Jeremiah 27:8–15

⁸“ ‘ “If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish^v that nation with the sword,^w famine^x and plague,^y declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. ⁹So do not listen to your prophets,^z your diviners,^a your interpreters of dreams,^b your mediums^c or your sorcerers^d who tell you, ‘You will not serve^e the king of Babylon.’ ¹⁰They prophesy lies^f to you that will only serve to remove^g you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. ¹¹But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke^h of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to liveⁱ there, declares the Lord.” ’ ”

¹²I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke^j of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.^{k 13}Why will you and your people die^l by the sword, famine and plague^m with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? ¹⁴Do not listenⁿ to the words of the prophets^o who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies^p to you. ¹⁵‘I have not sent^q them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.^r Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,^s both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’ ”