Message to the Sons of Josiah

11 For thus says the Lord concerning mShallum 3the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, nwho went from this place: “He shall not return here anymore, 12 but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.

13 “Woe oto him who builds his house by unrighteousness

And his 4chambers by injustice,

pWho uses his neighbor’s service without wages

And gives him nothing for his work,

14 Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious 5chambers,

And cut out windows for it,

Paneling it with cedar

And painting it with vermilion.’

15 “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink,

And do justice and righteousness?

Then qit was well with him.

16 He 6judged the cause of the poor and needy;

Then it was well.

Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.

17 “Yet ryour eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness,

For shedding innocent blood,

And practicing oppression and violence.”

18 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

s“They shall not lament for him,

Saying, t‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’

They shall not lament for him,

Saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’

19 uHe shall be buried with the burial of a donkey,

Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

20 “Go up to Lebanon, and cry out,

And lift up your voice in Bashan;

Cry from Abarim,

For all your lovers are destroyed.

21 I spoke to you in your prosperity,

But you said, ‘I will not hear.’

vThis has been your manner from your youth,

That you did not obey My voice.

22 The wind shall eat up all wyour 7rulers,

And your lovers shall go into captivity;

Surely then you will be ashamed and humiliated

For all your wickedness.

23 O inhabitant of Lebanon,

Making your nest in the cedars,

How gracious will you be when pangs come upon you,

Like xthe pain of a woman in 8labor?