Warnings to the Royal Court

21:11 The Lord told me to say23 to the royal court24 of Judah,

“Listen to what the Lord says,

21:12 O royal family descended from David.25

The Lord says:

‘See to it that people each day26 are judged fairly.27

Deliver those who have been robbed from those28 who oppress them.

Otherwise, my wrath will blaze out against you.

It will burn like a fire that cannot be put out

because of the evil that you have done.29

21:13 Listen, you30 who sit enthroned above the valley on a rocky plateau.

I am opposed to you,’31 says the Lord.32

‘You boast, “No one can swoop down on us.

No one can penetrate into our places of refuge.”33

21:14 But I will punish you as your deeds deserve,’

says the Lord.34

‘I will set fire to your palace;

it will burn up everything around it.’ ”35

22:1 The Lord told me,1 “Go down2 to the palace of the king of Judah. Give him a message from me there.3 22:2 Say: ‘Listen, O king of Judah who follows in David’s succession.4 You, your officials, and your subjects who pass through the gates of this palace must listen to what the Lord says.5 22:3 The Lord says, “Do what is just and right. Deliver those who have been robbed from those6 who oppress them. Do not exploit or mistreat foreigners who live in your land, children who have no fathers, or widows.7 Do not kill innocent people8 in this land. 22:4 If you are careful to9 obey these commands, then the kings who follow in David’s succession and ride in chariots or on horses will continue to come through the gates of this palace, as will their officials and their subjects.10 22:5 But, if you do not obey these commands, I solemnly swear11 that this palace will become a pile of rubble. I, the Lord, affirm it!”12

22:6 “ ‘For the Lord says concerning the palace of the king of Judah,

“This place looks like a veritable forest of Gilead to me.

It is like the wooded heights of Lebanon in my eyes.

But I swear that I will make it like a wilderness

whose towns have all been deserted.13

22:7 I will send men against it to destroy it14

with their axes and hatchets.

They will hack up its fine cedar panels and columns

and throw them into the fire.

22:8 “ ‘People from other nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another, “Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?” 22:9 The answer will come back, “It is because they broke their covenant with the Lord their God and worshiped and served other gods.”