12. I spoke the same message to King Zedekiah of Judah, “Surrender to the king of Babylon, serve him and his people, and you will stay alive.
13. Why should you and your people die in wars, famines, and plagues? The Lord has threatened the nations that don’t serve the king of Babylon.
14. Don’t listen to the prophets who tell you that you’ll never serve the king of Babylon. They are prophesying lies to you.
15. I didn’t send them, declares the Lord. They prophesy lies in my name. So I will scatter you, and you and the prophets will die.”
16. I also spoke this message to the priests and all the people. “This is what the Lord said to me: Don’t listen to the prophets who tell you that the utensils of the Lord’s temple will be brought back from Babylon soon. They are prophesying lies to you.
17. Don’t listen to them. Instead, serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city be turned into rubble?
18. If they are prophets and the Lord is speaking to them, they should beg the Lord of Armies not to allow the utensils that are left in the Lord’s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem to be taken away to Babylon.