Jeremiah 22:1-9 - Judgment Against Sinful Kings
1 This is what Jehovah says: Go to the palace of the king of Judah, and speak this message there: 2 Listen to the word of Jehovah, you officials, you people who come into these gates, and you, king of Judah, the one sitting on David's throne. 3 This is what Jehovah says: Judge fairly, and do what is right. Rescue those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, or widows, and do not oppress them. Do not kill innocent people in this place. 4 If you do what I say, then the kings who sit on David's throne will ride through the gates of this palace in chariots and on horses along with their officials and their people.' 5 But if you do not do what I say, I will take an oath on myself,' declares Jehovah, 'this palace will become a pile of rubble.'
6 Jehovah says concerning the house of the king of Judah: 'You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon. Most assuredly I will make you like a wilderness, like cities that are not inhabited. 7 I will set apart destroyers against you, each with his weapons. They will cut down your choicest cedars and throw them on the fire.
8 Many nations will pass by this city. They will say to one another: Why has Jehovah done thus to this great city? 9 They will answer: 'Because they abandoned the covenant of Jehovah their God and bowed down to other gods and served them.'