Judgment Against Sinful Kings
1 This is what the Lord has said: Go down to the house of the king of Judah and there give him this word,
1 Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,
1 Thus says the Lord, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word
1 This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and announce this word there.
1 This is what the LORD says: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah and tell him this:
2 And say, Give ear to the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, seated on the seat of David, you and your servants and your people who come in by these doors.
2 And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:
2 and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, who (A)sits on David’s throne, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates.
2 You are to say: Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David—you, your officers, and your people who enter these gates.
2 "Listen to this message from the LORD, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David you, your officials, and your people who enter these gates.
3 This is what the Lord has said: Do what is right, judging uprightly, and make free from the hands of the cruel one him whose goods have been violently taken away: do no wrong and be not violent to the man from a strange country and the child without a father and the widow, and let not those who have done no wrong be put to death in this place.
3 Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
3 Thus says the Lord, “(B)Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his (C)oppressor. Also (D)do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not (E)shed innocent blood in this place.
3 This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness.(A) Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor.(B) Don’t exploit or brutalize the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Don’t shed innocent blood in this place.
3 This is what the LORD says: "Uphold justice and righteousness. Deliver from their oppressor those who have been robbed. Don't mistreat or do violence to the alien, the orphan, or the widow, or shed the blood of innocent people in this place.
4 For if you truly do this, then there will come in through the doors of this house kings seated on the seat of David, going in carriages and on horseback, he and his servants and his people
4 For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.
4 For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then (F)kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting (a)in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people.
4 For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace(C) riding on chariots and horses—they, their officers, and their people.
4 Rather, carefully obey this message, and then kings sitting for David on his throne and riding in chariots and on horses will enter the gates of this house. The king will enter along with his officials and his people.
5 But if you do not give ear to these words, I give you my oath by myself, says the Lord, that this house will become a waste.
5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
5 (G)But if you will not obey these words, I (H)swear by Myself,” declares the Lord, “that this house will become a desolation.”’”
5 But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“that this house will become a ruin.”(D)
5 But if you don't listen to these words, I swear," declares the LORD, "that this house will become a ruin."'"
6 For this is what the Lord has said about the family of the king of Judah: You are Gilead to me, and the top of Lebanon: but, truly, I will make you waste, with towns unpeopled.
6 For thus saith the LORD unto the king's house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.
6 For thus says the Lord concerning the house of the king of Judah:“You are like (I)Gilead to Me,Like the summit of Lebanon;Yet most assuredly I will make you like a (J)wilderness,Like cities which are not inhabited.
6 For this is what the Lord says concerning the house of the king of Judah:You are like Gilead to Me,or the summit of Lebanon,but I will certainly turn you into a wilderness,uninhabited cities.
6 For this is what the LORD says about the house of the king of Judah, "You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon. Yet I'll surely make you a desert, towns where no one lives.
7 And I will make ready those who will send destruction on you, everyone armed for war: by them your best cedar-trees will be cut down and put in the fire.
7 And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.
7 “For I will set apart (K)destroyers against you,Each with his weapons;And they will (L)cut down your choicest cedarsAnd (M)throw them on the fire.
7 I will appoint destroyers against you,each with his weapons.They will cut down the choicest of your cedarsand throw them into the fire.
7 I'll appoint people to destroy you men with their weapons. They'll cut down some of your choice cedars and incinerate them.
8 And nations from all sides will go past this town, and every man will say to his neighbour, Why has the Lord done such things to this great town?
8 And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?
8 “Many nations will pass by this city; and they will (N)say to one another, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this great city?’
8 “Many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why did the Lord do such a thing to this great city?’
8 "Many nations will pass by this city and say to one another, "Why did the LORD do this to this great city?'
9 And they will say, Because they gave up the agreement of the Lord their God, and became worshippers and servants of other gods.
9 Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.
9 Then they will (b)answer, ‘Because they (O)forsook the covenant of the Lord their God and bowed down to other gods and served them.’”
9 They will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant(E) of Yahweh their God and worshiped and served other gods.’”(F)
9 Then people will respond, "It is because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have bowed down to other gods and served them.'
A Message Concerning Shallum
10 Let there be no weeping for the dead, and make no songs of grief for him: but make bitter weeping for him who has gone away, for he will never come back or see again the country of his birth.
10 Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.
10 (P)Do not weep for the dead or mourn for him,But weep continually for the one who goes away;For (Q)he will never returnOr see his native land.
10 Do not weep for the dead;do not mourn for him.Weep bitterly for the one(a) who has gone away,for he will never return againand see his native land.
10 "Don't cry for the dead or grieve for them. Weep bitterly for the one going away, because he won't return again nor see the land of his birth.
