1. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah early in the reign of Josiah’s son, King Zedekiah of Judah.
2. The Lord told me, “Make a yoke out of leather straps and wooden crossbars and put it on your neck.
3. Use it to send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. Send them through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to King Zedekiah of Judah.
4. Charge them to give their masters a message from me. Tell them, ‘The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says to give your masters this message.
5. “I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit.
6. I have at this time placed all these nations of yours under the power of my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made all the wild animals subject to him.
7. All nations must serve him and his son and grandson until the time comes for his own nation to fall. Then many nations and great kings will in turn subjugate Babylon.