| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Thus 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.” | 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 got a sash according to the word of the LORD, and put it around my waist. | 2So I bought underwear as the LORD instructed me and put it on. |
| 3And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, | 3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: |
| 4“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.” | 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 by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. | 5So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. |
| 6Now 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.” | 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." |
| 7Then 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. | 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 the word of the LORD came to me, saying, | 8Then the word of the LORD came to me: |
| 9“Thus says the LORD: ‘In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great 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, 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. | 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 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.’ | 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“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?’ | 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? |
| 13“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! | 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. |
| 14And 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.” ’ ” | 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." |
| 15Hear and give ear: Do not 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 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. | 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. |
| 17But 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. | 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 to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves; Sit down, For your rule shall collapse, the crown of your glory.” | 18Say to the king and the queen mother: Take a humble seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads. |
| 19The 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. | 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. |
| 20Lift up your eyes and see Those who come 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 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? | 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? |
| 22And 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. | 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 the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil. | 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. |
| 24“Therefore I will scatter them like stubble That passes away by the wind of the wilderness. | 24I will scatter you like drifting chaff before the desert wind. |
| 25This is your lot, The portion of your measures from Me,” says the LORD, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood. | 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. |
| 26Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face, That your shame may appear. | 26I will pull your skirts up over your face so that your shame might be seen. |
| 27I 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?” | 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? |
|
