| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” | 1This is what the LORD said to me: "Go and buy yourself a linen undergarment and put it on, but do not put it in water." |
| 2So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist. | 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: | 3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: |
| 4“Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Perath and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.” | 4"Take the underwear that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to the Euphrates and hide it in a rocky crevice." |
| 5So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me. | 5So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. |
| 6Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.” | 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 Perath and dug up the loincloth, and I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined—of no use at all. | 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: | 8Then the word of the LORD came to me: |
| 9“This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the 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. |
| 10These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all. | 10These evil people, who refuse to listen to Me, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who have followed other gods to serve and worship--they will be like this underwear, of no use at all. |
| 11For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen. | 11Just as underwear clings to one's waist, so I fastened the whole house of Israel and of Judah to Me"--this is the LORD's declaration--"so that they might be My people for My fame, praise, and glory, but they would not obey. |
| 12Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’ And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should 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? |
| 13then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem. | 13And 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. |
| 14I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’ ” | 14I 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." |
| 15Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. | 15Listen and pay attention. Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken. |
| 16Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness. | 16Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the mountains at dusk. You wait for light, but He brings darkest gloom and makes thick darkness. |
| 17But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive. | 17But if you will not listen, my innermost being will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, for the LORD's flock has been taken captive. |
| 18Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.” | 18Say to the king and the queen mother: Take a humble seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads. |
| 19The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive. | 19The cities of the Negev are under siege; no one can help them. All of Judah has been taken into exile, taken completely into exile. |
| 20Lift up your eyes and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride? | 20Look up and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride? |
| 21What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor? | 21What 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? |
| 22And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed. | 22And 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. |
| 23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil. | 23Can 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 chaff driven by the desert wind. | 24I will scatter you like drifting chaff before the desert wind. |
| 25This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood. | 25This is your lot, what I have decreed for you-- this is the LORD's declaration-- because you have forgotten Me and trusted in Falsehood. |
| 26So I will pull your skirts up over your face, that your shame may be seen. | 26I will pull your skirts up over your face so that your shame might be seen. |
| 27Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?” | 27Your adulteries and your lustful neighing, your heinous prostitution on the hills, in the fields-- I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You are unclean-- for how long yet? |
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