Berean Standard Bible

Jeremiah 13:9-27

9“This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.

11For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.

12Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’

And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’ 13then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem. 14I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”

15Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant,for the LORD has spoken.16Give glory to the LORD your Godbefore He brings darkness,before your feet stumbleon the dusky mountains.You wait for light,but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.17But if you do not listen,I will weep in secret because of your pride.My eyes will overflow with tears,because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

18Say to the kingand to the queen mother:“Take a lowly seat,for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”

19The cities of the Negev have been shut tight,and no one can open them.All Judah has been carried into exile,wholly taken captive.20Lift up your eyes and seethose coming from the north.Where is the flock entrusted to you,the sheep that were your pride?

21What will you say when He sets over youclose allies whom you yourself trained?Will not pangs of anguish grip you,as they do a woman in labor?22And if you ask yourself,“Why has this happened to me?”It is because of the magnitude of your iniquitythat your skirts have been stripped offand your body has been exposed.123Can the Ethiopian2 change his skin,or the leopard his spots?Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil.

24“I will scatter you like chaffdriven by the desert wind.25This is your lot,the portion I have measured to you,”declares the LORD,“because you have forgotten Meand trusted in falsehood.26So I will pull your skirts up over your face,that your shame may be seen.27Your adulteries and lustful neighings,your shameless prostitutionon the hills and in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts.Woe to you, O Jerusalem!How long will you remain unclean?”

Read all of Jeremiah 13

Notes

1. Jeremiah 13:22 Literally and your heels have suffered violence ↩
2. Jeremiah 13:23 Hebrew that Cushite; that is, probably a person from the upper Nile region ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Jeremiah 13