Jeremiah 13

1 Thus saith יהוה unto me: “Go and get you a linen girdle, and put it upon your loins, and put it not in water.”

2 So I got a girdle according to the word of יהוה, and put it on my loins.

3 And the word of יהוה came unto me the second time, saying,

4 “Take the girdle that you have got, which is upon your loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.”

5 So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as יהוה commanded me.

6 And it came to pass after many days, that יהוה said unto me, “Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded you to hide there.”

7 Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hidden it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

8 “Then the word of יהוה came unto me, saying,

9 Thus saith יהוה: ‘After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah (Yehudah), and the great pride of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

10 This evil people, which refuse to hear My words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods (elohim), to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto Me the whole house of Yisrael and the whole house of Judah (Yehudah),’ saith יהוה, ‘that they might be unto Me for a people, and for a name, and for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’

12 Therefore you shalt speak unto them this word: ‘Thus saith יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael): “Every bottle shall be filled with wine.”’ And they shall say unto you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?’

13 Then shalt you say unto them, ‘Thus saith יהוה: “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon Dawid’s throne, and the priests (kohanim), and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), with drunkenness!

14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” saith יהוה. “I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.”’”

15 Hear you, and give ear: Be not proud, for יהוה hath spoken.

16 Give glory to יהוה your God (Elohim), before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, He turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness.

17 But if you 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 יהוה’s flock is carried away captive.

18 Say unto the king and to the queen, “Humble yourselves, sit down, for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.”

19 The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah (Yehudah) shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.

20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?

21 What wilt you say when He shall punish you? For you have taught them to be captains, and as chief over you; shall not sorrows take you, as a woman in travail?

22 And if you say in your heart, “Wherefore come these things upon me?” For the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts discovered, and your heels made bare.

23 Can the Ethiopian (Kushi) change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

24 “Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

25 This is your lot, the portion of your measures from Me,” saith יהוה; “Because you have forgotten Me, and trusted in falsehood.

26 Therefore will I discover your skirts upon your face, that your shame may appear.

27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighings, the lewdness of your whoredom, and your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto you, O Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)! Wilt you not be made clean? When shall it once be?”