8. Then the word came to me from the Lord:
9. Thus says the Lord: So also I will allow the pride of Judah to rot, the great pride of Jerusalem.
10. This wicked people who refuse to obey my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and follow other gods, serving and worshiping them, will be like this loincloth, good for nothing.
11. For, as the loincloth clings to a man’s loins, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me—oracle of the Lord—to be my people, my fame, my praise, my glory. But they did not listen.
12. Now speak to them this word: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Every wineflask should be filled with wine. If they reply, “Do we not know that every wineflask should be filled with wine?”
13. say to them: Thus says the Lord: Beware! I am making all the inhabitants of this land drunk, the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests and prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
14. I will smash them against each other, parents and children together—oracle of the Lord—showing no compassion, I will neither spare nor pity, but I will destroy them.
15. Listen and give ear, do not be arrogant,for the Lord speaks.
16. Give glory to the Lord, your God,before he brings darkness;Before your feet stumbleon mountains at twilight;Before the light you look for turns to darkness,changes into black clouds.
17. If you do not listen to this in your pride,I will weep many tears in secret;My eyes will run with tearsfor the Lord’s flock, led away to exile.
18. Say to the king and to the queen mother:come down from your throne;From your headsyour splendid crowns will fall.
19. The cities of the Negeb are besieged,with no one to relieve them;Judah is taken into exile—all of it—in total exile.
20. Lift up your eyes and seethose coming in from the north.Where is the flock entrusted to you,your splendid sheep?
21. What will you say when rulers are appointed over you,those you taught to be allies?Will not pains seize youlike those of a woman giving birth?