7. Your favorite valley was filled with chariots. Horse soldiers were stationed in front of the city gates.
8. Then the cover protecting Judah was removed, and the people turned to the weapons they kept at the Forest Palace.
12. So the Lord GOD All-Powerful told the people to cry and mourn for their dead friends. He told them to shave their heads and wear mourning clothes.
13. But look, everyone was happy. The people rejoiced, saying, “Kill the cattle and sheep, and let’s celebrate. Let’s eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
14. The Lord All-Powerful said this to me and I heard it with my own ears: “You are guilty of doing wrong, and I promise that you will die before this guilt is forgiven.” The Lord GOD All-Powerful said these things.
15. The Lord GOD All-Powerful told me to go to Shebna, the palace manager,
16. and say this: “What are you doing here? None of your relatives are buried here, are they? Then what right do you have to prepare a tomb for yourself in this high place? Why are you cutting a tomb out of this rock?
19. I will force you out of your position here. Your new leader will take you away from your important job.
20. At that time I will call for my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah.
21. I will take your robe and put it on him. I will give him your scepter. I will give him the important job you have, and he will be like a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah’s family.
22. “I will put the key to David’s house around his neck. If he opens a door, no one will be able to close it. If he closes a door, no one will be able to open it.
23. He will be like a favorite chair in his father’s house. I will make him like a strong peg in a solid board.