Jeremiah 22:13–17

“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,

his upper rooms by injustice,

making his own people work for nothing,

not paying them for their labor.

He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace

with spacious upper rooms.’

So he makes large windows in it,

panels it with cedar

and decorates it in red.

“Does it make you a king

to have more and more cedar?

Did not your father have food and drink?

He did what was right and just,

so all went well with him.

He defended the cause of the poor and needy,

and so all went well.

Is that not what it means to know me?”

declares the Lord.

“But your eyes and your heart

are set only on dishonest gain,

on shedding innocent blood

and on oppression and extortion.”

Woe for the one who builds his palace

through unrighteousness,

his upstairs rooms through injustice,

who makes his neighbor serve without pay

and will not give him his wages,

who says, “I will build myself a massive palace,

with spacious upstairs rooms.”

He will cut windows in it,

and it will be paneled with cedar

and painted bright red.

Are you a king because you excel in cedar?

Didn’t your father eat and drink

and administer justice and righteousness?

Then it went well with him.

He took up the case of the poor and needy;

then it went well.

Is this not what it means to know me?

This is the Lord’s declaration.

But you have eyes and a heart for nothing

except your own dishonest profit,

shedding innocent blood

and committing extortion and oppression.

And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim,

who builds his palace with forced labor.

He builds injustice into its walls,

for he makes his neighbors work for nothing.

He does not pay them for their labor.

He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace

with huge rooms and many windows.

I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar

and paint it a lovely red.’

But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!

Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink.

But he was just and right in all his dealings.

That is why God blessed him.

He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,

and everything went well for him.

Isn’t that what it means to know me?”

says the Lord.

“But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty!

You murder the innocent,

oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

Woe to the one who builds his house without righteousness,

and his upper rooms without justice.

His fellow countryman, he works for nothing,

and he does not give to him his wages.

Who says ‘I will build for myself

a spacious house with large upper rooms,’

and he cuts windows for it,

and it is paneled with cedar,

and he paints it with vermilion.

Do you reign as king because you are competing in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink,

and he did justice and righteousness,

then it was well with him?

He judged the legal cause of the needy and the poor,

and then it was well.

Is that not what it means to know me?” declares Yahweh.

“But there is nothing in your eyes and your heart

except your unlawful gain,

and on shedding the blood of the innocent,

and on committing oppression and extortion.”

Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness,

And his chambers by wrong;

That useth his neighbour’s service without wages,

And giveth him not for his work;

That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers,

And cutteth him out windows;

And it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar?

Did not thy father eat and drink,

And do judgment and justice,

And then it was well with him?

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him:

Was not this to know me? saith the Lord.

But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness,

And for to shed innocent blood,

And for oppression, and for violence, to do it.