The Linen Loincloth

1  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֨ר (said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֵלַ֗י (to me) הָל֞וֹךְ (Go) וְקָנִ֤יתָ (and acquire) לְּךָ֙ (for yourself) אֵז֣וֹר (loincloth), פִּשְׁתִּ֔ים (a linen) וְשַׂמְתּ֖וֹ (and put it) עַל־ (around) מָתְנֶ֑יךָ (your waist), וּבַמַּ֖יִם (in the water) לֹ֥א (and not) תְבִאֵֽהוּ׃ (you shall put it).

2  וָאֶקְנֶ֥ה (And I acquired) אֶת־ (-) הָאֵז֖וֹר (a loincloth) כִּדְבַ֣ר (according to the word) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וָאָשִׂ֖ם (and I put it) עַל־ (around) מָתְנָֽי׃ס (my waist).

3  וַיְהִ֧י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֖י (to me) שֵׁנִ֥ית (a second time), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 4  קַ֧ח (Take) אֶת־ (-) הָאֵז֛וֹר (the loincloth) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) קָנִ֖יתָ (you acquired), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which is) עַל־ (around) מָתְנֶ֑יךָ (your waist), וְקוּם֙ (and rise up), לֵ֣ךְ (go) פְּרָ֔תָה (to Perath), וְטָמְנֵ֥הוּ (and hide it) שָׁ֖ם (there) בִּנְקִ֥יק (in a cleft) הַסָּֽלַע׃ (of the rock).

5  וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ (And I went), וָאֶטְמְנֵ֖הוּ (and hid it) בִּפְרָ֑ת (in Perath), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) צִוָּ֥ה (commanded) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אוֹתִֽי׃ (me).

6  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass) מִקֵּ֖ץ (after) יָמִ֣ים (days), רַבִּ֑ים (many) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (said) יְהוָ֜ה (that YHWH) אֵלַ֗י (to me) ק֚וּם (Rise), לֵ֣ךְ (and go) פְּרָ֔תָה (to Perath), וְקַ֤ח (and take) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there), אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אֵז֔וֹר (the loincloth) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) צִוִּיתִ֖יךָ (I commanded you) לְטָמְנוֹ־ (to hide) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 7  וָאֵלֵ֣ךְ (And I went) פְּרָ֔תָה (to Perath), וָאֶחְפֹּ֗ר (and dug), וָֽאֶקַּח֙ (and I took) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אֵז֔וֹר (the loincloth) מִן־ (from) הַמָּק֖וֹם (the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) טְמַנְתִּ֣יו (I had hidden it) שָׁ֑מָּה (there) וְהִנֵּה֙ (and behold), נִשְׁחַ֣ת (had been ruined), הָאֵז֔וֹר (the loincloth) לֹ֥א (and it was not). יִצְלַ֖ח (Profitable) לַכֹּֽל׃פ (for anything).

8  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 9  כֹּ֖ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), כָּ֠כָה (In this manner) אַשְׁחִ֞ית (I will ruin) אֶת־ (-) גְּא֧וֹן (the pride) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah), וְאֶת־ (and) גְּא֥וֹן (the pride) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem) הָרָֽב׃ (great). 10  הָעָם֩ (The people), הַזֶּ֨ה (this) הָרָ֜ע (evil) הַֽמֵּאֲנִ֣ים׀ (who refuse) לִשְׁמ֣וֹעַ (to listen) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרַ֗י (to My words), הַהֹֽלְכִים֙ (who walk) בִּשְׁרִר֣וּת (in the stubborness) לִבָּ֔ם (of their heart), וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ (and who walk) אַֽחֲרֵי֙ (after) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (gods), אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other) לְעָבְדָ֖ם (to serve them) וּלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת (and to bow down) לָהֶ֑ם (to them) וִיהִי֙ (and shall even become) כָּאֵז֣וֹר (like the loincloth), הַזֶּ֔ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) לֹא־ (not) יִצְלַ֖ח (is profitable) לַכֹּֽל׃ (for anything).

11  כִּ֡י (Indeed) כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (as) יִדְבַּ֨ק (clings) הָאֵז֜וֹר (a loincloth) אֶל־ (to) מָתְנֵי־ (the waist) אִ֗ישׁ (of a man), כֵּ֣ן (so) הִדְבַּ֣קְתִּי (I made to cling) אֵ֠לַי (to Me) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֨ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֤ית (the house) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH); לִֽהְי֥וֹת (to become) לִי֙ (My) לְעָ֔ם (people), וּלְשֵׁ֥ם (and for renown), וְלִתְהִלָּ֖ה (and for praise), וּלְתִפְאָ֑רֶת (and for glory); וְלֹ֖א (they would not) שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃ (listen).

