22 Thus says the Lord: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word, 2 and say, a‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates! 3 Thus says the Lord: b“Execute 1judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the cfatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you indeed do this thing, dthen shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David. 5 But if you will not 2hear these words, eI swear by Myself,” says the Lord, “that this house shall become a desolation.” ’ ”

6 For thus says the Lord to the house of the king of Judah:

“You are fGilead to Me,

The head of Lebanon;

Yet I surely will make you a wilderness,

Cities which are not inhabited.

7 I will prepare destroyers against you,

Everyone with his weapons;

They shall cut down gyour choice cedars

hAnd cast them into the fire.

8 And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbor, i‘Why has the Lord done so to this great city?’ 9 Then they will answer, j‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.’ ”

10 Weep not for kthe dead, nor bemoan him;

Weep bitterly for him lwho goes away,

For he shall return no more,

Nor see his native country.

Message to the Sons of Josiah

11 For thus says the Lord concerning mShallum 3the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, nwho went from this place: “He shall not return here anymore, 12 but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.

13 “Woe oto him who builds his house by unrighteousness

And his 4chambers by injustice,

pWho uses his neighbor’s service without wages

And gives him nothing for his work,

14 Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious 5chambers,

And cut out windows for it,

Paneling it with cedar

And painting it with vermilion.’

15 “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink,

And do justice and righteousness?

Then qit was well with him.

16 He 6judged the cause of the poor and needy;

Then it was well.

Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.