Jeremiah 13:15-27
People of Israel, the LORD has spoken
Be humble and listen to him
Honour the LORD, your God, before he brings darkness, and you stumble on the mountains, before he turns into deep darkness, the light you hoped for.
If you will not listen, i will cry in secret because of your pride;
I will cry bitterly, and my tears will flow because the LORD’s people have been taken away as captives.
The LORD said to me, “Tell the king and his mother to come down from their throne, because their beautiful crowns have fallen from their heads.
The towns of southern judah are under siege; no one can get through to them. All the people of judah have been taken away into exile.”
Jerusalem, look! Your enemies are coming down from the north! Where are the people entrusted to your care, your people you were so proud of? What will you say when people you thought were your friends conqure you and rule over you? You will be in pain like a woman giving birth. If you ask why all these has happened to you, why your clothes have been torn off and you have been raped, it is because your sin is so terrible.
Can a Nubian change the colour of his skin, or a leopard remove its spot? if they could, then you that do nothing but evil learn to do right, The LORD will scatter you like straw that is blown away by the desert wind. He has said that this will be your fate. This is what he has decided to do with you, because you have forgoten himand have trusted in false gods. The LORD himself will strip off your clothes and expose you to shame. He has seen you go after pegans gods on the hills and in the fields, like a man lusting after his neighbour’s wife or like a stallion after a mare. People of Jerusalem, you are doomed! when will you ever be pure?
May the LORD bless his word, Amen.
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