Jeremiah 22:1–8

Warning of Jerusalem’s Fall

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

²and 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.” ’ ”

⁶For 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?’