3. Thus says the Lord: Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver the robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. And do no wrong or violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
4. For if you indeed do these things, then kings sitting on the throne of David will enter by the gates of this house, riding in chariots and on horses, he and his servants and his people.
5. But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself, says the Lord, that this house will become a desolation.
6. For thus says the Lord to the king’s house of Judah: You are Gilead to Me,and the peak of Lebanon;yet surely I will make you a wildernessand cities which are not inhabited.
7. I will prepare destroyers against you,everyone with his weapons;and they shall cut down your choice cedarsand cast them into the fire.
8. Many nations will pass by this city, and every man will say to his neighbor, “Why has the Lord done thus to this great city?”
9. Then they will answer, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.”
10. Do not weep for the dead nor bemoan him,but weep constantly for him who goes away;for he will return no morenor see his native country.
11. For thus says the Lord concerning Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, who became king instead of Josiah his father, who went from this place: He will not return any more,