腰帶的比喻
1耶和華對我說：「你去買一條麻布腰帶束在腰間，不可讓它沾水。」 2我照耶和華的話買了腰帶，束在腰間。 3耶和華又對我說： 4「拿著你買來的腰帶去幼發拉底河邊，把它藏在那裡的石縫中。」 5於是，我照耶和華的吩咐把腰帶藏在那裡。 6多日後，耶和華對我說：「去幼發拉底河邊取回我吩咐你藏的腰帶。」 7我就去幼發拉底河邊把所藏的腰帶挖出來，但腰帶已經腐爛，不能用了。
8耶和華對我說： 9「這是耶和華說的，『我也要這樣消滅猶大的驕傲和耶路撒冷的狂妄。 10這邪惡的百姓拒絕聽我的話，一意孤行，跟隨、供奉、祭拜別的神明，他們將像這腰帶一樣毫無用處。 11我本想使以色列人和猶大人緊靠著我，就像腰帶緊貼在人的腰間，讓他們做我的子民，使我聲名遠揚、得到讚美和尊崇，他們卻不肯聽從。這是耶和華說的。』
12「因此，你告訴他們，以色列的上帝耶和華說，『每個瓶子都要盛滿酒。』若他們說，『難道我們不知道每個瓶子都要盛滿酒嗎？』 13你就告訴他們，『耶和華說，我要使坐在大衛寶座上的君王以及祭司、先知、耶路撒冷人和這片土地上所有的居民都酩酊大醉； 14我要使他們彼此撞得粉碎，就算父子也要彼此相撞；我要毀滅他們，決不心慈手軟。』」
15耶和華說話了，你們要留心聽，
不可傲慢。
16趁著你們的上帝耶和華還未使黑暗來臨，
你們還未在漆黑的山上絆倒，
要把榮耀歸給祂。
否則，祂必使你們期望的光明變為幽冥和黑暗。
17如果你們因為驕傲而不肯聽，
我會暗自哭泣、淚流滿面，
因為耶和華的子民將要被擄。
18耶和華讓我對君王和太后說：
「從寶座上下來吧，
因為你們頭上華美的王冠將要掉落。」
19南部的城邑將被圍困，
無人能解圍，
猶大人都要被擄，無一倖免。
20耶路撒冷啊，
舉目看看那些從北方來的敵人吧，
從前賜給你的佳美羊群——你的百姓如今在哪裡呢？
21耶和華讓你結交的盟友來統治你，
你還有什麼話可說？
難怪你痛苦不堪，
就像分娩的婦人。
22也許你在想：「為什麼這些事發生在我身上？」
你的裙子被撕破，你遭受蹂躪，
是因為你罪大惡極。
23古實人能改變他們的膚色嗎？
豹子能脫去牠們的斑點嗎？
你這作惡成性的人怎能行善呢？
24因此，耶和華說：
「我要把你分散到四方，
像曠野的風吹散碎稭一樣。
25這是你應得的報應，
是我量給你的，
因為你把我拋諸腦後，
信靠假神。
這是耶和華說的。
26因此，我要把你的裙子掀到你的臉上，
使人見到你的羞恥。
27你在山上和田野間拜偶像，
像無恥的婦人與情郎苟合，
發出淫語浪聲。
這些可憎之事，我都看見了。
耶路撒冷啊，你有禍了！
你什麼時候才肯自潔呢？」
A Linen Belt
1The Lord said to me, “Go and buy a linen belt. Put it around your waist. But do not let it get wet.” 2So I bought a belt, just as the Lord had told me to do. And I put it around my waist.
3Then another message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 4“Take off the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist. Go to Perath. Hide the belt there in a crack in the rocks.” 5So I went and hid it at Perath. I did just as the Lord had told me to do.
6Many days later the Lord said to me, “Go to Perath. Get the belt I told you to hide there.” 7So I went to Perath. I dug up the belt. I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But it had rotted. It was completely useless.
8Then another message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 9“In the same way, I will destroy Judah’s pride. And I will destroy the great pride of Jerusalem. 10These people are evil. They refuse to listen to what I say. They do what their stubborn hearts want them to do. They chase after other gods. They serve them and worship them. So they will be like this belt. They will be completely useless. 11A belt is tied around a person’s waist. In the same way, I tied all the people of Israel to me. I also tied all the people of Judah to me like a belt. I wanted them to be my people. They should have brought me fame and praise and honor. But they have not listened to me,” announces the Lord.
Wineskins
12“Tell them, ‘The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, “Every wineskin should be filled with wine.” ’ Here is what the people might say to you. ‘Don’t we know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’ 13If they do, here is what you must tell them. ‘The Lord says, “I am going to fill with wine everyone who lives in this land. I will make the kings who sit on David’s throne drunk. And I will fill with wine the priests, the prophets and everyone who lives in Jerusalem. 14I will smash them against one another. I will punish parents and children alike,” announces the Lord. “I will not feel sorry for them. I will not show them any kindness. My tender love for them will not keep me from destroying them.” ’ ”
Judah Will Be Taken Away From Their Land
15People of Judah, listen to me.
Pay attention and don’t be proud.
The Lord has spoken.
16Give glory to the Lord your God.
Honor him before he sends
darkness to cover the land.
Do this before you trip and fall
on the darkened hills.
You hope that light will come.
But he will turn it into thick darkness.
He will change it to deep shadows.
17If you don’t listen,
I will weep in secret.
Because you are so proud,
I will weep bitterly.
Tears will flow from my eyes.
The Lord’s flock will be taken away as prisoners.
18Speak to the king and his mother. Tell them,
“Come down from your thrones.
Your glorious crowns
are about to fall from your heads.”
19The gates of the cities in the Negev Desert will be shut tight.
There won’t be anyone to open them.
Everyone in Judah will be carried away as prisoners.
You will be completely taken away.
20Jerusalem, look up!
Your enemies are coming from the north.
Where is the flock you were supposed to take care of?
Where are the sheep you were so proud of?
21You have worked hard to make special friends.
But the Lord will let them rule over you.
Then what will you say?
Suffering will take hold of you.
It will be like the pain of a woman having a baby.
22Suppose you ask yourself,
“Why has this happened to me?”
It’s because you have committed so many sins.
That’s the reason your skirt has been torn off.
That’s why your body has been treated so badly.
23Can people from Ethiopia change their skin?
Can leopards change their spots?
It’s the same with you.
You have always done what is evil.
So how can you do what is good?
24The Lord says, “I will scatter you like straw
that the desert wind blows away.
25This is what will happen to you.
I have appointed it for you,” announces the Lord.
“You have forgotten me.
You have trusted in other gods.
26So I will pull your skirt up over your face.
Then people will see the shame of your naked body.
27They will see that you have not been faithful to me.
You have committed adultery with other gods.
And you have acted like a prostitute
who does not have any shame.
I have seen what you did
on the hills and in the fields.
And I hate it.
How terrible it will be for you, Jerusalem!
How long will you choose to be ‘unclean’?”
