Jeremiah Chapter 13
The Ruined Linen Loincloth
1 The LORD told me, “Go buy a linen waistcloth and put it on. Don’t wash it.”
2 So I bought one and put it on.
3 Then he said,
4 “Take it to the Euphrates and hide it in a crevice in a rock.” 5 So I went and hid it there. 6 A long time later the LORD told me to go get it. 7 I went and dug it out of where I’d put it. It was ruined.
8 Then he told me,
9 “This waistcloth illustrates how I’ll ruin arrogant Judah and Jerusalem. 10 These people are following their own stubborn hearts in serving and bowing to other gods; they won’t be good for anything—like this waistcloth. 11As it clings to a person’s waist, so I made Israel and Judah for clinging to me so they could be my people, a name, praise, and glory; but they’ve ignored me. Jer 13:1-11
12 “So tell them that the LORD God of Israel says to fill every jug with wine. When they say, ‘Don’t we very well know how to do that?’ 13 then say, ‘The LORD says, “I’m about to make everybody drunk in this land, from kings on David’s throne, to priests and prophets, and the residents in Jerusalem! 14 I’ll pit them against one another, even parents against children. Pitying, feeling sorry, having compassion won’t keep me from destroying them.”’”
Jer 13:12-14
Exile Threatened
15 Listen; don’t be proud;
the LORD has spoken.
16 Honor him
before he brings darkness,
before you stumble on the darkened mountains.
If you look for light then,
he’ll turn it into darkness and gloom.
17 If you don’t listen,
my soul will sob in secret,
my eyes will weep bitterly,
tears will run down my cheeks
because the LORD’s flock’s been captured.
18 Tell the king and queen mother,
“Take a low seat,
because your beautiful crown
has been taken from your head.”
19 The towns in the Negev will be closed;
nobody will be able to open them;
Judah will go into exile.
Jer 13:15-19
20 “Look who’s coming from the north.
Where are the beautiful sheep
of the flock you were given?
21 What will you say when the LORD appoints over you
former allies that you taught?
Won’t pains come on you
like a woman in childbirth?
22 If you say to yourself,
‘Why has this happened to me?’
It’s because of how sinful you are
that your skirt has been torn off,
and you’re being raped.
23 Can a Nubian change the color of his skin
or a leopard change its spots?
Then can you do good
that have the habit of doing evil?
24 So I’ll scatter you like chaff in the desert wind.
25 That’s the lot I’ve measured out to you,” the LORD says,
Jer 13:20-25a
“because you’ve forgotten me and trusted in lies.
26 So I have stripped your skirt off over your face
to show your shame.
27 I’ve seen your detestable deeds:
your adulteries and neighing,
your lewd prostitution right out in the open on the hills.
Misfortune awaits you, Jerusalem!
How long will you stay defiled?”
Jer 13:25b-27