1. In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord, saying,
2. Thus hath the Lord said: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I commanded thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
3. peradventure they will hearken and turn each man from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.