Message To The Sons Of Josiah
11 For this is what the Lord has said about Shallum, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in place of Josiah his father, who went out from this place: He will never come back there again:
11 For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:
11 For thus says the Lord in regard to (c)(R)Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in the place of Josiah his father, who went forth from this place, “He will never return there;
11 For this is what the Lord says concerning Shallum(G) son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in place of his father Josiah: “He has left this place—he will never return here again,
11 "For this is what the LORD says about Josiah's son Shallum, king of Judah, who reigned in place of his father Josiah: "He went out from this place and won't return to it again.
12 But death will come to him in the place where they have taken him away prisoner, and he will never see this land again.
12 But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.
12 but he will die in the place where they deported him, never seeing this land again.”
12 He will die in the place where they exiled him, and he won't ever see this land again.'"
A Message Concerning Jehoiakim
13 A curse is on him who is building his house by wrongdoing, and his rooms by doing what is not right; who makes use of his neighbour without payment, and gives him nothing for his work;
13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
13 “Woe to him who builds his house (T)without righteousnessAnd his (d)upper rooms without justice,Who uses his neighbor’s services without payAnd (U)does not give him his wages,
13 Woe for the one who builds his palacethrough unrighteousness,(H)his upper rooms through injustice,who makes his fellow man serve without payand will not give him his wages,(I)
13 "How terrible for him who builds his house without righteousness, and its upper rooms without justice, who makes his neighbor work for nothing, and does not pay him his wage.
14 Who says, I will make a wide house for myself, and rooms of great size, and has windows cut out, and has it roofed with cedar and painted with bright red.
14 That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
14 Who says, ‘I will (V)build myself a roomy houseWith spacious (e)upper rooms,And cut out its windows,(f)Paneling it with (W)cedar and painting it (g)bright red.’
14 who says, “I will build myself a massive palace,with spacious upper rooms.”He will cut windows(b) in it,and it will be paneled with cedarand painted with vermilion.
14 How terrible for him who says, "I'll build a large house for myself with spacious upper rooms, who cuts out windows for it, paneling it with cedar and painting it red.'
15 Are you to be a king because you make more use of cedar than your father? did not your father take food and drink and do right, judging in righteousness, and then it was well for him?
15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
15 “Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?Did not your father eat and drinkAnd (X)do justice and righteousness?Then it was (Y)well with him.
15 Are you a king because you excel in cedar?Didn’t your father eat and drinkand administer justice and righteousness?(J)Then it went well with him.
15 Are you a king because you try to outdo everyone with cedar? Your father ate and drank and upheld justice and righteousness, did he not? And then it went well for him.
16 He was judge in the cause of the poor and those in need; then it was well. Was not this to have knowledge of me? says the Lord.
16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.
16 “He pled the cause of the (Z)afflicted and needy;Then it was well.(AA)Is not that what it means to know Me?”Declares the Lord.
16 He took up the case of the poor and needy,then it went well.Is this not what it means to know Me?This is the Lord’s declaration.
16 He judged the case of the poor and needy. And then it went well for him. Isn't this what it means to know me?
17 But your eyes and your heart are fixed only on profit for yourself, on causing the death of him who has done no wrong, and on violent and cruel acts.
17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
17 “But your eyes and your heartAre intent only upon your own (AB)dishonest gain,And on (AC)shedding innocent bloodAnd on practicing oppression and extortion.”
17 But you have eyes and a heart for nothingexcept your own dishonest profit,shedding innocent bloodand committing extortion and oppression.
17 But your eyes and heart are on nothing but your dishonest gain, shedding the blood of innocent people, and practicing oppression and extortion."
18 So this is what the Lord has said about Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah: They will make no weeping for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they will make no weeping for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
18 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
18 Therefore thus says the Lord in regard to (AD)Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,“They will not (AE)lament for him:‘(AF)Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’They will not lament for him:‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’
18 Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim(K) son of Josiah, king of Judah:They will not mourn for him, saying,“Woe, my brother!” or “Woe, my sister!”They will not mourn for him, saying,“Woe, lord! Woe, his majesty!”
18 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Josiah's son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, "They won't lament for him with these words: "How terrible, my brother, How terrible, my sister!' They won't lament for him with these words: "How terrible, lord, How terrible, your majesty!'
19 They will do to him what they do to the dead body of an ass; his body will be pulled out and placed on the earth outside the doors of Jerusalem.
19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
19 “He will be (AG)buried with a donkey’s burial,Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
19 He will receive a donkey's burial, dragged out and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem."
Jeremiah's Message About The Fate Of Jerusalem
20 Go up to Lebanon and give a cry; let your voice be loud in Bashan, crying out from Abarim; for all your lovers have come to destruction
20 Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.
20 “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,And lift up your voice in Bashan;Cry out also from (AH)Abarim,For all your (AI)lovers have been crushed.
