Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

27 Early in the reign of Zedekiah^[a](A) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke^(B) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. ³ Then send^(C) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,^(D) Tyre and Sidon^(E) through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. ⁴ Give them a message for their masters and say, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters: ⁵ With my great power and outstretched arm^(F) I made^(G) the earth and its people and the animals^(H) that are on it, and I give^(I) it to anyone I please. ⁶ Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant^(J) Nebuchadnezzar^(K) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.^{(L) 7} All nations will serve^(M) him and his son and his grandson until the time^(N) for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate^(O) him.

⁸ “‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish^(P) that nation with the sword,^(Q) famine^(R) and plague,^(S) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. ⁹ So do not listen to your prophets,^(T) your diviners,^(U) your interpreters of dreams,^(V) your mediums^(W) or your sorcerers^(X) who tell you, ‘You will not serve^(Y) the king of Babylon.’ ¹⁰ They prophesy lies^(Z) to you that will only serve to remove^(AA) you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. ¹¹ But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke^(AB) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live^(AC) there, declares the Lord.”’”