20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

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.

Read full chapter

20 Look up and see
    those who are coming from the north.(A)
Where is the flock(B) that was entrusted to you,
    the sheep of which you boasted?
21 What will you say when the Lord sets over you
    those you cultivated as your special allies?(C)
Will not pain grip you
    like that of a woman in labor?(D)
22 And if you ask yourself,
    “Why has this happened to me?”(E)
it is because of your many sins(F)
    that your skirts have been torn off(G)
    and your body mistreated.(H)
23 Can an Ethiopian[a] change his skin
    or a leopard its spots?
Neither can you do good
    who are accustomed to doing evil.(I)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 13:23 Hebrew Cushite (probably a person from the upper Nile region)