| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Thus the LORD said to me: “Go and get yourself a linen sash, and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water.” | 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.” |
| 2So I got a sash according to the word of the LORD, and put it around my waist. | 2So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist. |
| 3And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, | 3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: |
| 4“Take the sash that you acquired, which is around your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the rock.” | 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.” |
| 5So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. | 5So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me. |
| 6Now it came to pass after many days that the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the sash which I commanded you to hide there.” | 6Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.” |
| 7Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the sash from the place where I had hidden it; and there was the sash, ruined. It was profitable for nothing. | 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. |
| 8Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, | 8Then the word of the LORD came to me: |
| 9“Thus says the LORD: ‘In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great 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, who refuse to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing. | 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. |
| 11For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,’ says the LORD, ‘that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’ | 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. |
| 12“Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Every bottle shall be filled with wine.” ’ “And they will say to you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every bottle will be filled with wine?’ | 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?’ |
| 13“Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land—even the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness! | 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. |
| 14And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says the LORD. “I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy, but will destroy them.” ’ ” | 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.’ ” |
| 15Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, For the LORD has spoken. | 15Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. |
| 16Give glory to the LORD your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death And makes it dense darkness. | 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. |
| 17But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive. | 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. |
| 18Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves; Sit down, For your rule shall collapse, the crown of your glory.” | 18Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.” |
| 19The cities of the South shall be shut up, And no one shall open them; Judah shall be carried away captive, all of it; It shall be wholly carried away captive. | 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. |
| 20Lift up your eyes and see Those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, Your beautiful sheep? | 20Lift up your eyes 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 punishes you? For you have taught them To be chieftains, to be head over you. Will not pangs seize you, Like a woman in labor? | 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? |
| 22And if you say in your heart, “Why have these things come upon me?” For the greatness of your iniquity Your skirts have been uncovered, Your heels made bare. | 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. |
| 23Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil. | 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. |
| 24“Therefore I will scatter them like stubble That passes away by the wind of the wilderness. | 24“I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind. |
| 25This is your lot, The portion of your measures from Me,” says the LORD, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood. | 25This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood. |
| 26Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face, That your shame may appear. | 26So I will pull your skirts up over your face, that your shame may be seen. |
| 27I have seen your adulteries And your lustful neighings, The lewdness of your harlotry, Your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you still not be made clean?” | 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?” |
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