¹² I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke^(A) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.^{(B) 13} Why will you and your people die^(C) by the sword, famine and plague^(D) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

²⁴ Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.”