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Symbol of the Linen Sash

13 Thus the Lord said to me: “Go and get yourself a linen sash, and put it [a]around your waist, but do not put it in water.” So I got a [b]sash according to the word of the Lord, and put it around my waist.

And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, “Take the [c]sash that you acquired, which is [d]around your waist, and arise, go to the [e]Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the rock.” So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me.

Now it came to pass after many days that the Lord said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the sash which I commanded you to hide there.” Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the [f]sash from the place where I had hidden it; and there was the sash, ruined. It was profitable for nothing.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘In this manner (A)I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great (B)pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who (C)refuse to hear My words, who (D)follow[g] 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 the Lord, ‘that (E)they may become My people, (F)for renown, for praise, and for (G)glory; but they would (H)not hear.’

Symbol of the Wine Bottles

12 “Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Thus says the Lord God 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 the Lord: “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—(I)with drunkenness! 14 And (J)I will dash them [h]one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says the Lord. “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 the Lord has spoken.
16 (K)Give glory to the Lord your God
Before He causes (L)darkness,
And before your feet stumble
On the dark mountains,
And while you are (M)looking for light,
He turns it into (N)the shadow of death
And makes it dense darkness.
17 But if you will not hear it,
My soul will (O)weep in secret for your pride;
My eyes will weep bitterly
And run down with tears,
Because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.

18 Say to (P)the 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 open them;
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 the (Q)north.
Where is the flock that was given to you,
Your beautiful sheep?
21 What will you say when He punishes you?
For you have taught them
To be chieftains, to be head over you.
Will not (R)pangs seize you,
Like a woman in [i]labor?
22 And if you say in your heart,
(S)“Why have these things come upon me?”
For the greatness of your iniquity
(T)Your skirts have been uncovered,
Your heels [j]made bare.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.

24 “Therefore I will (U)scatter them (V)like stubble
That passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25 (W)This is your lot,
The portion of your measures from Me,” says the Lord,
“Because you have forgotten Me
And trusted in (X)falsehood.
26 Therefore (Y)I will uncover your skirts over your face,
That your shame may appear.
27 I have seen your adulteries
And your lustful (Z)neighings,
The lewdness of your harlotry,
Your abominations (AA)on the hills in the fields.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem!
Will you still not be made clean?”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 13:1 Lit. upon your loins
  2. Jeremiah 13:2 waistband
  3. Jeremiah 13:4 waistband
  4. Jeremiah 13:4 Lit. upon your loins
  5. Jeremiah 13:4 Heb. Perath
  6. Jeremiah 13:7 waistband
  7. Jeremiah 13:10 walk in the stubbornness or imagination
  8. Jeremiah 13:14 Lit. a man against his brother
  9. Jeremiah 13:21 childbirth
  10. Jeremiah 13:22 Lit. suffer violence
'Jeremiah 13 ' not found for the version: New Matthew Bible.

A Linen Belt

13 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” So I bought a belt, as the Lord directed, and put it around my waist.

Then the word of the Lord came to me a second time:(A) “Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath[a](B) and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks.” So I went and hid it at Perath, as the Lord told me.(C)

Many days later the Lord said to me, “Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.” So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless.

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride(D) of Jerusalem. 10 These wicked people, who refuse to listen(E) to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts(F) and go after other gods(G) to serve and worship them,(H) will be like this belt—completely useless!(I) 11 For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown(J) and praise and honor.(K) But they have not listened.’(L)

Wineskins

12 “Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Every wineskin should be filled with wine.’ And if they say to you, ‘Don’t we know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’ 13 then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to fill with drunkenness(M) all who live in this land, including the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets and all those living in Jerusalem. 14 I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity(N) or mercy or compassion(O) to keep me from destroying(P) them.’”

Threat of Captivity

15 Hear and pay attention,
    do not be arrogant,
    for the Lord has spoken.(Q)
16 Give glory(R) to the Lord your God
    before he brings the darkness,
before your feet stumble(S)
    on the darkening hills.
You hope for light,
    but he will turn it to utter darkness
    and change it to deep gloom.(T)
17 If you do not listen,(U)
    I will weep in secret
    because of your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly,
    overflowing with tears,(V)
    because the Lord’s flock(W) will be taken captive.(X)

18 Say to the king(Y) and to the queen mother,(Z)
    “Come down from your thrones,
for your glorious crowns(AA)
    will fall from your heads.”
19 The cities in the Negev will be shut up,
    and there will be no one to open them.
All Judah(AB) will be carried into exile,
    carried completely away.

