Jeremiah's linen shorts

1The LORD told me, “Go and buy a pair of linen shorts. Wear them for a while, but don't wash them.” 2So I bought a pair of shorts and put them on.

3Then the LORD said, 4“Take off the shorts. Go to Parah13.4 Parah: Or “the River Euphrates”. Parah was a village about nine kilometres north-east of Jerusalem. and hide the shorts in a crack between some large rocks.” 5And that's what I did.

6Some time later the LORD said, “Go back and get the shorts.” 7I went back and dug the shorts out of their hiding place, but the cloth had rotted, and the shorts were ruined.

8Then the LORD said:

9Jeremiah, I will use Babylonia to13.9 I will use Babylonia to: Or “that's how I'm going to”. destroy the pride of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. 10The people of Judah are evil and stubborn. So instead of listening to me, they do whatever they want and even worship other gods. When I have finished with these people, they will be good for nothing, just like this pair of shorts. 11These shorts were tight around your waist, and that's how tightly I held on to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. I wanted them to be my people. I wanted to make them famous, so that other nations would praise and honour me, but they refused to obey me.

Wine jars

The LORD said:

12Jeremiah, tell the people of Judah, “The LORD God of Israel orders you to fill your wine jars with wine.”

They will answer, “Of course we fill our wine jars with wine! Why are you telling us something we already know?”

13Then say to them:

I am the LORD, and what I'm going to do will make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem appear to be full of wine. And the worst ones will be the kings of David's family and the priests and the prophets. 14Then I will smash them against each other like jars. I will have no pity on the young or the old, and they will all be destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken.

The people of Judah will be taken away

15People of Judah,

don't be too proud to listen

to what the LORD has said.

16You hope for light,

but God is sending darkness.

Evening shadows already deepen

in the hills.

So return to God

and confess your sins to him

before you trip and fall.

17If you are too proud to listen,

I will weep alone.

Tears will stream from my eyes

when the LORD's people

are taken away as prisoners.

18The LORD told me to tell you

that your king and his mother13.18 mother: The king's mother usually had an important position in the royal court.

must surrender their thrones

and remove their crowns.13.18 and remove their crowns: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

19The cities in the Southern Desert

are surrounded;

no one can get in or out.

Everyone in Judah

will be taken away.

20Jerusalem, you were so proud

of ruling the people of Judah.

But where are they now?

Look north, and you will see

your enemies approaching.

21You once trusted them to help,

but now I'll let them rule you.13.21 You once…rule you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

What do you say about that?

You will be in pain

like a woman giving birth.

22Do you know why

your clothes were torn off

and you were abused?

It was because

of your terrible sins.

23Can you ever change

and do what's right?

Can people change the colour

of their skin,

or can a leopard

remove its spots?

If so, then perhaps you can change

and learn to do right.

24I will scatter you,

just as the desert wind

blows husks from grain

tossed in the air.

25I won't change my mind.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

You rejected me

and worshipped false gods.

26-27You were married to me,

but you were unfaithful.

You even became a prostitute13.26,27 prostitute: See the note at 2.20.

by worshipping disgusting gods

on hilltops and in fields.

So I'll rip off your clothes

and leave you naked and ashamed

for everyone to see.

You are doomed!

Will you ever be worthy

to worship me again?