Jeremiah 22:1-9

1This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and announce this word there.

2You are to say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David  — you, your officers, and your people who enter these gates.

3This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor. Don’t exploit or brutalize the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow. Don’t shed innocent blood in this place.

4For if you conscientiously carry out this word, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses — they, their officers, and their people.

5But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by myself  — this is the Lord’s declaration — that this house will become a ruin.’”

6For this is what the Lord says concerning the house of the king of Judah: “You are like Gilead to me, or the summit of Lebanon, but I will certainly turn you into a wilderness, uninhabited cities.

7I will set apart destroyers against you, each with his weapons. They will cut down the choicest of your cedars and throw them into the fire.

8“Many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why did the Lord do such a thing to this great city?’

9They will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord their God and bowed in worship to other gods and served them.’”