The Ruined Loincloth
1
Thus says the LORD to me, "Go and buy a linen loincloth and 1put it around your waist, and do not dip it in water."
2
So I bought a loincloth according to the word of the LORD, and put it around my waist.
3
And the word of the LORD came to me a second time,
4
"Take the loincloth that you have bought, which is around your waist, and arise, 2go to the Euphrates and hide it there in 3a cleft of the rock."
5
So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
6
And after many days the LORD said to me, "Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there 4the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there."
7
Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and I took 5the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the loincloth was 6spoiled; it was 7good for nothing.
8
Then the word of the LORD came to me:
10
This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, 10who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is 11good for nothing.
11
For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, 12that they might be for me a people, 13a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.
The Jars Filled with Wine
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 14every jar will be filled with wine?'
13
Then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: 15Behold, I will fill with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land: 16the kings who sit on David's throne, 17the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
14
And I will 18dash them one against another, fathers and sons together, declares the LORD. I will not pity or spare or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.'"
Exile Threatened
15
Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the LORD has spoken.
16
19Give glory to the LORD your God 20before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and 21while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it 22deep darkness.
17
But if you will not listen, 23my 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
Say to 24the king and 25the queen mother: "Take a lowly seat, for 26your beautiful crown has come down from your head."
19
27The cities of the Negeb are shut up, with none to open them; all Judah is taken into exile, wholly taken into exile.
20
"Lift up your eyes 28and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
21
What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? 29Will not pangs take hold of you like those of a woman in labor?
22
And if you say in your heart, 30'Why have these things come upon me?' it is for the greatness of your iniquity that 31your skirts are lifted up and you suffer violence.
23
32Can the Ethiopian change his skin or 33the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)