13 “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.

14 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.

15 “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.

16 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.

17 “But your eyes and your heart

are set only on dishonest gain,

on shedding innocent blood

and on oppression and extortion.”

13 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;

14 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.

15 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?

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

Was not this to know me? saith the Lord.

17 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.

13 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.

14 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.’

15 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.

16 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.

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

You murder the innocent,

oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness

And his chambers by injustice,

Who 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 chambers,

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 it was well with him.

16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy;

Then it was well.

Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.

17 “Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness,

For shedding innocent blood,

And practicing oppression and violence.”

13 “How terrible it will be for one who builds his palace by doing evil,

who cheats people so he can build its upper rooms.

He makes his own people work for nothing

and does not pay them.

14 He says, ‘I will build a great palace for myself

with large upper rooms.’

So he builds it with large windows

and uses cedar wood for the walls,

which he paints red.

15 “Does having a lot of cedar in your house

make you a great king?

Your father was satisfied to have food and drink.

He did what was right and fair,

so everything went well for him.

16 He helped those who were poor and needy,

so everything went well for him.

That is what it means to know God,”

says the Lord.

17 “But you only look for and think about

what you can get dishonestly.

You are even willing to kill innocent people to get it.

You feel free to hurt people and to steal from them.”

13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbor’s service without wages, and giveth him not his hire; 14 that saith, I will build me a wide house and spacious chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. 15 Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him. 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith Jehovah. 17 But thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his upper chambers by injustice; that taketh his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not his earning; 14 that saith, I will build me a wide house, and spacious upper chambers; and he cutteth out for himself windows; and it is wainscoted with cedar, and painted with vermilion. 15 Shalt thou reign, because thou viest with the cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice? Then it was well with him. 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith Jehovah. 17 But thine eyes and thy heart are only on thine extortion, and on the blood of the innocent, to shed it, and on oppression and on violence, to do it.

13 “How horrible it will be for the person who builds his house dishonestly 

and his upper rooms through injustice. 

He makes his neighbors work for nothing 

and doesn’t pay them for their work. 

14 He says, ‘I will build a large house for myself with big upper rooms.’ 

He cuts out windows in it, 

panels the rooms with cedar, 

and paints them red. 

15 Do you think you’re a better king than others 

because you use more cedar? 

Your father ate and drank and did what is fair and right. 

Everything went well for him. 

16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy. 

Everything went well for him. 

Isn’t this what it means to know me?” asks the Lord. 

17 “But your eyes and your mind are set on nothing but dishonest profits. 

You kill innocent people and violently oppress your people.” 

13 Woe for the one who builds his palace

through unrighteousness,

his upper rooms through injustice,

who makes his fellow man serve without pay

and will not give him his wages,

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

with spacious upper rooms.”

He will cut windows in it,

and it will be paneled with cedar

and painted with vermilion.

15 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.

16 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.

17 But you have eyes and a heart for nothing

except your own dishonest profit,

shedding innocent blood

and committing extortion and oppression.

13 Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,

and his upper rooms by injustice;

who makes his neighbors work for nothing,

and does not give them their wages;

14 who says, “I will build myself a spacious house

with large upper rooms,”

and who cuts out windows for it,

paneling it with cedar,

and painting it with vermilion.

15 Are you a king

because you compete in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink

and do justice and righteousness?

Then it was well with him.

16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy;

then it was well.

Is not this to know me?

says the Lord.

17 But your eyes and heart

are only on your dishonest gain,

for shedding innocent blood,

and for practicing oppression and violence.

13 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.

14 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.

15 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?

16 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.

17 “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.”

13 The Lord says, “How terrible it will be for King Jehoiakim!

He builds his palace

by mistreating his people.

He builds its upstairs rooms

with money that was gained by sinning.

He makes his own people work for nothing.

He does not pay them for what they do.

14 He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace.

It will have large rooms upstairs.’

So he makes big windows in it.

He covers its walls with cedar boards.

He decorates it with red paint.

15 “Jehoiakim, does having more and more cedar boards

make you a king?

Your father Josiah had enough to eat and drink.

He did what was right and fair.

So everything went well with him.

16 He stood up for those who were poor or needy.

So everything went well with him.

That is what it means to know me,”

announces the Lord.

17 “Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind

is to get rich by cheating others.

You would even kill people who are not guilty

of doing anything wrong.

You would mistreat them.

You would take everything they own.”

13 “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness

And his upper rooms without justice,

Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay

And does not give him his wages,

14 Who says, ‘I will build myself a roomy house

With spacious upper rooms,

And cut out its windows,

Paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.’

15 “Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink

And do justice and righteousness?

Then it was well with him.

16 “He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy;

Then it was well.

Is not that what it means to know Me?”

Declares the Lord.

17 “But your eyes and your heart

Are intent only upon your own dishonest gain,

And on shedding innocent blood

And on practicing oppression and extortion.”