22This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and announce this word there. ²You are to say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David^y—you, your officers, and your people who enter these gates. ³This 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. ⁴For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace^b riding on chariots and horses—they, their officers, and their people. ⁵But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by myself^c—this is the Lord’s declaration—that this house will become a ruin.’ ”^d

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

“You are like Gilead^e to me,

or the summit of Lebanon,

but I will certainly turn you into a wilderness,

uninhabited cities.

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Cross references

y 2Sm 3:10; 1Kg 2:12,24,45; Is 9:7; Jr 17:25; 22:30; 29:16; 36:30
z 2Sm 8:15; 1Kg 10:9; 2Ch 9:8; Is 33:5; 59:14; Jr 9:24; 23:5; 33:15; Am 5:7,24
aa Dt 28:29; Ps 35:10; Ec 4:1; Jr 21:12
a Dt 14:29; 24:17,19–21; 27:19; Ps 146:9; Jr 7:6; Ezk 22:7
b Jr 17:25
c Gn 22:16; 1Sm 3:14; Ps 89:3,35; Is 45:23; 54:9; Jr 44:26; 49:13
d Jr 17:27
e Sg 4:1; Jr 8:22; 46:11; 50:19; Mc 7:14; Zch 10:10