The ruined sash
This is what the LORD said to me: Go and get yourself a linen sash and put it round your waist, and don't put it in water. So I got a sash the way the LORD said, and put it round my waist. And the LORD spoke to me a second time: Take the sash you got, the one round your waist, and rise and go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a crack in the rock. So I went and hid it by the Euphrates the way the LORD ordered me. And after many days the LORD said to me: Rise and go to the Euphrates and get the sash I ordered you to hide there. So I went to the Euphrates and dug and took the sash out of the place I'd hidden it. And look: the sash was ruined, no profit for anything. Then the LORD spoke to me: This is what the LORD says: That's how I'll ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people who refuse to listen to my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart and go after other gods to serve them and bow down to them — they'll be like this sash, no profit for anything. Because the way a sash sticks to a man's waist, that's how I made the whole people of Israel and the whole people of Judah stick to me, declares the LORD — to be my people, a name and a praise and a glory. But they wouldn't listen.
This is what the Lord said to me: Go and get yourself a linen sash and put it round your waist, and don't put it in water. So I got a sash the way the Lord said, and put it round my waist. And the word of the Lord came to me a second time: Take the sash you got, the one round your waist, and get up and go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a crack in the rock. So I went and hid it by the Euphrates the way the Lord ordered me. And after many days the Lord said to me: Get up and go to the Euphrates and get the sash I ordered you to hide there. So I went to the Euphrates and dug and took the sash out of the place I'd hidden it. And look — the sash was ruined, no use for anything. Then the word of the Lord came to me: This is what the Lord says: That's how I'll ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people who refuse to listen to my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart and go after other gods to serve them and bow down to them — they'll be like this sash, no use for anything. Because the way a sash sticks to a man's waist, that's how I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah stick to me, declares the Lord — to be my people, a name and a praise and a glory. But they wouldn't listen.
Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water. So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins. And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock. So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there. Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing. Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 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. For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
This is what the LORD said to me: Go and get yourself a linen sash and put it round your waist, and don't put it in water.
This is what the Lord said to me: Go and get yourself a linen sash and put it round your waist, and don't put it in water.
Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
So I got a sash the way the LORD said, and put it round my waist.
So I got a sash the way the Lord said, and put it round my waist.
So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
And the LORD spoke to me a second time:
And the word of the Lord came to me a second time:
And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,
Take the sash you got, the one round your waist, and rise and go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a crack in the rock.
Take the sash you got, the one round your waist, and get up and go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a crack in the rock.
Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
So I went and hid it by the Euphrates the way the LORD ordered me.
So I went and hid it by the Euphrates the way the Lord ordered me.
So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
And after many days the LORD said to me: Rise and go to the Euphrates and get the sash I ordered you to hide there.
And after many days the Lord said to me: Get up and go to the Euphrates and get the sash I ordered you to hide there.
And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
So I went to the Euphrates and dug and took the sash out of the place I'd hidden it. And look: the sash was ruined, no profit for anything.
So I went to the Euphrates and dug and took the sash out of the place I'd hidden it. And look — the sash was ruined, no use for anything.
Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
Then the LORD spoke to me:
Then the word of the Lord came to me:
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
This is what the LORD says: That's how I'll ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
This is what the Lord says: That's how I'll ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
This wicked people who refuse to listen to my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart and go after other gods to serve them and bow down to them — they'll be like this sash, no profit for anything.
This wicked people who refuse to listen to my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart and go after other gods to serve them and bow down to them — they'll be like this sash, no use for anything.
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.
Because the way a sash sticks to a man's waist, that's how I made the whole people of Israel and the whole people of Judah stick to me, declares the LORD — to be my people, a name and a praise and a glory. But they wouldn't listen.
Because the way a sash sticks to a man's waist, that's how I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah stick to me, declares the Lord — to be my people, a name and a praise and a glory. But they wouldn't listen.
For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
Every jar filled with wine
So tell them this word: This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says. Every jar gets filled with wine. And they'll say to you: Don't we know full well that every jar gets filled with wine? Then tell them: This is what the LORD says. Look: I'm filling everyone who lives in this land with drunkenness — the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests and the prophets and everyone living in Jerusalem. And I'll break them one against the other, fathers and sons together, declares the LORD. I won't feel sorry or spare them or have mercy, but I'll destroy them.
So tell them this word: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. Every jar gets filled with wine. And they'll say to you: Don't we know full well that every jar gets filled with wine? Then tell them: This is what the Lord says. Look — I'm filling everyone who lives in this land with drunkenness — the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests and the prophets and everyone living in Jerusalem. And I'll smash them one against the other, fathers and sons together, declares the Lord. I won't feel sorry or spare them or have mercy, but I'll wreck them.
Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.
So tell them this word: This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says. Every jar gets filled with wine. And they'll say to you: Don't we know full well that every jar gets filled with wine?
So tell them this word: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. Every jar gets filled with wine. And they'll say to you: Don't we know full well that every jar gets filled with wine?
Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?
Then tell them: This is what the LORD says. Look: I'm filling everyone who lives in this land with drunkenness — the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests and the prophets and everyone living in Jerusalem.
