Jeremiah 13:16-27
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 13
16Give glory to the Lord your God Before He brings darkness And before your feet stumble On the mountains in the dark, And while you are hoping for light He makes it into gloom, And turns it into thick darkness. 17But if you do not listen to it, My soul will weep in secret for such pride; And my eyes will shed And stream down tears, Because the flock of the Lord has been taken captive. 18Say to the king and the queen mother, 'Take a lowly seat, For your beautiful crown Has come down from your head.' 19The cities of the Negev have been locked up, And there is no one to open them; All Judah has been taken into exile, Wholly taken into exile. 20'Raise your eyes and see Those coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, Your beautiful sheep? 21What will you say when He appoints over you— And you yourself had taught them— Former companions to be head over you? Will sharp pains not take hold of you Like a woman in childbirth? 22If you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things happened to me?’ Because of the magnitude of your wrongdoing Your skirts have been removed And your heels have suffered violence. 23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, Or the leopard his spots? Then you as well can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil. 24Therefore I will scatter them like drifting straw To the desert wind. 25This is your lot, the portion measured to you From Me,' declares the Lord, 'Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood. 26So I Myself have stripped your skirts off over your face, So that your shame will be seen. 27As for your adulteries and your lustful neighings, The outrageous sin of your prostitution On the hills in the field, I have seen your abominations. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?'King James Version
17But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord'S flock is carried away captive.
18Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
19The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.
20Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
Christian Standard Bible
17But if you will not listen, my innermost being will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, for the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.
18Say to the king and the queen mother: Take a humble seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.
19The cities of the Negev are under siege; no one can help them. All of Judah has been taken into exile, taken completely into exile.
20Look up and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?
21What will you say when he appoints close friends as leaders over you, ones you yourself trained? Won’t labor pains seize you, as they do a woman in labor?
22And when you ask yourself, "Why have these things happened to me?" it is because of your great guilt that your skirts have been stripped off, your body exposed.
23Can the Cushite change his skin, or a leopard his spots? If so, you might be able to do what is good, you who are instructed in evil.
24I will scatter you like drifting chaff before the desert wind.
25This is your lot, what I have decreed for you— this is the Lord’s declaration— because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.
26I will pull your skirts up over your face so that your shame might be seen.
27Your adulteries and your lustful neighing, your depraved prostitution on the hills, in the fields— I have seen your abhorrent acts. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You are unclean— for how long yet?
New Living Translation
Chapter 13
16Give glory to the Lord your God before it is too late. Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when you look for light, you will find only terrible darkness and gloom. 17And if you still refuse to listen, I will weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile.
18Say to the king and his mother, 'Come down from your thrones and sit in the dust, for your glorious crowns will soon be snatched from your heads.'
19The towns of the Negev will close their gates, and no one will be able to open them. The people of Judah will be taken away as captives. All will be carried into exile.
20Open up your eyes and see the armies marching down from the north! Where is your flock — your beautiful flock — that he gave you to care for?
21What will you say when the Lord takes the allies you have cultivated and appoints them as your rulers? Pangs of anguish will grip you, like those of a woman in labor!
22You may ask yourself, 'Why is all this happening to me?' It is because of your many sins! That is why you have been stripped and raped by invading armies.
23Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil.
24'I will scatter you like chaff that is blown away by the desert winds.
25This is your allotment, the portion I have assigned to you,' says the Lord, 'for you have forgotten me, putting your trust in false gods.
26I myself will strip you and expose you to shame.
27I have seen your adultery and lust, and your disgusting idol worship out in the fields and on the hills. What sorrow awaits you, Jerusalem! How long before you are pure?'
English Standard Version
Chapter 13
16 Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness. 17But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord 's flock has been taken captive. 18Say to the king and the queen mother: "Take a lowly seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head." 19 The cities of the Negeb are shut up, with none to open them; all Judah is taken into exile, wholly taken into exile. 20"Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock? 21What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? Will not pangs take hold of you like those of a woman in labor? 22And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’ it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up and you suffer violence. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. 24I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert. 25 This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, declares the Lord, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies. 26 I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen. 27I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighings, your lewd whorings, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?"New International Version
17If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
18Say to the king and to the queen mother, "Come down from your thrones, for your glorious crowns will fall from your heads."
19The cities in the Negev will be shut up, and there will be no one to open them. All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away.
20Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was entrusted to you, the sheep of which you boasted?
21What will you say when the Lord sets over you those you cultivated as your special allies? Will not pain grip you like that of a woman in labor?
22And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?"— it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated.
23Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
24"I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind.
25This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you," declares the Lord, "because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods.
26I will pull up your skirts over your face that your shame may be seen—
27your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?"
New King James Version