Jeremiah, 13

1. 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.

1. This is what Yahweh said to me: "Go! Buy yourself a linen belt and put it around your waist; do not put it in water."

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

2. So I bought the belt as Yahweh ordered and put it around my waist.

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

3. The word of Yahweh came to me a second time,

4. 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.

4. "Take the belt you bought, the one you put around your waist, and go to the torrent Perah; hide it there in a hole in the rock."

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

5. I went and hid it as Yahweh instructed me.

6. 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.

6. After many days Yahweh said to me, "Go to the torrent Perah and get the belt I ordered you to hide there."

7. 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.

7. I went to the torrent and dug up the belt but it was ruined and good for nothing,

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

8. and Yahweh said to me,

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

9. "In this way I will destroy the pride and great glory of Judah,

10. 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.

10. this wicked people who refuse to heed what I say, this stubborn people who go after other gods to serve and worship them. And they shall become like this belt which is now good for nothing.

11. 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.

11. For just as a belt is to be bound around a man's waist so was the people of Israel and Judah bound to me - it is Yahweh who speaks - to be my people, my glory and my honor; but they would not listen.

12. 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?

12. You will say to them this word of Yahweh the God of Israel, "Every pitcher should be filled with wine." And they will say: 'Don't we know that a pitcher should be filled with wine?'

13. 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.

13. You will reply, "You are the pitchers that Yahweh will fill until you are drunk. I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land - kings who succeed David, the priests, the prophets and all who live in Jerusalem.

14. 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.

14. I will dash them one against another, father and sons together. I will have neither compassion nor mercy: I am going to destroy them."

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

15. Hear and pay attention; do not be proud, for Yahweh has spoken!

16. 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.

16. Give glory to Yahweh your God before he brings darkness, and your feet stumble in the darkening hills. You were hoping for light, but he will turn it into the darkness of death and deep gloom!

17. 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.

17. If you do not heed this warning I will weep in secret because of your pride and I will shed tears when Yahweh's flock has been taken captive.

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

18. Say to the king and the queen mother, "Humble yourselves, for the crown of glory has fallen from your head.

19. 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.

19. The cities of the Negeb have been shut and no one comes to open them, all Judah is deported, completely carried off."

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

20. Look up Jerusalem and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was entrusted to you and where are your beautiful sheep?

21. 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?

21. What will you say when those you let take liberties with you come back to oppress you? Won't your pain be like that of a woman giving birth?

22. 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.

22. And if you ask yourself, "Why has all this disgrace fallen on me?" It is because of your great wickedness that they have torn away your clothes and dealt violently with you.

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

23. Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard his spots? And can you do good, you who are accustomed to doing evil?

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

24. I will scatter you like straw blown by the desert wind;

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

25. that is your reward - it is Yahweh who speaks - because you have forgotten me and trusted in Falsehood.

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

26. I myself will pull your skirts over your face and your shame shall be seen.

27. 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]?

27. Your adultery, your neighing, your brazen prostitution, all this abomination I have seen on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you Jerusalem! When at last will you be cleansed?"