2 You are to say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of Davidy—you, your officers, and your people who enter these gates. 3 This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness.z Rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor.aa Don’t exploit or brutalize the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow.a Don’t shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palaceb riding on chariots and horses—they, their officers, and their people. 5 But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by myselfc—this is the Lord’s declaration—that this house will become a ruin.’ ”d

6 For this is what the Lord says concerning the house of the king of Judah:

“You are like Gileade to me,

or the summit of Lebanon,

but I will certainly turn you into a wilderness,

uninhabited cities.

7 I will set apart destroyersf against you,

each with his weapons.

They will cut down the choicest of your cedars

and throw them into the fire.

8 “Many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why did the Lord do such a thing to this great city?’ 9 They will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenantg of the Lord their God and bowed in worship to other gods and served them.’ ”h