Jeremiah 22:13–19

A Message about Jehoiakim

¹³And 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.

¹⁴He 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.’

¹⁵But 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.

¹⁶He 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.”

¹⁸Therefore, this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah:

“The people will not mourn for him, crying to one another,

‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’

His subjects will not mourn for him, crying,

‘Alas, our master is dead! Alas, his splendor is gone!’

¹⁹He will be buried like a dead donkey—

dragged out of Jerusalem and dumped outside the gates!