^{1 Ref} Thus said Jehovah: Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,

^{2 Ref} And say, Hear the word of Jehovah, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates.

^{3 Ref} Thus saith Jehovah: Execute ye justice and righteousness, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence, to the sojourner, the fatherless, nor the widow; neither shed innocent blood in this place.

^{4 Ref} For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.

^{5 Ref} But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith Jehovah, that this house shall become a desolation.

^{6 Ref} For thus saith Jehovah concerning the house of the king of Judah: Thou art Gilead unto me, `and' the head of Lebanon; `yet' surely I will make thee a wilderness, `and' cities which are not inhabited.

^{7 Ref} And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons; and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.

^{8 Ref} And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbor, Wherefore hath Jehovah done thus unto this great city?

^{9 Ref} Then they shall answer, Because they forsook the covenant of Jehovah their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.