6. “‘For the Lord says concerning the palace of the king of Judah,“This place looks like a veritable forest of Gilead to me.It is like the wooded heights of Lebanon in my eyes.But I swear that I will make it like a wildernesswhose towns have all been deserted.
7. I will send men against it to destroy itwith their axes and hatchets.They will hack up its fine cedar panels and columnsand throw them into the fire.
8. “‘People from other nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another, “Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?”
9. The answer will come back, “It is because they broke their covenant with the Lord their God and worshiped and served other gods.”
10. “‘Do not weep for the king who was killed.Do not grieve for him.But weep mournfully for the king who has gone into exile.For he will never return to see his native land again.
11. “‘For the Lord has spoken about Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but was carried off into exile. He has said, “He will never return to this land.
12. For he will die in the country where they took him as a captive. He will never see this land again.”
13. “‘Sure to be judged is the king who builds his palace using injusticeand treats people unfairly while adding its upper rooms.He makes his countrymen work for him for nothing.He does not pay them for their labor.
14. He says, “I will build myself a large palacewith spacious upper rooms.”He cuts windows in its walls,panels it with cedar, and paints its rooms red.
15. Does it make you any more of a kingthat you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar?Just think about your father.He was content that he had food and drink.He did what was just and right.So things went well with him.
16. He upheld the cause of the poor and needy.So things went well for Judah.’The Lord says,‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’
17. But you are always thinking and lookingfor ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means.Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.
18. So the Lord has this to say about Josiah’s son, King Jehoiakim of Judah:People will not mourn for him, saying,“This makes me sad, my brother! This makes me sad, my sister!”They will not mourn for him, saying,“Poor, poor lord! Poor, poor majesty!”