1. The Lord told me, “Go and buy a pair of linen shorts. Wear them for a while, but don't wash them.”
2. So I bought a pair of shorts and put them on.
3. Then the Lord said,
4. “Take off the shorts. Go to Parah and hide the shorts in a crack between some large rocks.”
5. And that's what I did.
6. Some time later the Lord said, “Go back and get the shorts.”
7. I went back and dug the shorts out of their hiding place, but the cloth had rotted, and the shorts were ruined.
8. Then the Lord said:
9. Jeremiah, I will use Babylonia to destroy the pride of the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
10. The 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.
11. These 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.
12. Jeremiah, 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?”
13. Then 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.
14. Then 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.
15. People of Judah,don't be too proud to listento what the Lord has said.
16. You hope for light,but God is sending darkness.Evening shadows already deepenin the hills.So return to Godand confess your sins to himbefore you trip and fall.
17. If you are too proud to listen,I will weep alone.Tears will stream from my eyeswhen the Lord's peopleare taken away as prisoners.
18. The Lord told me to tell youthat your king and his mothermust surrender their thronesand remove their crowns.
19. The cities in the Southern Desertare surrounded;no one can get in or out.Everyone in Judahwill be taken away.
20. Jerusalem, you were so proudof ruling the people of Judah.But where are they now?Look north, and you will seeyour enemies approaching.
21. You once trusted them to help,but now I'll let them rule you.What do you say about that?You will be in painlike a woman giving birth.
22. Do you know whyyour clothes were torn offand you were abused?It was becauseof your terrible sins.
23. Can you ever changeand do what's right?Can people change the colourof their skin,or can a leopardremove its spots?If so, then perhaps you can changeand learn to do right.
24. I will scatter you,just as the desert windblows husks from graintossed in the air.
25. I won't change my mind.I, the Lord, have spoken.You rejected meand worshipped false gods.
26-27. You were married to me,but you were unfaithful.You even became a prostituteby worshipping disgusting godson hilltops and in fields.So I'll rip off your clothesand leave you naked and ashamedfor everyone to see.You are doomed!Will you ever be worthyto worship me again?