A Warning about Jehoiakim

13 “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,

and his upper rooms without justice,

who makes his countrymen serve without pay,

and fails to pay their wages,

14 who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace,

with spacious upper rooms.’

So he cuts windows in it,

panels it with cedar,

and paints it with vermilion.

15 Does it make you a king to excel [fn] in cedar?

Did not your father have food and drink?

He administered justice and righteousness,

and so it went well with him.

16 He took up the cause of the poor and needy,

and so it went well with him.

Is this not what it means to know Me?”

declares the LORD.

17 “But your eyes and heart are set on nothing

except your own dishonest gain,

on shedding innocent blood,

on practicing extortion and oppression.”

18 Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

“They will not mourn for him:

‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’

They will not mourn for him:

‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’

19 He will be buried like a donkey,

dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.

20 Go up to Lebanon and cry out;

raise your voice in Bashan;

cry out from Abarim,

for all your lovers have been crushed.

21 I warned you when you were secure.

You said, ‘I will not listen.’

This has been your way from youth,

that you have not obeyed My voice.

22 The wind will drive away all your shepherds,

and your lovers will go into captivity.

Then you will be ashamed and humiliated

because of all your wickedness.

23 O inhabitant of Lebanon,[fn]

nestled in the cedars,

how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you,

agony like a woman in labor.”