International Standard Version | New International Version |
1This 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." | 1This is what the LORD said to me: "Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water." |
2So I bought the belt according to the LORD's instruction, and put it around my waist. | 2So I bought a belt, as the LORD directed, and put it around my waist. |
3Then this message from the LORD came to me a second time: | 3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: |
4Take 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." | 4"Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks." |
5So I went and hid it at the Euphrates, just as the LORD had commanded me. | 5So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD told me. |
6After a long time, the LORD told me, "Arise, go to the Euphrates, and get the belt that I commanded you to hide there." | 6Many days later the LORD said to me, "Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there." |
7I 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. | 7So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless. |
8Then this message from 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'll ruin the pride of Judah and the pride of Jerusalem. | 9"This is what the LORD says: 'In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. |
10This 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. | 10These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt--completely useless! |
11For 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.' | 11For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,' declares the LORD, 'to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.' |
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?', | 12"Say to them: 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Every wineskin should be filled with wine.' And if they say to you, 'Don't we know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?' |
13then 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. | 13then tell them, 'This is what the LORD says: I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land, including the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets and all those living in Jerusalem. |
14I'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."'" | 14I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them.'" |
15Listen and pay attention! Don't be proud, for the LORD has spoken. | 15Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. |
16Give 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. | 16Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it to utter darkness and change it to deep gloom. |
17If 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. | 17If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the LORD's flock will be taken captive. |
18Say to the king and the queen mother, "Come take a lowly seat, because your beautiful crowns have fallen off your heads." | 18Say to the king and to the queen mother, "Come down from your thrones, for your glorious crowns will fall from your heads." |
19The 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. | 19The cities in the Negev will be shut up, and there will be no one to open them. All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away. |
20"Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you— your beautiful sheep? | 20Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was entrusted to you, the sheep of which you boasted? |
21What 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? | 21What will you say when the LORD sets over you those you cultivated as your special allies? Will not pain grip you like that of a woman in labor? |
22When 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. | 22And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?"-- it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated. |
23Can 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. | 23Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil. |
24I'll scatter them like chaff blown away by a desert wind. | 24"I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind. |
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. | 25This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you," declares the LORD, "because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods. |
26I'll also pull your skirt up over your face, so your shame will be seen, | 26I will pull up your skirts over your face that your shame may be seen-- |
27I'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?" | 27your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?" |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
|