Jeremiah 13:21–24

21 What 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?

22 And 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.

23 Can 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.

21 What 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?

22 And 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.

24 I will scatter you like chaff

driven by the wind from the desert.

21 What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail? 22 And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. 24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

21 What 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!

22 You 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.

23 Can 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.

21 What will you say when He punishes you?

For you have taught them

To be chieftains, to be head over you.

Will not pangs seize you,

Like a woman in labor?

22 And if you say in your heart,

“Why have these things come upon me?”

For the greatness of your iniquity

Your skirts have been uncovered,

Your heels made bare.

23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?

Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.

24 “Therefore I will scatter them like stubble

That passes away by the wind of the wilderness.

21 What will you say when they appoint as your heads

those you had thought were your friends?

Won’t you have much pain and trouble,

like a woman giving birth to a baby?

22 You might ask yourself,

“Why has this happened to me?”

It happened because of your many sins.

Because of your sins, your skirt was torn off

and your body has been treated badly.

23 Can a person from Cush change the color of his skin?

Can a leopard change his spots?

In the same way, Jerusalem, you cannot change and do good,

because you are accustomed to doing evil.

24 “I will scatter you like chaff that is blown away by the desert wind.

21 What wilt thou say, when he shall set over thee as head those whom thou hast thyself taught to be friends to thee? shall not sorrows take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail? 22 And if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore are these things come upon me? for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels suffer violence. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. 24 Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passeth away, by the wind of the wilderness.

21 What wilt thou say when he shall visit thee, since thou thyself hast trained them to be princes in chief over thee? Shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

22 And if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels have suffered violence. 23 Can an Ethiopian change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to do evil. 24 And I will scatter them as stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

21 What 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?

22 And 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.

23 Can 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.

24 I will scatter you like drifting chaff

before the desert wind.

21 What will you say when they set as head over you

those whom you have trained

to be your allies?

Will not pangs seize you

like those of a woman in labor?

22 And 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 are violated.

23 Can Cushites change their skin

or leopards their spots?

Then also you can do good,

who are accustomed to do evil.

24 I will scatter you like chaff

driven by the wind from the desert.

21 What will you say when he sets over you—

and you have taught them—allies as head over you?

Will not labor pains take hold of you,

like a woman giving birth?

22 And if you say in your heart,

‘Why have these things happened to me?’

Because of the greatness of your iniquity your skirts are uncovered;

your heels have endured violence.

23 Can a Cushite change his skin,

or a leopard his spots?

Then you also will be able to do good,

who are accustomed to doing evil.

24 And I will scatter them

like stubble scattered by the wind of the desert.

21 You have worked hard to make special friends.

But the Lord will let them rule over you.

Then what will you say?

Suffering will take hold of you.

It will be like the pain of a woman having a baby.

22 Suppose you ask yourself,

“Why has this happened to me?”

It’s because you have committed so many sins.

That’s the reason your skirt has been torn off.

That’s why your body has been treated so badly.

23 Can people from Ethiopia change their skin?

Can leopards change their spots?

It’s the same with you.

You have always done what is evil.

So how can you do what is good?

24 The Lord says, “I will scatter you like straw

that the desert wind blows away.

21 “What will you say when He appoints over you—

And you yourself had taught them—

Former companions to be head over you?

Will not pangs take hold of you

Like a woman in childbirth?

22 “If you say in your heart,

‘Why have these things happened to me?’

Because of the magnitude of your iniquity

Your skirts have been removed

And your heels have been exposed.

23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin

Or the leopard his spots?

Then you also can do good

Who are accustomed to doing evil.

24 “Therefore I will scatter them like drifting straw

To the desert wind.