Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible

Jeremiah 22:13

"Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness, And his upstairs rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Dishonesty;   Employer;   Jehoiakim;   Labor;   Master;   Neighbor;   Rich, the;   Servant;   Wages;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Capital and Labour;   Dishonesty;   Employers (Masters);   Gain, Unjust;   Masters (Employers);   Men's Plans;   Plans and Devices of Men;   Plans of Men;   Presumptuous Plans;   Unjust Gain;   Vices;   Wages;   Woes;   The Topic Concordance - Unrighteousness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Injustice;   Masters;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jehoiakim;   Nebuchadnezzar;   Wages;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jehoiakim;   Jeremiah;   King;   Wealth;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Habakkuk, Theology of;   Know, Knowledge;   Wages;   Wealth;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Wages;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jehoiakim;   Poor;   Wages;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Beth-Haccerem;   Idle;   Palace;   Wages;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Baal (1);   Jehoiakim;   Jeremiah;   Poverty;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Harvest ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dwelling;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Wages;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Buildeth;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Captivity;   Jehoiakim;   Jeremiah (2);   Judah, Kingdom of;   Neighbor;   Service;   Wages;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jehoiakim;   King;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Woe for the one who builds his palacethrough unrighteousness,his upstairs rooms through injustice,who makes his neighbor serve without payand will not give him his wages,
Hebrew Names Version
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; who uses his neighbor's service without wages, and doesn't give him his hire;
King James Version
Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
English Standard Version
"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages,
New Century Version
"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 nothing and does not pay them.
Amplified Bible
"Woe (judgment is coming) to him who builds his house by [acts of] unrighteousness And his upper chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor's service without pay And does not give him wages [for his work],
World English Bible
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; who uses his neighbor's service without wages, and doesn't give him his hire;
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wo vnto him that buildeth his house by vnrighteousnesse, and his chambers without equitie: he vseth his neighbour without wages, and giueth him not for his worke.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Woe to him who builds his house without righteousnessAnd his upper rooms without justice,Who uses his neighbor's services without payAnd does not give him his wages,
Berean Standard Bible
"Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and will not give him his wages,
Contemporary English Version
The Lord told me to say: King Jehoiakim, you are doomed! You built a palace with large rooms upstairs.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Woe to him who builds his palace unfairly, its upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbor work for free and will not give him his wages;
Darby Translation
Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his upper chambers by injustice; that taketh his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not his earning;
Easy-to-Read Version
"It will be very bad for King Jehoiakim. He is doing wrong so that he can build his palace. He is cheating people so that he can build rooms upstairs. He is not paying his own people. He is making them work for nothing.
George Lamsa Translation
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbor work for him without wages, and does not give him his hire;
Good News Translation
Doomed is the one who builds his house by injustice and enlarges it by dishonesty; who makes his people work for nothing and does not pay their wages.
Lexham English Bible
Woe to the one who builds his house without righteousness, and his upper rooms without justice. His fellow countryman, he works for nothing, and he does not give to him his wages.
Literal Translation
Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness, and his upper rooms without justice. His neighbor serves without pay, and he does not give him for his work;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wo worth him, that buyldeth his house with vnrightuousnes, ad his perlers with the good, that he hath gotten by violence: which neuer recompenseth his neghburs laboure, ner payeth him his hyre.
American Standard Version
Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not his hire;
Bible in Basic English
A curse is on him who is building his house by wrongdoing, and his rooms by doing what is not right; who makes use of his neighbour without payment, and gives him nothing for his work;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not his hire;
King James Version (1611)
Woe vnto him that buildeth his house by vnrighteousnesse, and his chambers by wrong: that vseth his neighbours seruice without wages, and giueth him not for his worke:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wo worth hym that buyldeth his house with vnrighteousnesse, and his parlours with the good that he hath gotten by violence, which neuer recompenceth his neighbours labour, nor payeth hym his hyre:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
He that builds his house not with justice, and his upper chambers not with judgment, who works by means of his neighbour for nothing, and will by no means give him his reward.
English Revised Version
Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not his hire;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Wo to him that bildith his hous in vnriytfulnesse, and his soleris not in doom; he schal oppresse his freend in veyn, and he schal not yelde his hire to hym.
Update Bible Version
Woe to him that builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that uses his neighbor's service without wages, and does not give him his wages;
Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
New English Translation
"‘Sure to be judged is the king who builds his palace using injustice and treats people unfairly while adding its upper rooms. He makes his countrymen work for him for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.
New King James Version
"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor's service without wages And gives him nothing for his work,
New Living Translation
And the Lord says, "What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.
New Life Bible
"It is bad for him who builds his house by wrong-doing, and his upper rooms by not being fair, who has his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not pay him,
New Revised Standard
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Alas! for him who buildeth his house without righteousness, And his roof-chambers without justice, - Of his neighbour, taketh service for nought, And recompense for his work, giveth him not.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to him that buildeth up his house by injustice, and his chambers not in judgment: that will oppress his friend without cause, and will not pay him his wages.
Revised Standard Version
"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing, and does not give him his wages;
Young's Literal Translation
Wo to him who is building his house by unrighteousness, And his upper chambers by injustice, On his neighbour he layeth service for nought, And his wage he doth not give to him.
THE MESSAGE
"Doom to him who builds palaces but bullies people, who makes a fine house but destroys lives, Who cheats his workers and won't pay them for their work, Who says, ‘I'll build me an elaborate mansion with spacious rooms and fancy windows. I'll bring in rare and expensive woods and the latest in interior decor.' So, that makes you a king— living in a fancy palace? Your father got along just fine, didn't he? He did what was right and treated people fairly, And things went well with him. He stuck up for the down-and-out, And things went well for Judah. Isn't this what it means to know me?" God 's Decree! "But you're blind and brainless. All you think about is yourself, Taking advantage of the weak, bulldozing your way, bullying victims."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages,

