Jeremiah 13:12-22

12 The Lord God said to me, "Jeremiah, tell the people of Israel that every wine jar should be filled with wine. They will answer that they know every wine jar should be filled with wine.
13 Then tell them that I, the Lord, am going to fill the people in this land with wine until they are drunk: the kings, who are David's descendants, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem.
14 Then I will smash them like jars against one another, old and young alike. No pity, compassion, or mercy will stop me from killing them."
15 People of Israel, the Lord has spoken! Be humble and listen to him.
16 Honor 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.
17 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.
18 The Lord said to me, "Tell the king and his mother to come down from their thrones, because their beautiful crowns have fallen from their heads.
19 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."
20 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?
21 What will you say when people you thought were your friends conquer you and rule over you? You will be in pain like a woman giving birth.
22 If you ask why all this has happened to you - why your clothes have been torn off and you have been raped - it is because your sin is so terrible.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] from their heads; [Hebrew unclear.]
  • [b]. [Probable text] What . . . over you; [Hebrew unclear.]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.