Jeremiah 13

Chapter 13

Jeremiah’s Linen Loincloth

1 This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it on, but do not wash it.”

2 So I bought the loincloth as the LORD directed me, and I put it on.
3 Then the LORD gave me another message:4 “Take the linen loincloth you are wearing, and go to the Euphrates River.t Hide it there in a hole in the rocks.”

5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the LORD had instructed me.
6 A long time afterward the LORD said to me, “Go back to the Euphrates and get the loincloth I told you to hide there.”

7 So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it. But now it was rotting and falling apart. The loincloth was good for nothing.
8 Then I received this message from the LORD:9 “This is what the LORD says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.10 These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing!

11 As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the LORD. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.

12 “So tell them, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: May all your jars be filled with wine.’ And they will reply, ‘Of course! Jars are made to be filled with wine!’
13 “Then tell them, ‘No, this is what the LORD means: I will fill everyone in this land with drunkenness—from the king sitting on David’s throne to the priests and the prophets, right down to the common people of Jerusalem.

14 I will smash them against each other, even parents against children, says the LORD. I will not let my pity or mercy or compassion keep me from destroying them.’”

A Warning against Pride

15 Listen and pay attention!
Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.16 Give glory to the LORD your God
before it is too late.
Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you,
causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains.
For then, when you look for light,
you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.17 And if you still refuse to listen,
I will weep alone because of your pride.
My eyes will overflow with tears,
because the LORD’s flock will be led away into exile.18 Say to the king and his mother,
“Come down from your thrones
and sit in the dust,
for your glorious crowns
will soon be snatched from your heads.”19 The towns of the Negev will close their gates,
and no one will be able to open them.
The people of Judah will be taken away as captives.
All will be carried into exile.20 Open up your eyes and see
the armies marching down from the north!
Where is your flock—
your beautiful flock—
that he gave you to care for?21 What will you say when the LORD takes the allies you have cultivated
and appoints them as your rulers?
Pangs of anguish will grip you,
like those of a woman in labor!22 You may ask yourself,
“Why is all this happening to me?”
It is because of your many sins!
That is why you have been stripped
and raped by invading armies.23 Can an Ethiopiant change the color of his skin?
Can a leopard take away its spots?
Neither can you start doing good,
for you have always done evil.24 “I will scatter you like chaff
that is blown away by the desert winds.25 This is your allotment,
the portion I have assigned to you,”
says the LORD,
“for you have forgotten me,
putting your trust in false gods.26 I myself will strip you
and expose you to shame.27 I have seen your adultery and lust,
and your disgusting idol worship out in the fields and on the hills.
What sorrow awaits you, Jerusalem!
How long before you are pure?”

JEREMIAH 13

Jeremiah's Linen Shorts

1 The [Lord] told me, “Go and buy a pair of linen shorts. Wear them for a while, but don't wash them.”

2 So I bought a pair of shorts and put them on.
3 Then the [Lord] said, 4 “Take off the shorts. Go to Paraht and hide the shorts in a crack between some large rocks.”

5 And that's what I did.
6 Some time later the [Lord] said, “Go back and get the shorts.”

7 I went back and dug the shorts out of their hiding place, but the cloth had rotted, and the shorts were ruined.

8 Then the [Lord] said:
9 Jeremiah, I will use Babylonia tot destroy the pride of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. 10 The people of Judah are evil and stubborn. So instead of listening to me, they do whatever they want and even worship other gods. When I am finished with these people, they will be good for nothing, just like this pair of shorts.

11 These shorts were tight around your waist, and that's how tightly I held onto the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. I wanted them to be my people. I wanted to make them famous, so that other nations would praise and honor me, but they refused to obey me.

Wine Jars

The [Lord] said:

12 Jeremiah, tell the people of Judah, “The [Lord] God of Israel orders you to fill your wine jars with wine.”
They will answer, “Of course we fill our wine jars with wine! Why are you telling us something we already know?”

13 Then say to them:
I am the [Lord], and what I'm going to do will make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem appear to be full of wine. And the worst ones will be the kings of David's family and the priests and the prophets.

14 Then I will smash them against each other like jars. I will have no pity on the young or the old, and they will all be destroyed. I, the [Lord], have spoken.

The People of Judah //Will Be Taken Away

15 People of Judah,
don't be too proud to listen
to what the [Lord] has said.

16 You hope for light,
but God is sending darkness.
Evening shadows already deepen
in the hills.
So return to God
and confess your sins to him
before you trip and fall.

17 If you are too proud to listen,
I will weep alone.
Tears will stream from my eyes
when the [Lord]'s people
are taken away as prisoners.

18 The [Lord] told me to tell you
that your king and his mothert
must surrender their thrones
and remove their crowns.t

19 The cities in the Southern Desert
are surrounded;
no one can get in or out.
Everyone in Judah
will be taken away.

20 Jerusalem, you were so proud
of ruling the people of Judah.
But where are they now?
Look north, and you will see
your enemies approaching.

21 You once trusted them to help,
but now I'll let them rule you.t
What do you say about that?
You will be in pain
like a woman giving birth.

22 Do you know why
your clothes were torn off
and you were abused?
It was because
of your terrible sins.

23 Can you ever change
and do what's right?
Can people change the color
of their skin,
or can a leopard
remove its spots?
If so, then maybe you can change
and learn to do right.

24 I will scatter you,
just as the desert wind
blows husks from grain
tossed in the air.

25 I won't change my mind.
I, the [Lord], have spoken.
You rejected me
and worshiped false gods.
*

26 You were married to me,
but you were unfaithful.
You even became a prostitutet
by worshiping disgusting gods
on hilltops and in fields.

27 So I'll rip off your clothes
and leave you naked and ashamed
for everyone to see.
You are doomed!
Will you ever be worthy
to worship me again?