1Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.2So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.3And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,4Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.5So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.6And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.7Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.8Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,9Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.10This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.11For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.12Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?13Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David' throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.14And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.15Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.16Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.17But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD' flock is carried away captive.18Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.19The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them : Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.20Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?21What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?22And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.24Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.25This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.26Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.27I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be ?
Jeremiah 13
New International Reader’s Version
A linen belt
1The LORD said to me, ‘Go and buy a linen belt. Put it around your waist. But do not let it get wet.’2So I bought a belt, just as the LORD had told me to do. And I put it around my waist.3Then another message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said,4‘Take off the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist. Go to Perath. Hide the belt there in a crack in the rocks.’5So I went and hid it at Perath. I did just as the LORD had told me to do.6Many days later the LORD said to me, ‘Go to Perath. Get the belt I told you to hide there.’7So I went to Perath. I dug up the belt. I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But it had rotted. It was completely useless.8Then another message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said,9‘In the same way, I will destroy Judah’s pride. And I will destroy the great pride of Jerusalem.10These people are evil. They refuse to listen to what I say. They do what their stubborn hearts want them to do. They chase after other gods. They serve them and worship them. So they will be like this belt. They will be completely useless.11A belt is tied around a person’s waist. In the same way, I tied all the people of Israel to me. I also tied all the people of Judah to me like a belt. I wanted them to be my people. They should have brought me fame and praise and honour. But they have not listened to me,’ announces the LORD.
Wineskins
12‘Tell them, “The LORD is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Every wineskin should be filled with wine.’ ” Here is what the people might say to you. “Don’t we know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?”13If they do, here is what you must tell them. “The LORD says, ‘I am going to fill with wine everyone who lives in this land. I will make the kings who sit on David’s throne drunk. And I will fill with wine the priests, the prophets and everyone who lives in Jerusalem.14I will smash them against one another. I will punish parents and children alike,’ announces the LORD. ‘I will not feel sorry for them. I will not show them any kindness. My tender love for them will not keep me from destroying them.’ ” ’
Judah will be taken away from their land
15People of Judah, listen to me. Pay attention and don’t be proud. The LORD has spoken.16Give glory to the LORD your God. Honour him before he sends darkness to cover the land. Do this before you trip and fall on the darkened hills. You hope that light will come. But he will turn it into thick darkness. He will change it to deep shadows.17If you don’t listen, I will weep in secret. Because you are so proud, I will weep bitterly. Tears will flow from my eyes. The LORD’s flock will be taken away as prisoners.18Speak to the king and his mother. Tell them, ‘Come down from your thrones. Your glorious crowns are about to fall from your heads.’19The gates of the cities in the Negev Desert will be shut tight. There won’t be anyone to open them. Everyone in Judah will be carried away as prisoners. You will be completely taken away.20Jerusalem, look up! Your enemies are coming from the north. Where is the flock you were supposed to take care of? Where are the sheep you were so proud of?21You have worked hard to make special friends. But the LORD will let them rule over you. Then what will you say? Suffering will take hold of you. It will be like the pain of a woman having a baby.22Suppose you ask yourself, ‘Why has this happened to me?’ It’s because you have committed so many sins. That’s the reason your skirt has been torn off. That’s why your body has been treated so badly.23Can people from Ethiopia change their skin? Can leopards change their spots? It’s the same with you. You have always done what is evil. So how can you do what is good?24The LORD says, ‘I will scatter you like straw that the desert wind blows away.25This is what will happen to you. I have appointed it for you,’ announces the LORD. ‘You have forgotten me. You have trusted in other gods.26So I will pull your skirt up over your face. Then people will see the shame of your naked body.27They will see that you have not been faithful to me. You have committed adultery with other gods. And you have acted like a prostitute who does not have any shame. I have seen what you did on the hills and in the fields. And I hate it. How terrible it will be for you, Jerusalem! How long will you choose to be “unclean”?’