The Linen Loincloth
1 The Lord said to me, "Go and buy some linen shorts and put them on. Do not put them in water."
1 Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
1 Thus the Lord said to me, “Go and (A)buy yourself a linen waistband and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water.”
1 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen undergarment(A) and put it on,(a) but do not put it in water.”
1 This is what the LORD told me: "Go and buy a linen belt for yourself, and put it around your waist. But don't let it get wet."
2 So I bought the shorts as the Lord had told me to do and put them on.
2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
2 So I bought underwear as the Lord instructed me and put it on.
2 So I bought the belt according to the LORD's instruction, and put it around my waist.
4 "Take the shorts that you bought and are wearing and go at once to Perath. Bury the shorts there in a crack in the rocks."
4 Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
4 “Take the waistband that you have bought, which is around your waist, and arise, go to (a)the (C)Euphrates and hide it there in a crevice of the rock.”
4 “Take the underwear that you bought and are wearing,(b) and go at once to the Euphrates(c) and hide it in a rocky crevice.”(B)
4 Take the belt that you bought and that is around your waist. Get up and go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a crevice in the rock."
6 Many days later the Lord said to me, "Go at once to Perath and get the shorts I ordered you to bury there."
6 And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
6 After many days the Lord said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates and take from there the waistband which I commanded you to hide there.”
6 A 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.”
6 After a long time, the LORD told me, "Arise, go to the Euphrates, and get the belt that I commanded you to hide there."
7 So I went to Perath and dug up the shorts from the place where I had buried them. I found that they were ruined; they were good for nothing.
7 Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
7 Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the waistband from the place where I had hidden it; and lo, the waistband was ruined, it was totally worthless.
7 So 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.
7 I went to the Euphrates and dug it up. I got the belt from the place where I had hidden it. The belt was ruined! It was not good for anything.
9 "I, the Lord, say: 'This shows how I will ruin the highly exalted position in which Judah and Jerusalem take pride.
9 Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
9 “Thus says the Lord, ‘Just so will I destroy the (E)pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
9 “This is what the Lord says: Just like this I will ruin the great pride of both Judah and Jerusalem.(C)
9 "This is what the LORD says: "In the same way I'll ruin the pride of Judah and the pride of Jerusalem.
10 These wicked people refuse to obey what I have said. They follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts and pay allegiance to other gods by worshiping and serving them. So they will become just like these linen shorts which are good for nothing.
10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
10 This wicked people, who (F)refuse to listen to My words, who (G)walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have gone after other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, let them be just like this waistband which is totally worthless.
10 These evil people, who refuse to listen to Me, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts,(D) and who have followed other gods to serve and worship—they will be like this underwear, of no use at all.
10 This evil people that refuses to listen to my words, that stubbornly pursues their own desires, and that follows other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt that is not good for anything.
11 For,' I say, 'just as shorts cling tightly to a person's body, so I bound the whole nation of Israel and the whole nation of Judah tightly to me.' I intended for them to be my special people and to bring me fame, honor, and praise. But they would not obey me.
11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
11 For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah (H)cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for (b)(I)renown, for (J)praise and for glory; but they (K)did not listen.’
11 Just as underwear clings to one’s waist, so I fastened the whole house of Israel and of Judah to Me”(E)—this is the Lord’s declaration—“so that they might be My people for My fame, praise, and glory,(F) but they would not obey.
11 For just as the belt clings tightly to a person's waist, so I've made all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah cling tightly to me,' declares the LORD. "I did this so that they would be my people, name, praise, and glory. But they wouldn't listen.'
The Wine Jars
12 "So tell them, 'The Lord, the God of Israel, says, "Every wine jar is made to be filled with wine."' And they will probably say to you, 'Do you not think we know that every wine jar is supposed to be filled with wine?'
12 Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?
12 “Therefore you are to speak this word to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Every jug is to be filled with wine.”’ And when they say to you, ‘Do we not very well know that every jug is to be filled with wine?’