20 Look up and see
    those who are coming from the north.(AC)
Where is the flock(AD) that was entrusted to you,
    the sheep of which you boasted?
21 What will you say when the Lord sets over you
    those you cultivated as your special allies?(AE)
Will not pain grip you
    like that of a woman in labor?(AF)
22 And if you ask yourself,
    “Why has this happened to me?”(AG)
it is because of your many sins(AH)
    that your skirts have been torn off(AI)
    and your body mistreated.(AJ)
23 Can an Ethiopian[b] change his skin
    or a leopard its spots?
Neither can you do good
    who are accustomed to doing evil.(AK)

24 “I will scatter you like chaff(AL)
    driven by the desert wind.(AM)
25 This is your lot,
    the portion(AN) I have decreed for you,”
declares the Lord,
“because you have forgotten(AO) me
    and trusted in false gods.(AP)
26 I will pull up your skirts over your face
    that your shame may be seen(AQ)
27 your adulteries and lustful neighings,
    your shameless prostitution!(AR)
I have seen your detestable acts
    on the hills and in the fields.(AS)
Woe to you, Jerusalem!
    How long will you be unclean?”(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 13:4 Or possibly to the Euphrates; similarly in verses 5-7
  2. Jeremiah 13:23 Hebrew Cushite (probably a person from the upper Nile region)

腰帶的比喻

13 耶和華對我如此說:「你去買一條麻布帶子,束在你腰上,不可把它泡在水裏。」 我就照耶和華的話,買了一條帶子,束在我的腰上。 耶和華的話第二次臨到我,說: 「要拿你所買、在你腰上的帶子,起來往幼發拉底河去,把腰帶藏在那裏的磐石穴中。」 我就去,照着耶和華命令我的,把腰帶藏在幼發拉底河邊。 過了多日,耶和華對我說:「你起來往幼發拉底河去,把我命令你藏在那裏的腰帶取出來。」 我就往幼發拉底河去,把那腰帶從我所藏的地方挖出來。看哪,腰帶已經破爛,毫無用處了。

耶和華的話臨到我,說: 「耶和華如此說:我要照樣敗壞猶大的驕傲和耶路撒冷的狂傲。 10 這惡民不肯聽我的話,按自己頑梗的心而行,隨從別神,事奉敬拜它們;這惡民必像這腰帶,毫無用處。 11 腰帶怎樣緊貼人的腰,照樣,我也曾使以色列全家和猶大全家緊貼着我,歸我為子民,使我得名聲,得頌讚,得榮耀;他們卻不肯聽從。這是耶和華說的。」

酒罈的比喻

12 「所以你要對他們說:『耶和華—以色列的 神如此說:各罈都要裝滿酒。』他們必對你說:『我們豈不知道各罈都要裝滿酒嗎?』 13 你就對他們說:『耶和華如此說:看哪,我必使這地所有的居民,就是坐大衛寶座的君王、祭司和先知,並耶路撒冷所有的居民,都酩酊大醉。 14 我要使他們彼此衝突,連父與子也互相衝突;我必不可憐,不顧惜,不憐憫,以致將他們滅絕。這是耶和華說的。』」

耶利米警告狂傲的行為

15 你們當聽,當側耳而聽;
不可驕傲,因為耶和華已經吩咐了。
16 當耶和華—你們的 神
尚未使黑暗來臨,
在昏暗的山上
你們的腳未絆跌以前,
要將榮耀歸給他。
你們盼望光明,
他卻使光明變為死蔭,
成為幽暗。
17 你們若不聽這話,
我的心必因你們的驕傲暗自哭泣;
我的眼必痛哭流淚,
因為耶和華的羊羣被擄去了。

18 你要對君王和太后說:
「你們當自卑,坐下;
因你們的王冠,
就是你們華美的冠冕已經掉落了[a]。」
19 尼革夫[b]的城鎮都被關閉,
無人打開;
猶大全被擄掠,
擄掠淨盡。
20 你們要舉目觀看從北方來的人。
先前賜給你的羊羣,
就是你所引以為榮的羊,
現今在哪裏呢?
21 耶和華立你自己所教導的盟友,
立他們為頭來轄制你,
你還有甚麼話可說呢?[c]
痛苦豈不將你抓住像臨產的婦人嗎?
22 你若心裏說:「這一切的事為何臨到我呢?」
是因你罪孽甚多。
你的下襬揭起,
你的腳跟受傷。
23 古實[d]人豈能改變皮膚呢?
豹豈能改變斑點呢?
若能,你們這善於行惡的便能行善了。
24 我必吹散他們,
如碎稭隨曠野的風飄動。
25 這是你所當得的,
是我量給你的報應[e]
因為你忘記了我,
倚靠虛假[f]
這是耶和華說的。
26 我要揭起你的下襬,
蒙在你臉上,
顯露你的羞恥。
27 你在田野的山上行姦淫,
發嘶聲,謀淫亂,
這些可憎之事我都看見了。
耶路撒冷啊,你有禍了!
你不肯潔淨[g]還要等到幾時呢?

Footnotes

  1. 13.18 「因你們…掉落了」:七十士譯本和其他古譯本是「因你們華美的冠冕已經從頭上掉落了」。
  2. 13.19 「尼革夫」是音譯,意思是「曠野乾旱的地方」,指「南方之地」;本卷書下同。
  3. 13.21 「耶和華…可說呢?」或譯「當他來懲罰你的時候,你還有甚麼話可說呢?你自己所教導的盟友作頭來轄制你。」
  4. 13.23 「古實」包括蘇丹的大部分和埃塞俄比亞的一部分。
  5. 13.25 「我量給你的報應」:七十士譯本是「你們背叛我的報應」。
  6. 13.25 「虛假」或譯「偶像」。
  7. 13.27 「你不肯潔淨」:七十士譯本是「你不肯潔淨來跟從我」。

13 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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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?