Chapter 13
1 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 ."
2 So I bought a belt according to the LORD ’s word , and put it on my waist .
3 The LORD ’s word came to me the second time , saying ,
4 " 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 ."
5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates , as the LORD commanded me .
6 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 ."
7 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 .
8 Then the LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,
9 " The LORD says , ‘ In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah , and the great pride of Jerusalem .
10 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 .
11 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 .’
12 " 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 ?’
13 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 .
14 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 ."’"
15 Hear , and give ear . Don’t be proud , for the LORD has spoken .
16 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 .
17 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 .
18 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 .
19 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 .
20 Lift up your eyes , and see those who come from the north . Where is the flock that was given to you , your beautiful flock ?
21 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 ?
22 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 .
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 I will scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness .
25 This is your lot , the portion measured to you from me ," says the LORD , " because you have forgotten me , and trusted in falsehood ."
26 Therefore I will also uncover your skirts on your face , and your shame will appear .
27 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 ?"