Jeremiah, Chapter 13

1. Thus says the LORD to me, Go and get a linen waistband, and put it upon your loins, and do not put it in water.    2. So I got a waistband according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.    3. And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying,    4. Take the waistband that you have gotten, which is upon your loins, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.    5. So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.    6. And it came to pass after many days that the LORD said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the waistband from there, which I commanded you to hide there.    7. Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the waistband from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the waistband was spoiled, it was good for nothing.    8. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,    9. Thus says the LORD, In this manner will I spoil the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.    10. This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be like this waistband, which is good for nothing.    11. For as the waistband clings to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cling to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says 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.    12. Therefore you shall speak to them this word; Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say to you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?    13. Then shall you say to them, Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.    14. And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.    15. Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD has spoken.    16. Give glory to the LORD your God, 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 thick darkness.    17. But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is taken away captive.    18. Say to the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your royal authority 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 shall be taken away captive all of it, it shall be wholly taken away captive.    20. Lift up your eyes, and behold those who come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?    21. What will 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 birth labor?    22. And if you say in your heart, Why do these things come upon me? For the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered, and your heels made bare.    23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.    24. Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.    25. This is your lot, the portion you are measured out by me, says the LORD; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.    26. Therefore will I uncover your skirts over 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 to you, O Jerusalem! will you not be made clean? when shall it finally be?