Study Desk

"Order them to go to their masters, saying, 'This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: "This is what you shall say to your masters:

'^(C1)I have made the earth, mankind, and the animals which are on the face of the earth ^(C2)by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will ^(C3)give it to the one who is ^(F1)pleasing in My sight.

'And now I ^(C1)have handed all these lands over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, ^(C2)My servant, and I have also given him the ^(C3)animals of the field to serve him.

'^(C1)All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson ^(C2)until the time of his own land comes; then ^(C3)many nations and great kings will ^(F1)make him their servant.

'And it will be that the nation or the kingdom which ^(C1)will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the ^(C2)sword, with famine, and with plague,' declares the LORD, 'until I have eliminated ^(F1)it by his hand.

'And as for you, ^(C1)do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your ^(F1)dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers who talk to you, saying, "You will not serve the king of Babylon."

'For they are prophesying a ^(C1)lie to you in order to ^(C2)remove you far from your land; and I will drive you away and you will perish.

'But the nation that will ^(C1)bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will ^(C2)let remain on its land,' declares the LORD, 'and they will cultivate it and live in it.'"'"