12 “Say this to them: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Every jar should be filled with wine. Then they will respond to you, ‘Don’t we know that every jar should be filled with wine?’
12 "This is what you're to tell them: "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: "Every wineskin is to be filled with wine."' When they say to you, "Don't we know very well that every wineskin is to be filled with wine?',
13 Then tell them, 'The Lord says, "I will soon fill all the people who live in this land with stupor. I will also fill the kings from David's dynasty, the priests, the prophets, and the citizens of Jerusalem with stupor.
13 Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
13 then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land—the kings that sit for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with (L)drunkenness!
13 And you will say to them: This is what the Lord says: I am about to fill all who live in this land—the kings who reign for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets and all the residents of Jerusalem—with drunkenness.
13 then say to them, "This is what the LORD says: "I'm about to make all the inhabitants of this land drunk the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the residents of Jerusalem.
14 And I will smash them like wine bottles against one another, children and parents alike. I will not show any pity, mercy, or compassion. Nothing will keep me from destroying them,' says the Lord."
14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.
14 I will (M)dash them against each other, both the (N)fathers and the sons together,” declares the Lord. “I will (O)not show pity nor be sorry nor have compassion so as not to destroy them.”’”
14 I will smash them against each other, fathers and sons alike”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will allow no mercy, pity, or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.”(G)
14 I'll smash them against each other, even fathers against their sons," declares the LORD. "I'll have no pity, mercy, or compassion when I destroy them."'"
The Lord's Warning
15 Then I said to the people of Judah, "Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant! For the Lord has spoken.
15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
15 Listen and pay attention. Do not be proud,for the Lord has spoken.
15 Listen and pay attention! Don't be proud, for the LORD has spoken.
16 Show the Lord your God the respect that is due him. Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. Do it before you stumble into distress like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for into the darkness and gloom of exile.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
16 (Q)Give glory to the Lord your God,Before He brings (R)darknessAnd before your (S)feet stumbleOn the dusky mountains,And while you are hoping for lightHe makes it into (T)deep darkness,And turns it into gloom.
16 Give glory to the Lord your God(H)before He brings darkness,before your feet stumbleon the mountains at dusk.You wait for light,but He brings darkest gloom(d)and makes thick darkness.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the mountains at twilight. You hope for light, but he turns it into deep darkness. He changes it into heavy gloom.
17 But if you will not pay attention to this warning, I will weep alone because of your arrogant pride. I will weep bitterly and my eyes will overflow with tears because you, the Lord's flock, will be carried into exile."
17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.
17 But (U)if you will not listen to it,My soul will (V)sob in secret for such pride;And my eyes will bitterly weepAnd flow down with tears,Because the (W)flock of the Lord has been taken captive.
17 But if you will not listen,my innermost being will weep in secretbecause of your pride.My eyes will overflow with tears,for the Lord’s flock(I) has been taken captive.
17 If you don't listen, I'll cry secretly because of your pride. My eyes will cry bitterly, flowing tears, because the LORD's flock has been taken captive.
A Message For The King And The Queen Mother
18 The Lord told me, "Tell the king and the queen mother, 'Surrender your thrones, for your glorious crowns will be removed from your heads.
18 Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
18 Say to the (X)king and the queen mother,“(Y)Take a lowly seat,For your beautiful (Z)crownHas come down from your head.”
18 Say to the king and the queen mother:(J)Take a humble seat,for your glorious crownshave fallen from your heads.
18 Say to the king and the queen mother, "Come take a lowly seat, because your beautiful crowns have fallen off your heads."
19 The gates of the towns in southern Judah will be shut tight. No one will be able to go in or out of them. All Judah will be carried off into exile. They will be completely carried off into exile.'"
19 The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.
19 The (AA)cities of the Negev have been locked up,And there is no one to open them;All (AB)Judah has been carried into exile,Wholly carried into exile.
