Jeremiah 13

This is what Yahweh says to me, “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water.”

So I bought a loincloth according to the word of Yahweh, and put it around my waist.

Then the word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying,

“Take the loincloth that you have bought that is around your waist and arise, go to the Wadi Parath, and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks.”

So I went, and hid it in the Wadi Parath, as Yahweh commanded me.

And after many days Yahweh said to me, “Arise, go to the Wadi Parath and take from there the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.”

So I went to the Wadi Parath and dug and took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it, and behold, the loincloth was ruined; it was good for nothing.

Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

“This is what Yahweh says: In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

This evil people who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart and who have gone after other gods to serve them and to worship them, will be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.

For just as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so have I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says Yahweh, that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory, but they would not hear.

Therefore you are to speak to them this word: “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘every skin-bottle will be filled with wine.’” And they will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every skin-bottle will be filled with wine?’

Then you will say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: Behold, I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land with drunkenness, even the kings who sit on the throne of David, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Yahweh. I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion such that I would not destroy them.’”

Hear, and give ear. Do not be proud, for Yahweh has spoken.

Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the darkening mountains, and while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death and makes it deep darkness.

But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride, and my eye will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock will be taken captive.

Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves, sit down; for your beautiful crowns will come down from your heads.”

The cities of the Negev are closed up and there is no one to open them; Judah will be carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive.

“Lift up your eyes and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?

What will you say, when he sets over you as head those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? Will not pangs take hold of you, as of a woman in labor?

If you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come on me?’ It is because of the greatness of your iniquity your skirts are removed and your heels are violated.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good; you who are accustomed to doing evil.

Therefore I will scatter them like the chaff that is blown away by the wind from the desert.

This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me, says Yahweh, because you have forgotten me and trusted in falsehood.

Therefore I will also pull up your skirts over your face and your shame will be seen.

Your adulteries, and your lustful neighing, and your shameless prostitution! On the hills and in the fields I have seen your abominations; Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will it be before you become clean?”