20 Go up to Lebanon and cry out;raise your voice in Bashan;cry out from Abarim,(M)for all your lovers(c) have been crushed.(N)
20 Go up to Lebanon and cry out, to Bashan and lift up your voice. Cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers have been crushed.
21 My word came to you in the time of your well-being; but you said, I will not give ear. This has been your way from your earliest years, you did not give attention to my voice.
21 I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.
21 “I spoke to you in your prosperity;But (AJ)you said, ‘I will not listen!’(AK)This has been your practice (AL)from your youth,That you have not obeyed My voice.
21 I spoke to you when you were secure.You said, “I will not listen.”This has been your way since youth;(O)indeed, you have never listened to Me.
21 I spoke to you when you were secure, but you said, "I won't listen!" This has been your way since your youth, for you haven't obeyed me.
22 All the keepers of your sheep will be food for the wind, and your lovers will be taken away prisoners: truly, then you will be shamed and unhonoured because of all your evil-doing.
22 The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
22 “The wind will sweep away all your (AM)shepherds,And your (AN)lovers will go into captivity;Then you will surely be (AO)ashamed and humiliatedBecause of all your wickedness.
22 The wind will take charge of(d) all your shepherds,and your lovers(e) will go into captivity.Then you will be ashamed and humiliated(P)because of all your evil.
22 The wind will shepherd all your shepherds, and your lovers will go into exile. Indeed, you will then be ashamed and humiliated because of all your wickedness.
23 O you who are living in Lebanon, making your living-place in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied will you be when pains come on you, as on a woman in childbirth!
23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!
23 “You who dwell in Lebanon,Nested in the cedars,How you will groan when pangs come upon you,(AP)Pain like a woman in childbirth!
23 You residents of Lebanon,nestled among the cedars,how you will groan(f) when labor pains come on you,agony like a woman in labor.(Q)
23 You who live in Lebanon, who build your nest in the cedars, how you will groan when pains come upon you, pain like that of a woman giving birth.
A Message Concerning Coniah
24 By my life, says the Lord, even if Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, was the ring on my right hand, even from there I would have you pulled off;
24 As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;
24 “As I live,” declares the Lord, “even though (h)(AQ)Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were a (AR)signet ring on My right hand, yet I would pull (i)you (j)off;
24 “As I live,” says the Lord, “though you, Coniah(g)(R) son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, were a signet ring(S) on My right hand, I would tear you from it.
24 "As certainly as I'm alive and living," declares the LORD, "even if Jehoiakim's son King Jehoiachin of Judah were a signet ring on my right hand, I would pull you off
25 And I will give you into the hands of those desiring your death, and into the hands of those whom you are fearing, even into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, and into the hands of the Chaldaeans.
25 And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
25 and I will (AS)give you over into the hand of those who are seeking your life, yes, into the hand of those whom you dread, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
25 In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread,(T) who want to take your life, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans.
25 and give you to those who are trying to kill you, whom you fear that is, to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Chaldeans.
26 I will send you out, and your mother who gave you birth, into another country not the land of your birth; and there death will come to you.
26 And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.
26 I will (AT)hurl you and your (AU)mother who bore you into another country where you were not born, and there you will die.
26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave birth(U) to you into another land,(V) where neither of you were born, and there you will both die.
26 I'll hurl you and the mother who gave birth to you into another land where you were not born, and there you will die.
27 But to the land on which their soul's desire is fixed, they will never come back.
27 But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.
27 But as for the land to which they desire to return, they will not return to it.
27 They will never return to the land they long to return to.”
27 As for the land to which you want to return, you won't return there!
28 Is this man Coniah a broken vessel of no value? is he a vessel in which there is no pleasure? why are they violently sent out, he and his seed, into a land which is strange to them?
28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
28 “Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered jar?Or is he an (AV)undesirable vessel?Why have he and his descendants been (AW)hurled outAnd cast into a (AX)land that they had not known?
28 Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered pot,(W)a jar no one wants?Why are he and his descendants hurled outand cast into a land they have not known?
28 "Is this man Jehoiachin a despised and shattered jar, a vessel no one wants? Why were he and his descendants hurled away, thrown into a land that they didn't know?
30 The Lord has said, Let this man be recorded as having no children, a man who will not do well in all his life: for no man of his seed will do well, seated on the seat of the kingdom of David and ruling again in Judah.
30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
30 “Thus says the Lord,‘Write this man down (AZ)childless,A man who will (BA)not prosper in his days;For no man of his (BB)descendants will prosperSitting on the throne of DavidOr ruling again in Judah.’”
30 This is what the Lord says:Record this man as childless,(X)a man who will not be successful in his lifetime.None of his descendants will succeedin sitting on the throne of David(Y)or ruling again in Judah.
30 This is what the LORD says: "Write this man off as childless, a man who does not prosper in his lifetime. None of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David, or ever ruling in Judah again.'"