Messages about the Kings

13 “Woe to him who builds his house awithout righteousness

And his 1upper rooms without justice,

Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay

And bdoes not give him his wages,

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

With spacious 1upper rooms,

And cut out its windows,

2Paneling it with bcedar and painting it 3bright red.’

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

Did not your father eat and drink

And ado justice and righteousness?

Then it was bwell with him.

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

Then it was well.

bIs not that what it means to know Me?”

Declares the Lord.

17 “But your eyes and your heart

Are intent only upon your own adishonest gain,

And on bshedding innocent blood

And on practicing oppression and extortion.”

18 Therefore thus says the Lord in regard to aJehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,

“They will not blament for him:

‘cAlas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’

They will not lament for him:

‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’

19 “He will be aburied with a donkey’s burial,

Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.