13-14 King Jehoiakim, you are doomed!You built a palacewith large rooms upstairs.You put in big windowsand used cedar panellingand red paint.But you were unfairand forced the builders to workwithout pay.
15-16 More cedar in your palacedoesn't make you a better kingthan your father Josiah.He always did right—he gave justice to the poorand was honest.That's what it meansto truly know me.So he lived a comfortable lifeand always had enoughto eat and drink.
17 But all you think aboutis how to cheator abuse or murdersome innocent victim.
18 Jehoiakim, no one will cryat your funeral.They won't turn to each otherand ask,“Why did our great kinghave to die?”
19 You will be given a burialfit for a donkey;your body will be draggedoutside the city gatesand tossed in the dust.I, the Lord, have spoken.
20 People of Jerusalem,the nations you trustedhave been crushed.Go to Lebanon and weep;cry in the land of Bashanand in Moab.
21 When times were good,I warned you.But you ignored me,just as you have donesince Israel was young.