Study Desk

Give them a message for their masters and say, 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Tell this to your masters:

With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please.

Now I will hand all your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.

All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him.

" ' "If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares the LORD , until I destroy it by his hand.

So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon.'

They prophesy lies to you that will only serve to remove you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish.

But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live there, declares the LORD ." ' "