Jeremiah 27:2-12

2This is what the Lord said to me: Make ⌞leather⌟ straps and a wooden yoke, and strap the yoke on your neck.

3Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon, with messengers who have come to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem.

4Give them an order for their masters: “This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Say this to your masters,

5‘I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please.

6Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him.

7All nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until Babylon is defeated. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave.

8“ ‘Suppose nations or kingdoms won’t serve or surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will punish those nations by wars, famines, and plagues, until I have put an end to them by Nebuchadnezzar’s power, declares the Lord.

9Don’t listen to prophets, mediums, interpreters of dreams, fortunetellers, or sorcerers who tell you that you’ll never serve the king of Babylon.

10They are prophesying lies to you. They will cause you to be taken far from your lands. I’ll scatter you, and you will die.

11But suppose a nation surrenders to the king of Babylon and serves him. I will let it stay in its own land. People will farm the land and live on it,’ ” declares the Lord.

12I spoke the same message to King Zedekiah of Judah, “Surrender to the king of Babylon, serve him and his people, and you will stay alive.