Jeremiah 22

1This is what Yahweh says, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah and proclaim this word there. 2Say, 'King of Judah, listen to the word of Yahweh—you who sit on David's throne—you, and your servants, and your people who come through these gates. 3Yahweh says this, “Perform justice and righteousness, and anyone who has been robbed—rescue him from the hand of the oppressor. Do not mistreat any foreigner in your land, or any orphan or widow. Do not commit violence or pour out innocent blood in this place. 4For if you truly do these things, then kings sitting on David's throne will enter the gates of this house riding in a chariot and on horses, he, his servants, and his people! 5But if you do not listen to these words from me that I have announced—this is Yahweh's declaration—then this royal house will become a ruin.”' 6For Yahweh says this concerning the house of the king of Judah, 7For I have designated destroyers to come against you! Men with their weapons 8Then many nations will pass by this city. Each person will say to the next, “Why has Yahweh acted in this way toward this great city?” 9Then the other will answer, “Because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh their God and bowed down to other gods and worshiped them.” 10Do not weep for the one who is dead or mourn for him; but weep bitterly for him who is about to go away, 11For Yahweh says this about Jehoahaz son of Josiah king of Judah, who served as king instead of Josiah his father, 'He has gone from this place and will not come back. 12He will die there in the place to where they have exiled him, and he will never again see this land.' 13Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, 14he says, 'I will build for myself a large house with spacious upper rooms.' 15Is this what makes you a good king, that you wanted to have boards of cedar? 16He judged in favor of the poor and needy. It was good then. Is this not what it means to know me?—this is Yahweh's declaration. 17But there is nothing in your eyes and heart except worry for your unjust profit and for pouring out innocent blood, 18Therefore this is what Yahweh says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: 19He will be buried with a donkey's burial, 20Go up Lebanon's mountains and shout. Lift your voice in Bashan. 21I spoke to you when you were safe, but you said, 'I will not listen.' 22The wind will shepherd away all your shepherds, and your friends will go into captivity. 23You who live in 'Lebanon,' who is nestled in cedar buildings, 24“As I live—this is Yahweh's declaration—even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on my right hand, I would tear you off. 25For I have given you to the hand of the ones seeking your life and to the hand of those before whom you are afraid, even to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. 26I will throw you and your mother who bore you into another land, a country where you were not born, and there you will die. 27About this land to which they will want to return, they will not come back here. 28Is this a despised and shattered vessel? Is this man Jehoiachin a pot that pleases no one? 29Land, Land, Land! Hear the word of Yahweh!