1. A message came to me from the Lord. It was shortly after Zedekiah became king of Judah. He was the son of Josiah.
2. The Lord said, "Make a yoke out of ropes and wooden boards. Put it on your neck.
3. "Then write down a message for the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon. Give it to their messengers who have come to Jerusalem. They have come to see Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
4. Give them a message for the kings who sent them. It should say, 'The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, "Here is what I want you to tell your masters.
5. I reached out my great and powerful arm. I made the earth. I made its people and animals. And I can give the earth to anyone I please.
6. " ' "Now I will hand all of your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar. He is king of Babylonia. I will put even the wild animals under his control.