1 Thus said the LORD to me, Go and get you a linen girdle, and put it on your loins, and put it not in water.
2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
3 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying,
4 Take the girdle that you have got, which is on your loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
5 So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
6 And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said to me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from there, which I commanded you to hide there.
7 Then I went to Euphrates, and dig, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
9 Thus said the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 This 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.
11 For as the girdle sticks to the loins of a man, so have I caused to stick to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, said the LORD; that they might be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
12 Therefore you shall speak to them this word; Thus said the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say to you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?
13 Then shall you say to them, Thus said the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit on David' throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, said the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.
15 Hear you, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD has spoken.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD' flock is carried away captive.
18 Say to the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 The 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.
20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
21 What will you say when he shall punish you? for you have taught them to be captains, and as chief over you: shall not sorrows take you, as a woman in travail?
22 And if you say in your heart, Why come these things on me? For the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts discovered, and your heels made bore.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, that 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 of your measures from me, said the LORD; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
26 Therefore will I discover your skirts on your face, that your shame may appear.
27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighings, the lewdness of your prostitution, and your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! will you not be made clean? when shall it once be?
1 Thus Jehovah said to me, Go and buy for yourself a linen waistband, and put it around your waist, and do not put it in water.
2 So I bought a waistband according to the Word of Jehovah, and put it around my waist.
3 And the Word of Jehovah came unto me a second time, saying,
4 Take the waistband that you bought, which is around your waist, and arise. Go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
5 So I went and hid it by Euphrates, as Jehovah commanded me.
6 And it came to pass at the end of many days that Jehovah said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates and take the waistband from there, which I commanded you to hide there.
7 Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and took the waistband from the place where I had hidden it. And, behold, the waistband was rotten; it was good for nothing.
8 Then the Word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
9 Thus says Jehovah, In this way I will spoil 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 walk after other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, shall even be like this waistband, which is good for nothing.
11 For as the waistband 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 Jehovah; so that they might be a people unto Me, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory; but they would not hear.
12 So you shall speak to them this Word: Thus says Jehovah the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine. And they shall say to you, Do we not perceive to know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?
13 Then you shall say to them, Thus says Jehovah, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit on Davids throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
14 And I will smash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Jehovah. I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but will destroy them.
15 Hear and give ear; do not be proud; for Jehovah has spoken.
16 Give glory to Jehovah 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 gross darkness.
17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep and cry and run down with tears, because Jehovahs flock is taken captive.
18 Say to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves; sit down, for your dominion has come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 The cities of the south have been shut up, and no one is opening; Judah has been exiled, all of it has been completely carried away captive.
20 Lift up your eyes and look at those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful sheep?
21 What will you say when he punishes you? For you have taught them to be chief rulers over you. Do not pangs seize you, like a woman in travail?
22 And if you say in your heart, Why have these things come upon me? It is because of the greatness of your iniquity; your skirts have been uncovered, and your heels have suffered violence.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard its spots? Then you also may do good, who are accustomed to doing evil.
24 Therefore I will scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25 This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you, says Jehovah, because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.
26 Therefore I also have drawn up your skirts over your face, that your shame may be seen.
27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighings, the lewdness of your harlotry, and your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you not be made clean? How long will it still be?