Jeremiah

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.

1The LORD said to me, "Go and buy a linen cloth to wear around your waist. Do not let it touch water."

NoteThe KJV says "girdle." In 1611 that meant a cloth or belt wrapped around the waist, worn right against the skin. It is not a modern girdle.

2So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

2So I bought the cloth, just as the LORD told me, and I wore it around my waist.

3And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,

3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time. He said:

4Take 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.

4"Take the cloth you bought and are wearing. Go to the Euphrates River and hide it in a crack in the rocks."

5So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

5So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, just as the LORD commanded me.

6And 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.

6Many days later the LORD said to me, "Go back to the Euphrates and get the cloth I told you to hide there."

7Then 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.

7So I went to the Euphrates and dug up the cloth from the place where I had hidden it. It was ruined. It was good for nothing.

8Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

8Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said:

9Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

9"This is what the LORD says: In just this way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10This 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.

10These evil people refuse to listen to my words. They follow their own stubborn hearts and serve and worship other gods. They will be like this cloth, good for nothing.

11For 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.

11"For just as a cloth clings to a man's waist, I made all Israel and all Judah cling to me, says the LORD. I wanted them to be my people, to bring me a name, praise, and honor. But they would not listen.

12Therefore 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?

12"So tell them this. The LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Every wineskin should be filled with wine.' They will answer you, 'Of course we know that every wineskin is filled with wine.'

NoteA "bottle" here is a wineskin, a bag made from animal hide that was used to hold wine.

13Then 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.

13Then tell them this: 'The LORD says: I am going to fill everyone in this land with drunkenness. That means the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and everyone living in Jerusalem.

14And 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.

14I will smash them against each other, fathers and sons alike, says the LORD. I will let no pity or mercy stop me from destroying them.'"

15Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

15Listen. Pay attention. Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken.

16Give 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.

16Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet trip on the shadowy hills. You will hope for light, but he will turn it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

17But 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.

17But if you will not listen, I will go off alone and weep because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD's flock has been taken away as prisoners.

18Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

18Say to the king and to the queen mother, "Step down and take a low seat. The fine crowns have fallen from your heads."

Note"The queen" means the king's mother. In Judah the king's mother held an official place in the royal court.

19The 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.

19The cities of the south are shut tight, and no one can open them. All of Judah is carried away. Every one of them is taken prisoner.

20Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

20Look up and see the people coming from the north. Where is the flock that was handed to you, the fine flock you were so proud of?

21What 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?

21What will you say when the LORD sets over you the very allies you trained yourself? Won't pain grip you like a woman giving birth?

22And 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.

22And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?" the answer is your great sin. That is why your skirts were pulled off and your body left bare.

Note"Thy skirts discovered" is old English for clothing stripped away so the body is uncovered. It is a picture of being shamed in public.

23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

23Can a man from Ethiopia change the color of his skin, or a leopard change its spots? Neither can you do good, since you are so used to doing evil.

24Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

24"So I will scatter you like dry straw blown away by the desert wind.

25This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.

25This is what you get. This is the share I have measured out for you, says the LORD. It is because you forgot me and trusted in lies.

26Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.

26So I myself will pull your skirts up over your face, and your shame will be seen.

27I 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?

27I have seen how you broke your promises to me. I have seen your lusting, like horses neighing, and your shameless sin on the hills and in the fields. How terrible for you, Jerusalem! Will you not be made clean? How long will it take?