19 The cities of the Negev are under siege;no one can help them.All of Judah has been taken into exile,taken completely into exile.
19 The towns in the Negev will be closed up, and there will be no one to open them. All Judah will be taken into exile and be completely exiled.
20 Then I said, "Look up, Jerusalem, and see the enemy that is coming from the north. Where now is the flock of people that were entrusted to your care? Where now are the 'sheep' that you take such pride in?
20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
20 “Lift up your eyes and seeThose coming (AC)from the north.Where is the (AD)flock that was given you,Your beautiful sheep?
20 Look up and seethose coming from the north.(K)Where is the flock entrusted to you,the sheep that were your pride?
20 "Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you your beautiful sheep?
The Destiny Of Jerusalem
21 What will you say when the Lord appoints as rulers over you those allies that you, yourself, had actually prepared as such? Then anguish and agony will grip you like that of a woman giving birth to a baby.
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?
21 “What will you say when He appoints over you—And you yourself had taught them—Former (c)(AE)companions to be head over you?Will not (AF)pangs take hold of youLike a woman in childbirth?
21 What will you say when He appointsclose friends as leaders over you,ones you yourself trained?Won’t labor pains seize you,(L)as they do a woman in labor?
21 What will you say when the LORD appoints over you as your head those whom you taught to be your allies? Pain will seize you like that seizing a woman about to give birth, will it not?
22 You will probably ask yourself, 'Why have these things happened to me? Why have I been treated like a disgraced adulteress whose skirt has been torn off and her limbs exposed?' It is because you have sinned so much.
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.
22 “If you (AG)say in your heart,‘(AH)Why have these things happened to me?’Because of the (AI)magnitude of your iniquity(AJ)Your skirts have been removedAnd your heels have (d)been exposed.
22 And when you ask yourself,“Why have these things happened to me?”It is because of your great guilt(M)that your skirts have been stripped off,(N)your body exposed.(e)
22 When you say to yourselves, "Why have all these things happened to me?' It's because of the extent of your iniquity that your skirt has been lifted up, and your heels have suffered violence.
23 But there is little hope for you ever doing good, you who are so accustomed to doing evil. Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard remove its spots?
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
23 “(AK)Can the Ethiopian change his skinOr the leopard his spots?Then you also can (AL)do goodWho are accustomed to doing evil.
23 Can the Cushite change his skin,or a leopard his spots?If so, you might be able to do what is good,(O)you who are instructed in evil.
23 Can an Ethiopian change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Then you who are trained to do evil will also be able to do good.
25 This is your fate, the destiny to which I have appointed you, because you have forgotten me and have trusted in false gods.
25 This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
25 “This is your (AO)lot, the portion measured to youFrom Me,” declares the Lord,“Because you have (AP)forgotten MeAnd trusted in falsehood.
25 This is your lot,what I have decreed for you—this is the Lord’s declaration—because you have forgotten Meand trusted in Falsehood.(g)(Q)
25 "This is your fate, the portion I've measured out for you," declares the LORD, "because you have forgotten me and have trusted in false gods.
27 People of Jerusalem, I have seen your adulterous worship, your shameless prostitution to, and your lustful pursuit of, other gods. I have seen your disgusting acts of worship on the hills throughout the countryside. You are doomed to destruction! How long will you continue to be unclean?'"
27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?
27 “As for your (AR)adulteries and your lustful neighings,The (AS)lewdness of your prostitutionOn the (AT)hills in the field,I have seen your abominations.Woe to you, O Jerusalem!(AU)How long will you remain unclean?”
27 Your adulteries and your lustful neighing,(S)your heinous prostitutionon the hills, in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts.Woe to you, Jerusalem!You are unclean—for how long yet?(T)
27 I've seen your detestable behavior: your adulteries, your passionate neighing, your lewd immorality on the hills in the field. How terrible it will be for you, Jerusalem! You are unclean. How much longer will this go on?"