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.
4. And thou shalt say unto them, Thus hath the Lord said: If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
5. to hearken to the words of my slaves the prophets, whom I send unto you, rising up early and sending them, unto whom ye have not hearkened,
6. then I will make this house like Shiloh and will give this city as a curse to all the Gentiles of the earth.