1. When Zedekiah, son of King Josiah of Judah, began to rule, the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah.
2. This is what the Lord said to me: Make ⌊leather⌋ straps and a wooden yoke, and strap the yoke on your neck.
3. Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon, with messengers who have come to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem.
4. Give 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.
6. Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him.
7. All 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.