June 27, 2004, Thursday of the 12th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the second book of kings.

Jehoia Keen was 18 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

His mother's name was Nehushta, daughter of El Nathan of Jerusalem.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord, just as his forbearers had done.

At that time, the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, and the city

came under siege.

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, himself arrived at the city while his servants were besieging it.

Then Jehoiakin, King of Judah, together with his mother, his ministers, officers and functionaries,

surrendered to the King of Babylon, who in the eighth year of his reign took him captive.

And he carried off all the treasures of the temple of the Lord and those of the palace,

and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of Israel,

had provided in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had foretold.

He deported all Jerusalem, all the officers and men of the army, 10,000 in number, and all the craftsmen and smiths.

None were left among the people of the land, except the poor. He deported Jehoia Keen to Babylon,

and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, the king's mother and wives, his functionaries, and

the chief men of the land. The King of Babylon also led captive to Babylon all 7,000

men of the army, and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all of them trained soldiers.

In place of Jehojean King, the King of Babylon appointed his uncle Matinea king and changed his

name to Zedekiah. The word of the Lord. The response to royal psalm. The response is,

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance.

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