<p class="poetry">You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent.p> <p class="poetry">You can use as much soap as you want.p> <p class="poetry">But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the Lord <sc>Godsc>.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">But where are the gods you made for yourselves?p> <p class="poetry">Let them save you when you are in trouble.p> <p class="poetry">The sad fact is that<n id="1" /> you have as many godsp> <p class="poetry">as you have towns, Judah.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;The way you have lived and the things you have done<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">will bring this on you.p> <p class="poetry">This is the punishment you deserve, and it will be painful indeed.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">The pain will be so bad it will pierce your heart.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> asked,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Your people<n id="3" /> have rejected mep> <p class="poetry">and have worshiped gods that are not gods at all.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Even though I supplied all their needs,<n id="5" /> they were like an unfaithful wife to me.<n id="6" />p> <p class="poetry">They went flocking<n id="7" /> to the houses of prostitutes.<n id="8" />p>

<p class="poetry">So I said,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Oh, my dear people,<n id="2" /> put on sackclothp> <p class="poetry">and roll in ashes.p> <p class="poetry">Mourn with painful sobsp> <p class="poetry">as though you had lost your only child.p> <p class="poetry">For any moment now<n id="3" /> that destructive army<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">will come against us.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Everyone should revere you, O King of all nations,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">because you deserve to be revered.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">For there is no one like youp> <p class="poetry">among any of the wise people of the nations nor among any of their kings.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> said to me, &#8220;Go and buy some linen shorts<n id="1" /> and put them on.<n id="2" /> Do not put them in water.&#8221;<n id="3" />

&#8220;Take the shorts that you bought and are wearing<n id="1" /> and go at once<n id="2" /> to Perath.<n id="3" /> Bury the shorts there<n id="4" /> in a crack in the rocks.&#8221;

Many days later the <sc>Lordsc> said to me, &#8220;Go at once to Perath and get<n id="1" /> the shorts I ordered you to bury there.&#8221;

<p class="poetry">People of Jerusalem,<n id="1" /> I have seen your adulterous worship,p> <p class="poetry">your shameless prostitution to, and your lustful pursuit of, other gods.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I have seen your disgusting acts of worship<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">on the hills throughout the countryside.p> <p class="poetry">You are doomed to destruction!<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">How long will you continue to be unclean?&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then I said,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;O <sc>Lordsc>, intervene for the honor of your name<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">even though our sins speak out against us.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Indeed,<n id="4" /> we have turned away from you many times.p> <p class="poetry">We have sinned against you.p>

<p class="poetry">I will make you as strong as a wall to these people,p> <p class="poetry">a fortified wall of bronze.p> <p class="poetry">They will attack you,p> <p class="poetry">but they will not be able to overcome you.p> <p class="poetry">For I will be with you to rescue you and deliver you,&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">Cursed be the manp> <p class="poetry">who made my father very gladp> <p class="poetry">when he brought him the newsp> <p class="poetry">that a baby boy had been born to him!<n id="1" />p>

&#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel says,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Write everything that I am about to tell you in a scroll.<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">Why do you complain about your injuries,p> <p class="poetry">that your pain is incurable?p> <p class="poetry">I have done all this to youp> <p class="poetry">because your wickedness is so greatp> <p class="poetry">and your sin is so much.p>

You did miracles and amazing deeds in the land of Egypt which have had lasting effect. By this means you gained both in Israel and among humankind a renown that lasts to this day.<n id="1" />

The city is sure to fall into the hands of the Babylonians.<n id="1" /> Yet, in spite of this,<n id="2" /> you, Lord <sc>Godsc>,<n id="3" /> have said to me, &#8220;Buy that field with silver and have the transaction legally witnessed.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Then the officials said to Baruch, &#8220;You and Jeremiah must go and hide. You must not let anyone know where you are.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, &#8220;What crime have I committed against you, or the officials who serve you, or the people of Judah? What have I done to make you people throw me into prison?<n id="1" />

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, &#8220;If I answer you, you will certainly kill me.<n id="1" /> If I give you advice, you will not listen to me.&#8221;