Then tell them: This is what the Lord says. Look — I'm filling everyone who lives in this land with drunkenness — the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests and the prophets and everyone living in Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
And I'll break them one against the other, fathers and sons together, declares the LORD. I won't feel sorry or spare them or have mercy, but I'll destroy them.
And I'll smash them one against the other, fathers and sons together, declares the Lord. I won't feel sorry or spare them or have mercy, but I'll wreck them.
And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.
Give glory before the dark comes
Listen and turn your ear. Don't be proud, because the LORD has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings the dark, before your feet stumble on the mountains at dusk — and while you're waiting for light he turns it into the shadow of death and makes it thick darkness. But if you won't listen to it, my soul will weep in secret places over your pride. My eye will weep and weep and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried off. Say to the king and to the queen mother: Get down low and sit, because your beautiful crown has come off your heads. The cities of the south will be shut up, and no one will open them. Judah will be carried away captive — all of it, wholly carried away captive. Look up at those coming from the north. Where's the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock? What will you say when he sets over you those you taught to be your friends and your leaders? Won't the pains grab you like a woman in labour? And if you say in your heart, Why has this happened to me? — it's for the size of your wrongdoing that your skirts are pulled up and your heels are treated roughly. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard its spots? Then you may also do good, who are accustomed to doing evil. So I'll scatter them like stubble going past on the desert wind. This is your lot, the portion I've measured out for you, declares the LORD — because you've forgotten me and trusted in a lie. So I'll pull your skirts up over your face, and your shame will show. I've seen your adulteries and your neighing, the filth of your prostitution on the hills in the field. Trouble is coming to you, Jerusalem. Won't you be clean? How much longer is it going to be?
Listen and turn your ear. Don't be proud, because the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings the dark, before your feet stumble on the mountains at dusk — and while you're waiting for light he turns it into the shadow of death and makes it thick darkness. But if you won't listen to it, my soul will weep in secret places over your pride. My eye will weep and weep and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried off. Say to the king and to the queen mother: Get down low and sit, because your beautiful crown has come off your heads. The towns of the Negev are shut up and nobody opens them. The whole of Judah is carried off — carried off completely. Lift up your eyes and look at the ones coming from the north. Where's the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock? What will you say when he sets over you the ones you taught to be your friends and your leaders? Won't the pains grab you like a woman in labour? And if you say in your heart, Why has this happened to me? — it's for the size of your wrongdoing that your skirts are pulled up and your heels are treated roughly. Can a Cushite change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Then you could do good, you who are trained to do wrong. So I'll scatter them like stubble going past on the desert wind. This is your lot, the portion I've measured out for you, declares the Lord — because you've forgotten me and trusted in a lie. So I'll pull your skirts up over your face, and your shame will show. I've seen your adulteries and your neighing, the filth of your prostitution on the hills in the field. Trouble is coming to you, Jerusalem. Won't you be clean? How much longer is it going to be?
Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive. Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory. 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. Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail? And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness. This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear. I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?
Listen and turn your ear. Don't be proud, because the LORD has spoken.
Listen and turn your ear. Don't be proud, because the Lord has spoken.
Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings the dark, before your feet stumble on the mountains at dusk — and while you're waiting for light he turns it into the shadow of death and makes it thick darkness.
Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings the dark, before your feet stumble on the mountains at dusk — and while you're waiting for light he turns it into the shadow of death and makes it thick darkness.
Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
But if you won't listen to it, my soul will weep in secret places over your pride. My eye will weep and weep and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried off.
But if you won't listen to it, my soul will weep in secret places over your pride. My eye will weep and weep and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried off.
But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.
Say to the king and to the queen mother: Get down low and sit, because your beautiful crown has come off your heads.
Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
The cities of the south will be shut up, and no one will open them. Judah will be carried away captive — all of it, wholly carried away captive.
The towns of the Negev are shut up and nobody opens them. The whole of Judah is carried off — carried off completely.
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.
Look up at those coming from the north. Where's the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?
Lift up your eyes and look at the ones coming from the north. Where's the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?
Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
What will you say when he sets over you those you taught to be your friends and your leaders? Won't the pains grab you like a woman in labour?
What will you say when he sets over you the ones you taught to be your friends and your leaders? Won't the pains grab you like a woman in labour?
What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?
And if you say in your heart, Why has this happened to me? — it's for the size of your wrongdoing that your skirts are pulled up and your heels are treated roughly.
And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard its spots? Then you may also do good, who are accustomed to doing evil.
Can a Cushite change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Then you could do good, you who are trained to do wrong.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
So I'll scatter them like stubble going past on the desert wind.
Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.
This is your lot, the portion I've measured out for you, declares the LORD — because you've forgotten me and trusted in a lie.
This is your lot, the portion I've measured out for you, declares the Lord — because you've forgotten me and trusted in a lie.
This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
So I'll pull your skirts up over your face, and your shame will show.
Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.
I've seen your adulteries and your neighing, the filth of your prostitution on the hills in the field. Trouble is coming to you, Jerusalem. Won't you be clean? How much longer is it going to be?
I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?