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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.” 

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”