Jeremiah 27

1In the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign, son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,

2Thus says Yahweh to me: Make bonds and yokes for yourself, and put them on your neck.

3And send them to the king of Edom, to the king of Moab, to the king of the sons of Ammon, to the king of Tyre, to the king of Sidon, through the messengers coming to Jerusalem to Zedekiah, king of Judah.

4Command them to say to their masters, "Thus speaks Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel: Thus you shall say to your masters."

5I have made the earth, humanity, and the beasts that are on the face of the earth by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and I have given it to whomever it is right in my eyes.

6Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, my servant, and I have also given him the beasts of the field to serve him.

7All nations shall serve him, his son, and his grandson, until the time comes for his own land; then many nations and great kings shall hold him in bondage.

8The nation and kingdom that will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and that will not place its neck under the yoke of Babylon's king, will face punishment from me by sword, famine, and pestilence—that nation, declares Yahweh, until I destroy them by his hand.

9As for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreams, your enchanters, or your sorcerers, who say to you, "You will not serve the king of Babylon."

10For they prophesy falsehood to you to distance you from your land, and I will banish you and you will perish.

11The nation that subjects its neck to the yoke of the king of Babylon and serves him I will leave in its land, declares Yahweh; they will serve it and dwell in it.

12I spoke to Zedekiah, king of Judah, with all these words, saying, "Put your necks under the yoke of Babylon's king, serve him and his people, and live."

13Why will you and your people die by sword, famine, and pestilence, as Yahweh has spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

14Do not listen to the words of the prophets telling you, "Do not serve the king of Babylon," for they prophesy a lie to you.

15For I have not sent them, declares Yahweh, but they prophesy a lie in my name to drive you out and destroy you—you and the prophets who prophesy to you.

16I spoke to the priests and all this people, saying, Thus says Yahweh: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, Behold, the vessels of Yahweh's house will now soon be brought back from Babylon, for they prophesy a lie to you.

17Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: why should this city become desolate?

18But if they are prophets and if Yahweh's word is with them, let them now entreat Yahweh of hosts lest the remaining vessels in Yahweh's house, in the house of Judah's king, and in Jerusalem go to Babylon.

19For thus says Yahweh of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the rest of the vessels remaining in this city.

20which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, did not take when he exiled Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem.

21Yes, thus says Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, concerning the remaining vessels in the house of Yahweh, in the house of the king of Judah, and Jerusalem.

22They will be brought to Babylon and remain there until the day I visit them, declares Yahweh; then I will bring them up and return them to this place.