8. “People from many nations will pass by this city and ask each other, ‘Why has the Lord done such a terrible thing to Jerusalem, this great city?’
9. And the answer will be: ‘Because the people of Judah quit following the agreement with the Lord their God. They worshiped and served other gods.’ ”
10. Don’t cry for the dead king or be sad about him.But cry painfully for the king who is being taken away,because he will never returnor see his homeland again.
11. This is what the Lord says about Jehoahaz son of Josiah who became king of Judah after his father died and who has left this place: “He will never return.
12. He will die where he has been taken captive, and he will not see this land again.”
13. “How terrible it will be for one who builds his palace by doing evil,who cheats people so he can build its upper rooms.He makes his own people work for nothingand does not pay them.
14. He says, ‘I will build a great palace for myselfwith large upper rooms.’So he builds it with large windowsand uses cedar wood for the walls,which he paints red.
15. “Does having a lot of cedar in your housemake you a great king?Your father was satisfied to have food and drink.He did what was right and fair,so everything went well for him.
16. He helped those who were poor and needy,so everything went well for him.That is what it means to know God,”says the Lord.
17. “But you only look for and think aboutwhat you can get dishonestly.You are even willing to kill innocent people to get it.You feel free to hurt people and to steal from them.”
18. So this is what the Lord says to Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:“The people of Judah will not cry when Jehoiakim dies,saying: ‘Oh, my brother,’ or ‘Oh, my sister.’They will not cry for him, saying:‘Oh, master,’ or ‘Oh, my king.’
19. They will bury him like a donkey,dragging his body awayand throwing it outside the gates of Jerusalem.
20. “Judah, go up to Lebanon and cry out.Let your voice be heard in Bashan.Cry out from Abarim,because all your friends are destroyed!