Jeremiah 13
An Object Lesson from Ruined Linen Shorts
13:1 The
13:8 Then the
13:12 “So tell them,27 ‘The
13:15 Then I said to the people of Judah,36
“Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant!
For the
13:16 Show the
Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster.38
Do it before you stumble39 into distress
like a traveler on the mountains at twilight.40
Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for
into the darkness and gloom of exile.41
13:17 But if you will not pay attention to this warning,42
I will weep alone because of your arrogant pride.
I will weep bitterly and my eyes will overflow with tears43
because you, the
13:18 The
“Tell the king and the queen mother,
‘Surrender your thrones,47
for your glorious crowns
will be removed48 from your heads.49
13:19 The gates of the towns in southern Judah will be shut tight.50
No one will be able to go in or out of them.51
All Judah will be carried off into exile.
They will be completely carried off into exile.’”52
13:20 Then I said,53
“Look up, Jerusalem,54 and see
the enemy55 that is coming from the north.
Where now is the flock of people that were entrusted to your care?56
Where now are the ‘sheep’ that you take such pride in?57
13:21 What will you say58 when the
that you, yourself, had actually prepared as such?60
Then anguish and agony will grip you
like that of a woman giving birth to a baby.61
13:22 You will probably ask yourself,62
‘Why have these things happened to me?
Why have I been treated like a disgraced adulteress
whose skirt has been torn off and her limbs exposed?’63
It is because you have sinned so much.64
13:23 But there is little hope for you ever doing good,
you who are so accustomed to doing evil.
Can an Ethiopian65 change the color of his skin?
Can a leopard remove its spots?66
13:24 “The
‘That is why I will scatter your people68 like chaff
that is blown away by a desert wind.69
the destiny to which I have appointed you,
because you have forgotten me
and have trusted in false gods.
13:26 So I will pull your skirt up over your face
and expose you to shame like a disgraced adulteress!70
13:27 People of Jerusalem,71 I have seen your adulterous worship,
your shameless prostitution to, and your lustful pursuit of, other gods.72
I have seen your disgusting acts of worship73
on the hills throughout the countryside.
You are doomed to destruction!74
How long will you continue to be unclean?’”