1. This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah. Prophesy this message there:
2. ‘Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah. You rule from David’s throne. You and your officers, listen well! All of your people who come through these gates, listen!
3. This is what the Lord says: Do what is fair and right. Protect those who have been robbed from those who robbed them. Don’t do any wrong to the orphans or widows. Don’t hurt them. Don’t kill innocent people here.
4. If you carefully obey these commands, this is what will happen: Kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace. They will come with their officers and people. They will all come riding in chariots and on horses.
5. But if you don’t obey these commands, this is what the Lord says: I promise in my own name that this king’s palace will become a ruin.’”
6. This is what the Lord says about the palace where the king of Judah lives:“This palace is tall like the forests of Gilead.It is high like the mountains of Lebanon.But I will truly make it like a desert.It will be empty like towns where no one lives.
7. I will send men to destroy the palace.Each man will have his weapons with him.They will cut up your strong, beautiful cedar beams.And they will throw them into the fire.
8. “People from many nations will pass by this city. They will ask each other, ‘Why has the Lord done such a terrible thing to Jerusalem? This was such a great city.’