8. ‘ “ ‘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.
9. 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.”
10. They prophesy lies to you that will only serve to remove you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish.
11. 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.’ ” ’
12. I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, ‘Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.
13. Why will you and your people die by the sword, famine and plague with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
14. Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, “You will not serve the king of Babylon,” for they are prophesying lies to you.
15. “I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. “They are prophesying lies in my name. Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish, both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.” ’
16. Then I said to the priests and all these people, ‘This is what the Lord says: do not listen to the prophets who say, “Very soon now the articles from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.” They are prophesying lies to you.
17. Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this city become a ruin?
18. If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead with the Lord Almighty that the articles which remain in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem will not be taken to Babylon.