Jeremiah 21:11–22:9

11 “Then say to the household of the aking of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord,

12 O ahouse of David, thus says the Lord:

“bAdminister justice 1every cmorning;

And deliver the person who has been robbed from the 2power of his oppressor,

dThat My wrath may not go forth like fire

And eburn with none to extinguish it,

Because of the evil of their deeds.

13 “Behold, aI am against you, O bvalley dweller,

O 1rocky plain,” declares the Lord,

“You men who say, ‘cWho will come down against us?

Or who will enter into our habitations?’

14 “But I will punish you aaccording to the 1results of your deeds,” declares the Lord,

“And I will bkindle a fire in its forest

That it may devour all its environs.” ’ ”

Chapter 22

Warning of Jerusalem’s Fall

1 Thus says the Lord, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word

2 and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, who asits on David’s throne, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates.

3 ‘Thus says the Lord, “aDo justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his boppressor. Also cdo not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not dshed innocent blood in this place.

4 “For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then akings will enter the gates of this house, sitting 1in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people.

5 “aBut if you will not obey these words, I bswear by Myself,” declares the Lord, “that this house will become a desolation.” ’ ”

6 For thus says the Lord concerning the house of the king of Judah:

“You are like aGilead to Me,

Like the summit of Lebanon;

Yet most assuredly I will make you like a bwilderness,

Like cities which are not inhabited.

7 “For I will set apart adestroyers against you,

Each with his weapons;

And they will bcut down your choicest cedars

And cthrow them on the fire.

8 “Many nations will pass by this city; and they will asay to one another, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this great city?’

9 “Then they will 1answer, ‘Because they aforsook the covenant of the Lord their God and bowed down to other gods and served them.’ ”