The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

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- Kapitel 13 -

Yahweh said this to me, “Go and buy a linen undergarment and put it on around your waist, but do not put it in water first.”

So I bought an undergarment as Yahweh directed, and I put it on around my waist.

Then the word of Yahweh came to me a second time and said,

“Take the undergarment that you purchased that is around your waist, get up and travel to the Euphrates. Hide it there in a rock crevice.”

So I went and hid it in the Euphrates just as Yahweh had commanded me.

After many days, Yahweh said to me, “Get up and go back to the Euphrates. Take from there the undergarment that I had told you to hide.”

So I went back to the Euphrates and dug out the undergarment where I had hid it. But behold! The undergarment was destroyed; it was no good at all.

Then the word of Yahweh came to me again and said,

“Yahweh says this: In the same way I will destroy the great arrogance of Judah and Jerusalem.

This wicked people who refuses to listen to my word, who walk in the hardness of their heart, who go after other gods to worship them and bow down to them-they will be like this undergarment that is good for nothing.

For just as an undergarment clings to someone’s hips, so I have made all the house of Israel and all the house of Judah cling to me-this is Yahweh’s declaration-to be my people, to bring me fame, praise, and honor. But they would not listen to me.

The Wineskins

So you must speak this word to them, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: Every jar will be filled with wine.’ They will say to you, ‘Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?’

So say to them, ’Yahweh says this: See, I am about to fill with drunkenness every inhabitant of this land, the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Then I will smash each man against the other, fathers and children together-this is Yahweh’s declaration-I will not pity them or have compassion, and I will not spare them from destruction.’”

Captivity Threatened

Listen and pay attention. Do not be arrogant, for Yahweh has spoken.

Give honor to Yahweh your God before he brings darkness, and before he causes your feet to stumble on the mountains at twilight. For you are hoping for light, but he will turn the place into a deep darkness, into a dark cloud.

So if you will not listen, I will weep alone because of your arrogance. My eyes will certainly weep and flow with tears, for Yahweh’s flock has been taken captive.

“Say to the king and to the queen mother, ’Humble yourselves and sit down, for the crowns on your head, your pride and glory, have fallen off.’

The cities in the Negev will be shut up, with no one to open them. Judah will be taken captive, all of her into exile.

Lift up your eyes and look at the ones coming from the north. Where is the flock he gave to you, the flock that was so beautiful to you?

What will you say when God places over you those whom you had taught to be your friends? Are these not the beginnings of the labor pains that will seize you just like a woman in childbirth?

Then you might say in your heart, ‘Why are these things happening to me?’ It will be for the multitude of your iniquities that your skirts are raised up and you have been violated.

Can the people of Cush change their skin color, or a leopard change its spots? If so, then you yourself, although accustomed to wickedness, would be able to do good.

So I will scatter them like chaff that perishes in the desert wind.

This is what I have given to you, the portion I have decreed for you-this is Yahweh’s declaration-because you have forgotten me and trusted in deceit.

So also I myself will strip your skirts off you, and your private parts will be seen.

Your adultery and neighing, the shamefulness of your promiscuous behavior on the hills and in the fields! I will cause them to be seen, these detestable things! Woe to you, Jerusalem! You have not been clean. How long will this continue?”

The LORD said to me, “Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water.”

So I bought a belt according to the LORD’s word, and put it on my waist.

The LORD’s word came to me the second time, saying,

“Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.”

So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

After many days, the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there.”

Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was ruined. It was profitable for nothing.

Then the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“The LORD says, ‘In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods to serve them and to worship them, will even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing.

For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to me,’ says the LORD; ‘that they may be to me for a people, for a name, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’

The Wineskins

“Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘The LORD, the God of Israel says, “Every container should be filled with wine.”’ They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every container should be filled with wine?’

Then tell them, ‘The LORD says, “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says the LORD: “I will not pity, spare, or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.”’”

Captivity Threatened

Hear, and give ear. Don’t be proud, for the LORD has spoken.

Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it deep darkness.

But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride. My eye will weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves. Sit down, for your crowns have come down, even the crown of your glory.

The cities of the South are shut up, and there is no one to open them. Judah is carried away captive: all of them. They are wholly carried away captive.

Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?

What will you say when he sets over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? Won’t sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?

If you say in your heart, “Why have these things come on me?” Your skirts are uncovered because of the greatness of your iniquity, and your heels suffer violence.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.

“Therefore I will scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.

This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me,” says the LORD, “because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.”

Therefore I will also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame will appear.

I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean. How long will it yet be?”