Symbol of the Linen Sash
1 Thus theLordsaid to me: “Go and get yourself a linen sash, and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water.”
2 So I got a sash according to the word of theLord, and putitaround my waist.
3 And the word of theLordcame to me the second time, saying,
4 “Take the sash that you acquired, whichisaround your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the rock.”
5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as theLordcommanded me.
6 Now it came to pass after many days that theLordsaid to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the sash which I commanded you to hide there.”
7 Then 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.
8 Then the word of theLordcame to me, saying,
9 “Thus says theLord: ‘In this mannerI will ruin the pride of Judah and the greatpride of Jerusalem.
10 This evil people, whorefuse to hear My words, whofollow 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.
11 For 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 theLord, ‘thatthey may become My people,for renown, for praise, and forglory; but they wouldnot hear.’
Symbol of the Wine Bottles
12 “Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Thus says theLordGod 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?’
13 “Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says theLord: “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!
14 AndI will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says theLord. “I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy, but will destroy them.” ’ ”
Pride Precedes Captivity
15 Hear and give ear:
Do not be proud,
For theLordhas spoken.
16 Give glory to theLordyour God
# Before He causesdarkness,
And before your feet stumble
On the dark mountains,
# And while you arelooking for light,
# He turns it intothe shadow of death
Andmakesitdense darkness.
17 But if you will not hear it,
# My soul willweep in secret foryourpride;
My eyes will weep bitterly
And run down with tears,
Because theLord’s flock has been taken captive.
18 Say tothe king and to the queen mother,
“Humble yourselves;
Sit down,
For your rule shall collapse, the crown of your glory.”
19 The cities of the South shall be shut up,
And no one shall openthem;
Judah shall be carried away captive, all of it;
It shall be wholly carried away captive.
20 Lift up your eyes and see
# Those who come from thenorth.
Whereisthe flockthatwas given to you,
Your beautiful sheep?
21 What will you say when He punishes you?
For you have taught them
Tobechieftains, to be head over you.
# Will notpangs seize you,
Like a woman in labor?
22 And 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.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Thenmay you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
24 “Therefore I willscatter themlike stubble
That passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25 This is your lot,
The portion of your measures from Me,” says theLord,
“Because you have forgotten Me
# And trusted infalsehood.
26 ThereforeI will uncover your skirts over your face,
That your shame may appear.
27 I have seen your adulteries
# And yourlustfulneighings,
The lewdness of your harlotry,
# Your abominationson the hills in the fields.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem!
Will you still not be made clean?”