1. The Lord told me to go and buy myself some linen shorts and to put them on; but he told me not to put them in water.
2. So I bought them and put them on.
3. Then the Lord spoke to me again, and said,
4. “Go to the River Euphrates and hide the shorts in a hole in the rocks.”
5. So I went and hid them near the Euphrates.
6. Some time later the Lord told me to go back to the Euphrates and get the shorts.
7. So I went back, and when I found the place where I had hidden them, I saw that they were ruined and were no longer any good.
8. Then the Lord spoke to me again. He said,
9. “This is how I will destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10. These evil people have refused to obey me. They have been as stubborn and wicked as ever, and have worshipped and served other gods. So then, they will become like these shorts that are no longer any good.
11. Just as shorts fit tightly round the waist, so I intended all the people of Israel and Judah to hold tightly to me. I did this so that they would be my people and would bring praise and honour to my name; but they would not obey me.”
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. Honour the Lord, your God,before he brings darkness,and you stumble on the mountains;before he turns into deep darknessthe light you hoped for.