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.