1 T hus saith Jehovah unto me, Go, and buy thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.

Thus 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.”

2 S o I bought a girdle according to the word of Jehovah, and put it upon my loins.

So I got a sash according to the word of the Lord, and put it around my waist.

3 A nd the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time, saying,

And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying,

4 T ake the girdle that thou hast bought, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.

“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.”

5 S o I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Jehovah commanded me.

So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me.

6 A nd it came to pass after many days, that Jehovah said unto me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.

Now 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.”

7 T hen I went to the 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.

Then 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.

8 T hen the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

9 T hus saith Jehovah, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

“Thus says the Lord: ‘In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10 T his evil people, that refuse to hear my words, that 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 girdle, which is profitable for nothing.

This 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.

11 F or 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 Jehovah; that they may be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

For 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.’ Symbol of the Wine Bottles

12 T herefore thou shalt speak unto them this word: Thus saith Jehovah, the 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?

“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?’

13 T hen shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, 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.

“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!

14 A nd I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith Jehovah: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.

And 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.”’” Pride Precedes Captivity

15 H ear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for Jehovah hath spoken.

Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, For the Lord has spoken.

16 G ive glory to Jehovah 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.

Give 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.

17 B ut if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Jehovah's flock is taken captive.

But 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.

18 S ay thou unto the king and to the queen-mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headtires are come down, even the crown of your glory.

Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves; Sit down, For your rule shall collapse, the crown of your glory.”

19 T he 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.

The 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.

20 L ift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

Lift up your eyes and see Those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, Your beautiful sheep?

21 W hat wilt thou say, when he shall set over thee as head those whom thou hast thyself taught to be friends to thee? shall not sorrows take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail?

What 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?

22 A nd if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore are these things come upon me? for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels suffer violence.

And 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.

23 C an the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.

24 T herefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passeth away, by the wind of the wilderness.

“Therefore I will scatter them like stubble That passes away by the wind of the wilderness.

25 T his is thy lot, the portion measured unto thee from me, saith Jehovah; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.

This is your lot, The portion of your measures from Me,” says the Lord, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood.

26 T herefore will I also uncover thy skirts upon thy face, and thy shame shall appear.

Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face, That your shame may appear.

27 I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?

I 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?”