1 Early in the rule of Judah’s King Zedekiah, Josiah’s son, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
2 This is what the Lord said to me: Make a yoke of straps and bars and wear it on your neck.
3 Then send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through their representatives who have come to Jerusalem to Judah’s King Zedekiah.
4 Tell them to say to their masters: The Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: Say this to your masters:
5 By my great power and outstretched arm, I have made the earth and the people and animals that are on it. I can give it to anyone I please.
6 Now I hand over all these countries to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I even give him the wild animals as subjects.
7 All nations will serve him, his son and grandson, until the time for his land arrives; then many nations and great kings will conquer him.