Jeremiah:13

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* Thus said the LORD to me , "Go and buy a linen waistcloth , and put it on your loins , and do not dip it in water ." * So I bought a waistcloth according to the word of the LORD , and put it on my loins . * And the word of the LORD came to me a second time , * "Take the waistcloth which you have bought , which is upon your loins , and arise , go to the Euphra 'tes , and hide it there in a cleft of the rock ." * So I went , and hid it by the Euphra 'tes , as the LORD commanded me . * And after many days the LORD said to me , "Arise , go to the Euphra 'tes , and take from there the waistcloth which I commanded you to hide there ." * Then I went to the Euphra 'tes , and dug , and I took the waistcloth from the place where I had hidden it . And behold , the waistcloth was spoiled ; it was good for nothing . * Then the word of the LORD came to me : * "Thus says the LORD : Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem . * This evil people , who refuse to hear my words , who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them , shall be like this waistcloth , which is good for nothing . * For as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man , so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me , says the LORD , that they might be for me a people , a name , a praise , and a glory , but they would not listen . * "You shall speak to them this word : `Thus says the LORD , the God of Israel , "Every jar shall be filled with wine ."' And they will say to you , `Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine ?' * Then you shall say to them , `Thus says the LORD : Behold , I will fill with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land : the kings who sit on David 's throne , the priests , the prophets , and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem . * And I will dash them one against another , fathers and sons together , says the LORD . I will not pity or spare or have compassion , that I should not destroy them .'" * Hear and give ear ; be not proud , for the LORD has spoken . * Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness , before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains , and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness . * But if you will not listen , my soul will weep in secret for your pride ; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears , because the LORD 's flock has been taken captive . * Say to the king and the queen mother : "Take a lowly seat , for your beautiful crown has come down from your head ." * The cities of the Negeb are shut up , with none to open them ; all Judah is taken into exile , wholly taken into exile . * "Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north . Where is the flock that was given you , your beautiful flock ? * What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you ? Will not pangs take hold of you , like those of a woman in travail ? * And if you say in your heart , `Why have these things come upon me ?' it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up , and you suffer violence . * Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots ? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil . * I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert . * This is your lot , the portion I have measured out to you , says the LORD , because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies . * I myself will lift up your skirts over your face , and your shame will be seen . * I have seen your abominations , your adulteries and neighings , your lewd harlotries , on the hills in the field . Woe to you , O Jerusalem ! How long will it be before you are made clean ?"

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