The Linen Belt
1Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water. 2So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins. 3And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, 4Take 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. 5So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. 6And 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. 7Then 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.
8Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 9Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10This 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. 11For 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.
The Wineskins
12Therefore 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? 13Then 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. 14And 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.
Captivity Threatened
15Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
16Give 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.
17But 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.
18Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
19The 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.
20Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
21What 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?
22And 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.
23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
24Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.
25This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
26Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.
27I 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?
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Linen Loincloth
1 Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water. 2 So I bought a belt according to the word of Yahweh, and put it on my waist. 3 The word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying, 4 Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock. 5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahweh commanded me. 6 It happened after many days, that Yahweh said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there. 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
8 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 Thus says Yahweh, In this way I will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so have I caused to cling to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says Yahweh; that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
The Wineskins
12 Therefore you shall speak to them this word: Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall tell you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? 13 Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 14 I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Yahweh: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.
Captivity Threatened
15 Hear, and give ear; don’t be proud; for Yahweh has spoken.
16 Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness.
17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock is taken captive.
18 Say to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses have come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive.
20 Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
21 What will you say, when he shall set over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? shall not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
22 If you say in your heart, Why are these things come on me? for the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered, and your heels suffer violence.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
24 Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passes away, by the wind of the wilderness.
25 This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me, says Yahweh; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
26 Therefore will I also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame shall appear.
27 I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?
The Linen Loincloth
1 This 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.”
2 So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.
3 Then 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 a and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”
5 So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me.
6 Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.” 7 So 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.
8 Then 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. 10 These 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.
11 For 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.
The Wineskins
12 Therefore 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 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. 14 I 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.’ ”
Captivity Threatened
15 Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant,
for the LORD has spoken.
16 Give 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.
17 But 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.
18 Say to the king
and to the queen mother:
“Take a lowly seat,
for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”
19 The cities of the Negev have been shut tight,
and no one can open them.
All Judah has been carried into exile,
wholly taken captive.
20 Lift up your eyes and see
those coming from the north.
Where is the flock entrusted to you,
the sheep that were your pride?
21 What 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?
22 And 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. b
23 Can the Ethiopian c change his skin,
or the leopard his spots?
Neither are you able to do good—
you who are accustomed to doing evil.
24 “I will scatter you like chaff
driven by the desert wind.
25 This is your lot,
the portion I have measured to you,”
declares the LORD,
“because you have forgotten Me
and trusted in falsehood.
26 So I will pull your skirts up over your face,
that your shame may be seen.
27 Your 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?”
Footnotes:
4 a Or possibly to the Euphrates ; similarly in verses 5–7
22 b Literally and your heels have suffered violence
23 c Hebrew that Cushite ; that is, probably a person from the upper Nile region
The Linen Belt
1Thus said Jehovah unto me, 'Go, and thou hast got for thee a girdle of linen, and hast placed it on thy loins, and into water thou dost not cause it to enter:' 2and I get the girdle, according to the word of Jehovah, and I place it on my loins. 3And there is a word of Jehovah unto me a second time, saying, 4Take the girdle that thou hast got, that is on thy loins, and rise, go to Phrat, and hide it there in a hole of the rock; 5and I go and hide it by Phrat, as Jehovah commanded me. 6And it cometh to pass, at the end of many days, that Jehovah saith unto me, 'Rise, go to Phrat, and take thence the girdle, that I commanded thee to hide there;' 7and I go to Phrat, and dig, and take the girdle from the place where I had hid it; and lo, the girdle hath been marred, it is not profitable for anything.
8And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying, 'Thus said Jehovah: 9Thus do I mar the excellency of Judah, And the great excellency of Jerusalem. 10This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, Who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, And go after other gods to serve them, And to bow themselves to them, Yea it is -- as this girdle, that is not profitable for anything. 11For, as the girdle cleaveth unto the loins of a man, So I caused to cleave unto Me The whole house of Israel, And the whole house of Judah, an affirmation of Jehovah, To be to Me for a people, and for a name, And for praise, and for beauty, And they have not hearkened.
The Wineskins
12And thou hast said unto them this word, Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, 'Every bottle is full of wine,' And they have said unto thee: 'Do we not certainly know that every bottle is full of wine?' 13And thou hast said unto them, 'Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am filling all the inhabitants of this land, And the kings who sit for David on his throne, And the priests, and the prophets, And all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, With drunkenness, 14And have dashed them one against another, And the fathers and the sons together, An affirmation of Jehovah, I do not pity, nor spare, nor have I mercy, So as not to destroy them.
Captivity Threatened
15Hear, and give ear -- be not haughty, For Jehovah hath spoken.
16Give ye to Jehovah your God honour, Before He doth cause darkness, And before your feet stumble on dark mountains, And ye have waited for light, And He hath made it for death-shade, And hath appointed it for thick darkness.
17And if ye do not hear it, In secret places doth my soul weep, because of pride, Yea, it weepeth sore, And the tear cometh down mine eyes, For the flock of Jehovah hath been taken captive.
18Say to the king and to the mistress: Make yourselves low -- sit still, For come down have your principalities, The crown of your beauty.
19The cities of the south have been shut up, And there is none opening, Judah hath been removed -- all of her, She hath been removed completely --
20Lift up your eyes, and see those coming in from the north, Where is the drove given to thee, thy beautiful flock?
21What dost thou say, when He looketh after thee? And thou -- thou hast taught them to be over thee -- leaders for head? Do not pangs seize thee as a travailing woman?
22And when thou dost say in thy heart, 'Wherefore have these met me?' For the abundance of thine iniquity Have thy skirts been uncovered, Have thy heels suffered violence.
23Doth a Cushite change his skin? and a leopard his spots? Ye also are able to do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
24And I scatter them as stubble, Passing away, by a wind of the wilderness.
25This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from Me -- an affirmation of Jehovah, Because thou hast forgotten me, And dost trust in falsehood.
26I also have made bare thy skirts before thy face, And thy shame hath been seen.
27Thine adulteries, and thy neighings, The wickedness of thy whoredom, on heights in a field, I have seen thine abominations. Woe to thee, O Jerusalem, Thou art not cleansed, after when is it again?
