Jeremiah 13:1–11

Linen Underwear

13This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen undergarment ^zand put it on, ^abut do not put it in water.” ²So I bought underwear as the Lord instructed me and put it on.

³Then the word of the Lord came to me a second time: ⁴“Take the underwear that you bought and are wearing, ^band go at once to the Euphrates ^cand hide it in a rocky crevice.” ^d5So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me.

⁶A long time later the Lord said to me, “Go at once to the Euphrates and get the underwear that I commanded you to hide there.” ⁷So I went to the Euphrates and dug up the underwear and got it from the place where I had hidden it, but it was ruined—of no use at all.

⁸Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁹“This is what the Lord says: Just like this I will ruin the great pride of both Judah and Jerusalem. ^e10These evil people, who refuse to listen to Me, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, ^fand who have followed other gods to serve and worship—they will be like this underwear, of no use at all. ¹¹Just as underwear clings to one’s waist, so I fastened the whole house of Israel and of Judah to Me” ^g—this is the Lord’s declaration—“so that they might be My people for My fame, praise, and glory, ^hbut they would not obey.