1 The Lord spoke his word when Judah’s King Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, began to rule. He said,
2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple, and speak to all the people who come from the cities of Judah to worship in the Lord’s temple. Tell them everything that I command you to tell them. Don’t leave out a single word.
3 Maybe they’ll listen, and they’ll turn from their evil ways. Then I’ll change my plan about the disaster I intend to bring on them because of the evil they have done.”
4 The Lord added, “Also say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Suppose you don’t listen to me and don’t follow my teachings that I set in front of you.
5 Suppose you don’t listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent to you again and again, even though you didn’t listen.