On Jehoiakim

13 Woe to him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness,

And his chambers by injustice,

That serveth himself of his neighbour for nothing,

And giveth him not his wages–

14 That saith, "I will build me a spacious house,

And roomy chambers and windows broad,

With panels of cedar, and painted vermilion,"

15 Do great cedar palaces make thee a king?

Did not thy father eat and drink,

And enjoy his measure of good things?

Yet justice and right did he also dispense

16 And he cared for the cause of the poor and the needy.

Is not that true knowledge of Me, saith Jehovah?

17 But thou hast neither eyes nor heart

For aught save thine own mean profit,

The shedding of innocent blood,

And the practice of wrong and oppression.

18 This, therefore, is the message of Jehovah to

Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

Woe unto this man Jehoiakim!

No one for him shall lament

" O brother of mine," "O sister."

No one for him shall lament

"An lord!" "Alas for his glory."

19 But burial like that of an ass shall be his–

Dragged along and flung forth

Beyond the gates of Jerusalem.