Contextual Overview

10 Do not weep for the dead or mourn for him, But weep deeply for the one who goes away; For he will never return Or see his native land. 11 For this is what the LORD says regarding Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in the place of his father Josiah, who went out from this place: "He will never return there; 12 but in the place where they took him into exile, there he will die and he will not see this land again. 13 "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness, And his upstairs rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages,14 Who says, 'I will build myself a large house With spacious upstairs rooms, And cut out its windows, Paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.' 15 "Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did your father not eat and drink And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well for him. 16 "He pled the cause of the afflicted and the poor, Then it was well. Is that not what it means to know Me?" Declares the LORD. 17 "But your eyes and your heart Are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, And on shedding innocent blood, And on practicing oppression and extortion." 18 Therefore this is what the LORD says regarding Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, my brother!' or, 'Oh, sister!' They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, for the master!' or, 'Oh, for his splendor!' 19 "He will be buried with a donkey's burial, Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

unto: Jeremiah 22:18, 2 Kings 23:35-37, 2 Chronicles 36:4

buildeth: Leviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:14, Deuteronomy 24:15, Job 24:10, Job 24:11, Micah 3:10, Habakkuk 2:9-11, Malachi 3:5, James 5:4

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 15:13 - General 2 Samuel 7:2 - I dwell 2 Kings 23:37 - he did 2 Kings 24:5 - the rest 1 Chronicles 14:1 - to build him 2 Chronicles 36:5 - Jehoiakim Job 18:15 - because Job 20:18 - and he shall Proverbs 17:19 - he that Proverbs 29:4 - he that receiveth gifts Isaiah 5:8 - them Isaiah 10:1 - Woe Jeremiah 17:11 - he that Jeremiah 35:1 - in the Ezekiel 19:6 - he went Ezekiel 34:4 - but with Habakkuk 2:12 - him

Cross-References

Genesis 22:6
And Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
Genesis 22:7
Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
Genesis 22:8
Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
Genesis 22:9
Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Genesis 22:10
And Abraham reached out with his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
Genesis 22:19
So Abraham returned to his young men, and they got up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived in Beersheba.
Genesis 22:20
Now it came about after these things, that Abraham was told, saying, "Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:
Isaiah 30:21
Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Woe unto him that buildeth his house by righteousness, and his chambers by wrong,.... This respects Jehoiakim, the then reigning king; who, not content with the palace the kings of Judah before him had lived in, built another; or however enlarged that, and made great alterations in it; but this he did either with money ill gotten, or perverted to a wrong use, which ought to have been otherwise laid out; or by not paying for the materials of whom they were bought, or the workmen for their workmanship; and perhaps this may be the reason why so much notice is taken of the king's house or palace in the former part of the chapter, and why it is threatened with desolation,

Jeremiah 22:1;

[that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; or, "that serveth [himself] of his neighbour freely"; or, "makes him serve freely" g; "and giveth him not his work" h; makes him, work for nothing; gives him no wages for it, but keeps back the hire of the labourers; which is a crying sin in any person, and much more in a king; see James 5:4.

g ברעהו יעבד חנם "qui socium suum servire facit gratis", Schmidt; "amici sui servitutem exigenti gratis", Junius Tremellius. h ופעלו לא יתן לו "et opus ejus non dabit ei", Montanus "mercedem operis", Pagninus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Far worse is the second example. Shallum was no heartless tyrant like Jehoiakim, who lived in splendor amid the misery of the nation, and perished so little cared for that his body was cast aside without burial.

His chambers - Really, his upper chambers. From the absence of machinery the raising of materials for the upper stories was a difficult task, especially when massive stones were used.

His work - Giveth him not his wages.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 22:13. Wo unto him that buildeth his house — These evils, charged against Jehoiakim, are nowhere else circumstantially related. We learn from 2 Kings 23:35-37, that he taxed his subjects heavily, to give to Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt: "He exacted the silver and gold of the people of the land, and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord." The mode of taxation is here intimated; he took the wages of the hirelings, and caused the people to work without wages in his own buildings, &c.


 
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