Our pursuersare at our necks;We are wornout, there is norestfor us.
thussaysthe LORDto me-- "Makefor yourself bondsand yokesand putthem on your neck,
"It will be, [that] the nationor the kingdomwhichwill not servehim, Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babylon,and whichwill not putits neckunder the yokeof the kingof Babylon,I will punishthat nationwith the sword,with famineand with pestilence,"declaresthe LORD,"untilI have destroyedit by his hand.
For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,"I have puta yokeof ironon the neckof allthesenations,that they may serveNebuchadnezzarkingof Babylon;and they will servehim. And I have alsogivenhim the beastsof the field."'"
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"The broadwallof Babylonwill be completelyrazedAnd her highgateswill be seton fire;So the peopleswill toilfor nothing,And the nationsbecomeexhausted[only] for fire."
"The yokeof my transgressionsis bound;By His handthey are knittogether.They have comeupon my neck;He has made my strengthfail.The Lordhas givenme into the handsOf [those against whom] I am not ableto stand.
Judahhas goneinto exileunderafflictionAnd underharshservitude;She dwellsamong the nations,[But] she has foundnorest;Allher pursuershave overtakenher In the midstof distress.
Our pursuerswere swifterThanthe eaglesof the sky;They chasedus on the mountains,They waitedin ambushfor us in the wilderness.
Thereforethussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am planningagainstthisfamilya calamityFrom whichyou cannotremoveyour necks;And you will not walkhaughtily,For it will be an eviltime.
"TakeMy yokeupon you and learnfrom Me, for I amgentleand humblein heart,and YOU WILL FINDRESTFOR YOUR SOULS.
"Nowthereforewhydo you putGodto the testby placingupon the neckof the disciplesa yokewhichneitherour fathersnorwe have been ableto bear?
therefore you shall serveyour enemieswhomthe LORDwill sendagainst you, in hunger,in thirst,in nakedness,and in the lackof allthings;and He will putan ironyokeon your neckuntilHe has destroyedyou.
