The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.

These are the leaders and those enrolled with them by genealogy who were coming up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

Those truly of Israelite descent separated from all the foreigners, standing and confessing their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.

“You saw the affliction of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cry at the Red Sea.

“But they – our ancestors – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.

You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky. You brought them to the land you had told their ancestors to enter in order to possess.

In the days of Joiakim, these were the priests who were leaders of the families: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

Listen, O princess! Observe and pay attention! Forget your homeland and your family!

Your sons will carry on the dynasty of your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.

But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day.

He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants,

May his ancestors’ sins be remembered by the Lord! May his mother’s sin not be forgotten!

For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.

Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.

The one who robs his father and mother and says, “There is no transgression,” is a companion to the one who destroys.

The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

The eye that mocks at a father and despises obeying a mother – the ravens of the valley will peck it out and the young vultures will eat it.

I will fasten him like a peg into a solid place; he will bring honor and respect to his father’s family.