barred gates that lives by itself.

Babylon’s warriors quit fighting; they hide in their fortifications. Their strength is worn out; their courage is gone! Babylon’s houses are burned down, and its gates are smashed.

The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims: Babylon’s massive walls will come down, down to the ground; and its high gates will be burned to the ground. People labor in vain; nations toil for nothing but ashes!