The Wineskins

12  וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ (And you shall speak) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the word); הַזֶּ֗הס (this) כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), כָּל־ (every) נֵ֖בֶל (bottle) יִמָּ֣לֵא (shall be filled with) יָ֑יִן (wine);

וְאָמְר֣וּ (and they will say) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you) הֲיָדֹ֙עַ֙ (This) לֹ֣א (do we not) נֵדַ֔ע (already know) כִּ֥י (that) כָל־ (every) נֵ֖בֶל (bottle) יִמָּ֥לֵא (will be filled) יָֽיִן׃ (with wine)? 13  וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ (And you shall say) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), הִנְנִ֣י (behold, I) מְמַלֵּ֣א (am going to fill) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (the dwellers) הָאָ֪רֶץ (land), הַזֹּ֟את (of this) וְאֶת־ (and) הַמְּלָכִ֣ים (the kings) הַיֹּשְׁבִים֩ (sitting) לְדָוִ֨ד (for David) עַל־ (on) כִּסְא֜וֹ (his throne), וְאֶת־ (and) הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים (the priests), וְאֶת־ (and) הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים (the prophets), וְאֵ֛ת (and) כָּל־ (all) יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֖ם (of Jerusalem), שִׁכָּרֽוֹן׃ (with drunkenness). 14  וְנִפַּצְתִּים֩ (And I will dash them) אִ֨ישׁ (a man) אֶל־ (against) אָחִ֜יו (his brother), וְהָאָב֧וֹת (and the fathers) וְהַבָּנִ֛ים (and the sons) יַחְדָּ֖ו (together), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). לֹֽא־ (I will not) אֶחְמ֧וֹל (spare), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) אָח֛וּס (will I have pity), וְלֹ֥א (and not) אֲרַחֵ֖ם (will I have compassion), מֵהַשְׁחִיתָֽם׃ס (to keep from destroying them).

Captivity Threatened

15  שִׁמְע֥וּ (Listen) וְהַאֲזִ֖ינוּ (and give ear); אַל־ (do not) תִּגְבָּ֑הוּ (be proud),

כִּ֥י (for) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) דִּבֵּֽר׃ (has spoken).

16  תְּנוּ֩ (Give) לַיהוָ֨ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֤ם (your⁺ God), כָּבוֹד֙ (glory)

בְּטֶ֣רֶם (before) יַחְשִׁ֔ךְ (He brings darkness),

וּבְטֶ֛רֶם (and before) יִֽתְנַגְּפ֥וּ (stumble) רַגְלֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ feet)

עַל־ (on) הָ֣רֵי (mountains), נָ֑שֶׁף (the dark)

וְקִוִּיתֶ֤ם (and while you⁺ are looking) לְאוֹר֙ (for light),

וְשָׂמָ֣הּ (and He turns it) לְצַלְמָ֔וֶת (into the shadow of death), יָשִׁית (and makes it) לַעֲרָפֶֽל׃ (thick darkness).

17  וְאִם֙ (But if) לֹ֣א (not) תִשְׁמָע֔וּהָ (you⁺ will listen)

בְּמִסְתָּרִ֥ים (then in secret) תִּבְכֶּֽה־ (will weep) נַפְשִׁ֖י (My soul) מִפְּנֵ֣י (from the face) גֵוָ֑ה (of your pride); וְדָמֹ֨עַ (and weeping) תִּדְמַ֜ע (will weep),

וְתֵרַ֤ד (and flow with) עֵינִי֙ (My eyes) דִּמְעָ֔ה (tears),

כִּ֥י (because) נִשְׁבָּ֖ה (has been taken captive). עֵ֥דֶר (The flock) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

18  אֱמֹ֥ר (Say) לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (to the king)

וְלַגְּבִירָ֖ה (and to the queen mother),

הַשְׁפִּ֣ילוּ (Humble yourselves), שֵׁ֑בוּ (sit down);

כִּ֤י (for) יָרַד֙ (have fallen), מַרְאֲשׁ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם (from your⁺ heads) עֲטֶ֖רֶת (the crown) תִּֽפְאַרְתְּכֶֽם׃ (of your⁺ splendor).

