Order them to go to their masters, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “This is what you shall say to your masters: (A)I have made the earth, mankind, and the animals which are on the face of the earth (B)by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will (C)give it to the one who is [a]pleasing in My sight. And now I (D)have handed all these lands over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, (E)My servant, and I have also given him the (F)animals of the field to serve him. (G)All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson (H)until the time of his own land comes; then (I)many nations and great kings will [b]make him their servant.

‘And it will be that the nation or the kingdom which (J)will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the (K)sword, with famine, and with plague,’ declares the Lord, ‘until I have eliminated [c]it by his hand. And as for you, (L)do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your [d]dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers who talk to you, saying, “You will not serve the king of Babylon.” 10 For they are prophesying a (M)lie to you in order to (N)remove you far from your land; and I will drive you away and you will perish. 11 But the nation that will (O)bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will (P)let remain on its land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will cultivate it and live in it.’”’”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 27:5 Or upright
  2. Jeremiah 27:7 Or enslave him
  3. Jeremiah 27:8 Lit them
  4. Jeremiah 27:9 Lit dreams

Give them this message for their masters: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose. Now I will give your countries to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who is my servant. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control. All the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until his time is up. Then many nations and great kings will conquer and rule over Babylon. So you must submit to Babylon’s king and serve him; put your neck under Babylon’s yoke! I will punish any nation that refuses to be his slave, says the Lord. I will send war, famine, and disease upon that nation until Babylon has conquered it.

“‘Do not listen to your false prophets, fortune-tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers who say, “The king of Babylon will not conquer you.” 10 They are all liars, and their lies will lead to your being driven out of your land. I will drive you out and send you far away to die. 11 But the people of any nation that submits to the king of Babylon will be allowed to stay in their own country to farm the land as usual. I, the Lord, have spoken!’”

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