I gave a warning to the nobles of Judah. I said,“ Why are you doing such an evil thing? You are misusing the Sabbath day!

我就斥责犹大的贵胄说：“你们怎么行这恶事犯了安息日呢？

我就斥责犹大的贵族，对他们说：“你们怎么会做这恶事干犯安息日呢！

我就斥责犹大的贵族，对他们说：“你们怎么会做这恶事干犯安息日呢！

我斥责犹大的贵族说：“你们为何做这恶事干犯安息日？

于是我责备犹大的贵族，对他们说：“你们怎么行这恶事，亵渎安息日呢？

我就斥責猶大的貴冑說：「你們怎麼行這惡事犯了安息日呢？

我就斥責猶大的貴族，對他們說：「你們怎麼會做這惡事干犯安息日呢！

我就斥責猶大的貴族，對他們說：「你們怎麼會做這惡事干犯安息日呢！

我斥責猶大的貴族說：「你們為何做這惡事干犯安息日？

於是我責備猶大的貴族，對他們說：“你們怎麼行這惡事，褻瀆安息日呢？

我就譴責猶大顯貴的人，對他們說：『你們行的這壞事到底是甚麼事，竟瀆犯這安息之日啊？

我斥責猶大顯者曰、爾奚行此惡、以犯安息日、

我責猶大世職曰、爾奚犯安息日、多行不義。

我斥責猶大諸顯者、謂之曰、爾行不法、犯安息日何耶、

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this wicked thing you are doing— desecrating the Sabbath day?

Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

So I confronted the nobles of Judah.“ Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?” I asked.

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this evil you are doing— profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them,“ What is this evil thing that you are doing, by profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them,“ What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them:“ What is this evil you are doing— profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing[ is] this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them,“ What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them,“ What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

I gave a warning to the officials. I asked them,“ Why aren’t you taking care of God’s house?” Then I brought the Levites and musicians together. I stationed them in their proper places. I put them back to work.

So I gave them a warning. I cursed them. I beat up some of them. I pulled their hair out. I had them make a promise in God’s name. I said,“ You must promise not to give your daughters to be married to their sons. You must promise not to let their daughters marry your sons. And you must not marry their daughters either.

Listen to me, you leaders of Jacob’s people! Pay attention, you rulers of Israel! You hate to do what is fair. You twist everything that is right.

I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials of breaking the law. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.

Those who turn away from instruction praise sinners. But those who learn from it oppose them.

Then I said,“ Listen, you leaders of Jacob’s people! Pay attention, you rulers of Israel! You should want to judge others fairly.

So I will go to the leaders. I’ll speak to them. They should know how the Lord wants them to live. They must know what their God requires of them.” But all of them had broken off the yoke the Lord had put on them. They had torn off the ropes he had tied them up with.

‘ King of Judah, listen to the Lord’ s message. You are sitting on David’s throne. You and your officials and your people come through these gates.The Lord says,“ Do what is fair and right. Save those who have been robbed. Set them free from the people who have treated them badly. Do not do anything wrong to outsiders or widows in this place. Do not harm children whose fathers have died. Do not kill those who are not guilty of doing anything wrong.Be careful to obey these commands. Then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace. They will come riding in chariots and on horses. Their officials and their people will come along with them.But suppose you do not obey these commands,” announces the Lord.“ Then I promise you that this palace will be destroyed. You can be as sure of this promise as you are sure that I live.” ’ ”The Lord speaks about the palace of the king of Judah. He says,“ You are like the land of Gilead to me. You are like the highest mountain in Lebanon. But I will make you like a desert. You will become like towns that no one lives in.I will send destroyers against you. All of them will come with their weapons. They will cut up your fine cedar beams. They will throw them into the fire.“ People from many nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another,‘ Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?’And the answer will be,‘ This happened because of what its people have done. They have turned away from the covenant the Lord their God made with them. They have worshiped other gods. And they have served them.’ ”Don’t weep over dead King Josiah. Don’t be sad because he’s gone. Instead, weep bitterly over King Jehoahaz. He was forced to leave his country. He will never return. He’ll never see his own land again.Jehoahaz became king of Judah after his father Josiah. But he has gone away from this place. That’s because the Lord says about him,“ He will never return.He will die in Egypt. That is where he was taken as a prisoner. He will not see this land again.”The Lord says,“ How terrible it will be for King Jehoiakim! He builds his palace by mistreating his people. He builds its upstairs rooms with money gained by sinning. He makes his own people work for nothing. He does not pay them for what they do.He says,‘ I will build myself a great palace. It will have large rooms upstairs.’ So he makes big windows in it. He covers its walls with cedar boards. He decorates it with red paint.“ Jehoiakim, does having more and more cedar boards make you a king? Your father Josiah had enough to eat and drink. He did what was right and fair. So everything went well with him.He stood up for those who were poor or needy. So everything went well with him. That is what it means to know me,” announces the Lord.“ Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind is to get rich by cheating others. You would even kill people who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. You would mistreat them. You would take everything they own.”So the Lord speaks about King Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah. He says,“ His people will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor brother! My poor sister!’ They will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor master! How sad that his glory is gone!’In fact, he will be buried like a donkey. His body will be dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”The Lord says,“ People of Jerusalem, go up to Lebanon. Cry out for help. Let your voice be heard in the land of Bashan. Cry out from the mountains of Abarim. All those who were going to help you are crushed.When you felt secure, I warned you. But you said,‘ I won’t listen!’ You have acted like that ever since you were young. You have not obeyed me.The wind will drive away all your shepherds. All those who were going to help you will be carried off as prisoners. Then you will be dishonored and put to shame. That will happen because you have been so sinful.Some of you live in Jerusalem in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. You are comfortable in your cedar buildings. But you will groan when pain comes on you. It will be like the pain of a woman having a baby.

Rulers of Sodom, hear the Lord’ s message. People of Gomorrah, listen to the instruction of our God.

Speak to the king and his mother. Tell them,“ Come down from your thrones. Your glorious crowns are about to fall from your heads.”

God takes his place at the head of a large gathering of leaders. He announces his decisions among them.He says,“ How long will you stand up for those who aren’t fair to others? How long will you show mercy to sinful people?