| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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 yourself a linen undergarment and put it on, but do not put it in water." |
| 2So I bought the belt according to the LORD's instruction, and put it around my waist. | 2So I bought underwear as the LORD instructed me and put it on. |
| 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 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 the Euphrates, just as the LORD had commanded me. | 5So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded 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." | 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." |
| 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 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 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: Just like this I will ruin the great pride of both Judah and 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 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 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.' | 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. |
| 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 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 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. | 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'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 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 pay attention! Don't be proud, 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 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 darkness, before your feet stumble on the mountains at dusk. You wait for light, but He brings darkest gloom and makes thick darkness. |
| 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. | 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 the queen mother, "Come take a lowly seat, because your beautiful crowns have fallen off your heads." | 18Say to the king and the queen mother: Take a humble seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen 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 of the Negev are under siege; no one can help them. All of Judah has been taken into exile, taken completely into exile. |
| 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 coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride? |
| 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 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? |
| 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 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 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 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. |
| 24I'll scatter them like chaff blown away by a desert wind. | 24I will scatter you like drifting chaff before 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, what I have decreed for you-- this is the LORD's declaration-- because you have forgotten Me and trusted in Falsehood. |
| 26I'll also pull your skirt up over your face, so your shame will be seen, | 26I will pull your skirts up over your face so that your shame might 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 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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