10 King Josiah is dead,so don't mourn for him.Instead, mourn for his sonKing Jehoahaz,dragged off to another country,never to return.
11-12 Jehoahaz became king of Judah after his father King Josiah died. But Jehoahaz was taken as a prisoner to a foreign country. Now I, the Lord, promise that he will die there without ever seeing his own land again.*
13 King Jehoiakim, you are doomed!You built a palacewith large rooms upstairs.
14 You put in big windowsand used cedar panelingand red paint.But you were unfairand forced the builders to workwithout pay.*
15 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.
16 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.