19  עָרֵ֥י (The cities) הַנֶּ֛גֶב (of the Negev) סֻגְּר֖וּ (have been shut tight),

וְאֵ֣ין (and there is no) פֹּתֵ֑חַ (one opening them)

הָגְלָ֧ת (has been removed) יְהוּדָ֛ה (Judah) כֻּלָּ֖הּ (all of her)

הָגְלָ֥ת (she has been removed) שְׁלוֹמִֽים׃ס (completely).

20  שְׂאִי (Lift up) עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ eyes),

וּרְאִי (and see) הַבָּאִ֖ים (those coming) מִצָּפ֑וֹן (from the north).

אַיֵּ֗ה (Where is) הָעֵ֙דֶר֙ (the flock) נִתַּן־ (He gave) לָ֔ךְ (to you)

צֹ֖אן (flock) תִּפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ׃ (your beautiful)?

21  מַה־ (What) תֹּֽאמְרִי֙ (will you say) כִּֽי־ (when) יִפְקֹ֣ד (He sets) עָלַ֔יִךְ (over you)

וְ֠אַתְּ (when you yourself) לִמַּ֨דְתְּ (had taught) אֹתָ֥ם (them) עָלַ֛יִךְ (with you) אַלֻּפִ֖ים (to be allies), לְרֹ֑אשׁ (to be head)

הֲל֤וֹא (Will not) חֲבָלִים֙ (pangs) יֹאחֱז֔וּךְ (seize you)

כְּמ֖וֹ (like) אֵ֥שֶׁת (a woman) לֵדָֽה׃ (in labor)?

22  וְכִ֤י (And if) תֹאמְרִי֙ (you should say) בִּלְבָבֵ֔ךְ (in your heart),

מַדּ֖וּעַ (Why) קְרָאֻ֣נִי (happened to me) אֵ֑לֶּה (have these things)

בְּרֹ֧ב (it is by the abundance) עֲוֺנֵ֛ךְ (of your iniquity)

נִגְל֥וּ (have been uncovered), שׁוּלַ֖יִךְ (that your skirts)

נֶחְמְס֥וּ (have suffered violence) עֲקֵבָֽיִךְ׃ (and your heels).

23  הֲיַהֲפֹ֤ךְ (Can change) כּוּשִׁי֙ (the Cushite) עוֹר֔וֹ (his skin),

וְנָמֵ֖ר (or the leopard) חֲבַרְבֻּרֹתָ֑יו (its spots)?

גַּם־ (Also) אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) תּוּכְל֣וּ (are able) לְהֵיטִ֔יב (do good),

לִמֻּדֵ֖י (you who are accustomed) הָרֵֽעַ׃ (to doing evil).

24  וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם (And I will scatter them) כְּקַשׁ־ (like chaff)

עוֹבֵ֑ר (that passes away) לְר֖וּחַ (by the wind) מִדְבָּֽר׃ (of the wilderness).

25  זֶ֣ה (This is) גוֹרָלֵ֧ךְ (your lot),

מְנָת־ (the portion) מִדַּ֛יִךְ (of your measures) מֵֽאִתִּ֖י (from Me)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH);

אֲשֶׁר֙ (Because) שָׁכַ֣חַתְּ (you have forgotten) אוֹתִ֔י (Me)

וַֽתִּבְטְחִ֖י (and have trusted) בַּשָּֽׁקֶר׃ (in falsehood).

26  וְגַם־ (Therefore) אֲנִ֛י (I) חָשַׂ֥פְתִּי (will strip away) שׁוּלַ֖יִךְ (your skirts) עַל־ (over) פָּנָ֑יִךְ (your face),

וְנִרְאָ֖ה (may be seen) קְלוֹנֵֽךְ׃ (that your shame).

27  נִֽאֻפַ֤יִךְ (Your adulteries), וּמִצְהֲלוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ (and your neighings), זִמַּ֣ת (the wickedness)

זְנוּתֵ֔ךְ (of your prostitution), עַל־ (upon)

גְּבָעוֹת֙ (the hills) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (and in the fields). רָאִ֖יתִי (I have seen)

שִׁקּוּצָ֑יִךְ (Your abominations)

א֥וֹי (Woe) לָךְ֙ (to you) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (O Jerusalem)!

לֹ֣א (Not) תִטְהֲרִ֔י (will you be made clean)? אַחֲרֵ֥י (After) מָתַ֖י (how) עֹֽד׃פ (long).