Jeremiah 27:12-18

English Standard Version

¹²To ^(A)Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: ^(B)“Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and ^(C)serve him and his people and live. ¹³^(D)Why will you and your people die ^(E)by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, ^(F)as the Lord has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? ¹⁴^(G)Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ ^(H)for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. ¹⁵I have not sent them, declares the Lord, but ^(I)they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.”

¹⁶Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ^(J)Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, ^(K)‘Behold, the vessels of the Lord's house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,’ ^(L)for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. ¹⁷^(M)Do not listen to them; ^(N)serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city ^(O)become a desolation? ¹⁸If they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, then ^(P)let them intercede with the Lord of hosts, ^(Q)that the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon.