Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Thus said the LORD to me, "Go and buy a linen waistcloth, and put it on your loins, and do not dip it in water."
1
This is what the LORD said to me: "Buy a linen belt. Put it around your waist. Don't let it get wet."
2 So I bought a waistcloth according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
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So I bought the belt, as the LORD had told me, and put it around my waist.
3 And the word of the LORD came to me a second time,
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The LORD spoke his word to me again. He said,
4 "Take the waistcloth which you have bought, which is upon your loins, and arise, go to the Euphra'tes, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock."
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"Take the belt that you bought, the one you're wearing. Go to the Euphrates River, and bury it there in a crack in the rocks."
5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphra'tes, as the LORD commanded me.
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So I went and buried it by the Euphrates, as the LORD had told me.
6 And after many days the LORD said to me, "Arise, go to the Euphra'tes, and take from there the waistcloth which I commanded you to hide there."
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After many days the LORD said to me, "Go to the Euphrates, and get the belt from where I told you to bury it."
7 Then I went to the Euphra'tes, and dug, and I took the waistcloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the waistcloth was spoiled; it was good for nothing.
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So I went back to the Euphrates and dug it up. I got the belt from where I had buried it. Now the belt was ruined. It was good for nothing.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
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Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
9 "Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
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"This is what the LORD says: This is how I will destroy Judah's arrogance and Jerusalem's extreme arrogance.
10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this waistcloth, which is good for nothing.
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These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They go their own stubborn ways and follow other gods in order to serve them and worship them. They are like this good-for-nothing belt.
11 For as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.
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As a belt clings to a person's waist, so I have made the entire nation of Israel and the entire nation of Judah cling to me," declares the LORD. "I did this so that they would be my people and bring fame, praise, and honor to me. However, they wouldn't listen.
12 "You shall speak to them this word: 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Every jar shall be filled with wine."' And they will say to you, 'Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?'
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"Give this message to them, 'This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Every bottle will be filled with wine.' Then they will say to you, 'We know that every bottle will be filled with wine.'
13 Then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will fill with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land: the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
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Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: I'm going to make everyone who lives in this land drunk. The kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all those who live in Jerusalem will become drunk.
14 And I will dash them one against another, fathers and sons together, says the LORD. I will not pity or spare or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.'"
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Then I will smash them like bottles against each other. I will smash parents and children together, declares the LORD. I will have no pity, mercy, or compassion when I destroy them.'"
15 Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the LORD has spoken.
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Listen, and pay attention! Don't be arrogant. The LORD has spoken.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.
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Honor the LORD your God before it gets dark, before your feet stumble on the mountains in the twilight. You will look for light, but the LORD will turn it into the shadow of death and change it into deep darkness.
17 But if you will not listen, 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.
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If you won't listen, I will cry secretly over your arrogance. I will cry bitterly, and my eyes will flow with tears because the LORD's flock will be taken captive.
18 Say to the king and the queen mother: "Take a lowly seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head."
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Say to the king and his mother, "Come down from your thrones, because your crowns have fallen off your heads."
19 The cities of the Negeb are shut up, with none to open them; all Judah is taken into exile, wholly taken into exile.
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The cities in the Negev will be locked up, and there will be no one to reopen them. All the people of Judah will be taken away into captivity.
20 "Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
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Look up, and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you--your beautiful sheep?
21 What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? Will not pangs take hold of you, like those of a woman in travail?
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What will you say when God makes the people you thought were your friends your new masters? Won't pain grip you like a woman in labor?
22 And if you say in your heart, 'Why have these things come upon me?' it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you suffer violence.
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If you ask yourself, "Why do these things happen to me?" it's because you have so many sins. Your clothes have been torn off and your limbs are bare.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.
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Can Ethiopians change the color of their skin or leopards change their spots? Can you do good when you're taught to do wrong?
24 I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert.
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"I will scatter you like straw that is blown away by a desert wind.
25 This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, says the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.
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This is your fate, the destiny I have planned for you," declares the LORD. "You have forgotten me and trusted false gods.
26 I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen.
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I will also tear off your clothes, and your shame will be seen.
27 I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighings, your lewd harlotries, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?"
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I have seen you commit adultery and squeal with delight. I have seen you act like a shameless prostitute on the hills and in the fields. How horrible it will be for you, Jerusalem! Will you ever be clean?"
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.