Study Desk

This is what the LORD says: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah and there speak this word,

and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who ^(C1)sits on David's throne, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates.

'This is what the LORD says: "^(C1)Do justice and righteousness, and save one who has been robbed from the power of his ^(C2)oppressor. And ^(C3)do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not ^(C4)shed innocent blood in this place.

"For if you will indeed perform this ^(F1)instruction, then ^(C1)kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting ^(F2)in David's place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, the king himself, his servants, and his people.

"^(C1)But if you will not obey these words, I ^(C2)swear by Myself," declares the LORD, "that this house will become a place of ruins."'"

For this is what the LORD says concerning the house of the king of Judah: "You are like ^(C1)Gilead to Me, Like the summit of Lebanon; Yet most assuredly I will make you a ^(C2)wilderness, Cities that are not inhabited.

-"For I will set apart ^(C1)destroyers against you, Each with his weapons; And they will ^(C2)cut down your choicest cedars And ^(C3)throw them on the fire.

"Many nations will pass by this city; and they will ^(C1)say to one another, 'Why has the LORD done this to this great city?'

"Then they will ^(F1)answer, 'Because they ^(C1)abandoned the covenant of the LORD their God and bowed down to other gods and served them.'"