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Jeremiah 13

13
Jeremiah’s symbolic acts
1The LORD proclaimed to me: Go and buy a linen undergarment. Wear it for a while without washing it. 2So I bought a linen undergarment, as the LORD told me, and I put it on. 3The LORD spoke to me again: 4Take the undergarment that you are wearing and go at once to the Euphrates and put it under a rock. 5So I went and buried it at the Euphrates,#13.5 Heb Perath as the LORD instructed. 6After a long time, the LORD said to me: Return to the Euphrates and dig up the undergarment that I commanded you to bury there. 7So I went to the Euphrates and I dug up the linen undergarment from the place I had buried it. But it was ruined and good for nothing.
8Then the LORD’s word came to me: 9The LORD proclaims: In the same way I will ruin the brazen pride of Judah and Jerusalem! 10Instead of listening to me, this wicked people follow their own willful hearts and pursue other gods, worshipping and serving them. They will become like this linen garment—good for nothing! 11Just as a linen undergarment clings to the body, so I created the people of Israel and Judah to cling to me, declares the LORD, to be my people for my honor, praise, and grandeur. But they wouldn’t obey.
12So deliver this word to them: The LORD the God of Israel proclaims: Every wine jug should be filled with wine. And they will answer you, “Don’t we already know that? Obviously every wine jug should be filled with wine!” 13Then you should say to them: The LORD proclaims: I’m going to fill everyone who lives in this country with wine that makes them drunk, including the kings on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all those living in Jerusalem. 14And I will shatter every one of them, even parents and children, declares the LORD. I won’t take pity; I won’t have compassion; I will show no mercy when I destroy them.
15Listen closely, don’t be arrogant,
for the LORD has spoken.
16Honor the LORD your God,
before it’s too late,
before you stumble
on the mountain paths
in the evening shadows.
Then you will hope for light,
only to find darkness and gloom.
17If you are too proud to listen,
I will go off alone
and cry my eyes out.
I will weep uncontrollably
because the LORD’s flock
will be dragged off into exile.
18Tell the king and the queen mother:
Come down from your lofty place,
because your glorious crowns
will soon be removed from your heads.
19The towns of the arid southern plain will be surrounded;
no one will get in or out;
all Judah will be taken into exile;
everyone will be led away.
20Lift up your eyes
and see who is approaching from the north.
Where is the flock entrusted to you,
your beautiful flock?
21What will you say when he appoints someone as head over you:
your defenders, your trusted allies?#13.21 Heb uncertain
Won’t pain grip you
like that of a woman in labor?
22And when you ask yourself,
Why have all these things happened to me?
it is because of your many sins
that you have been stripped and violated.
23Can a Cushite change his skin
or a leopard its spots?
Neither can you do good
when doing evil comes so naturally.
24So I will scatter you#13.24 Or them like straw
that is blown away by the desert winds.
25This is the future
that I have prepared for you,
declares the LORD,
because you have forgotten me
and trusted in lies.
26I myself will pull up your skirt over your face
and expose your shame.
27I have seen your adultery and lust,
your disgusting idols and shameless prostitution
on the hills and in the fields.
How terrible for you, Jerusalem!
How long will you remain dirty?

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Jeremiah 13: CEB

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