“ Son of man, get a block of clay. Put it in front of you. Draw the city of Jerusalem on it.

“人子啊，你要拿一块砖，摆在你面前，将一座耶路撒冷城画在其上，

“你，人子啊，拿一块砖，摆在你面前，将一座城耶路撒冷画在上面。

“你，人子啊，拿一块砖，摆在你面前，将一座城耶路撒冷画在上面。

“人子啊，你去拿一块砖放在自己面前，把耶路撒冷城画在上面。

“人子啊！你要拿一块砖头，放在你面前，在上面刻一座城，代表耶路撒冷。

「人子啊，你要拿一塊磚，擺在你面前，將一座耶路撒冷城畫在其上，

「你，人子啊，拿一塊磚，擺在你面前，將一座城耶路撒冷畫在上面。

「你，人子啊，拿一塊磚，擺在你面前，將一座城耶路撒冷畫在上面。

「人子啊，你去拿一塊磚放在自己面前，把耶路撒冷城畫在上面。

“人子啊！你要拿一塊磚頭，放在你面前，在上面刻一座城，代表耶路撒冷。

『你呢、人子啊，你要拿一塊磚，擺在你面前，將一座城、耶路撒冷、畫在上頭。

惟爾人子、其取瓦置於前、繪耶路撒冷邑於上、

惟爾人子取瓦、置於前、以耶路撒冷城、圖刻於上、

惟爾人子、當取磚置於爾前、以耶路撒冷城、圖刻於上、

“ Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.

“ And you, son of man, take a brick and lay it before you, and engrave on it a city, even Jerusalem.

“ And now, son of man, take a large clay brick and set it down in front of you. Then draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it.

“ Now you, son of man, take a brick, set it in front of you, and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.

“ Now you, son of man, get yourself a brick, place it before you, and inscribe a city on it— Jerusalem.

“ You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem.

Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it a city, even Jerusalem:

“ Now you, son of man, take a brick, set it in front of you, and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.

Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city,[ even] Jerusalem:

“ And you, son of man, take a brick and set it in front of you. Inscribe a city on it– Jerusalem.

“ You also, son of man, take a tile, and lay it before yourself, and portray on it a city, even Jerusalem.

“ Son of man, pack your belongings as if you were going on a long trip. Leave in the daytime. Let the people see you. Start out from where you are. Go to another place. Perhaps they will understand the meaning of what you are doing. But they will still refuse to obey me.Bring out your belongings packed for a long trip. Do this during the daytime. Let the people see you. Then in the evening, pretend you are being forced to leave home. Let the people see you.While the people are watching, dig through the mud bricks of your house. Then take your belongings out through the hole in the wall.Put them on your shoulder. Carry them out at sunset. Let the people see you. Cover your face so you can’t see the land. All of that will show the Israelites what is going to happen to them.”So I did just as he commanded me. During the day I brought out my things as if I were going on a long trip. In the evening I dug through the wall of my house with my hands. At sunset I took my belongings out. I put them on my shoulders. The people watched what I was doing.In the morning a message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, didn’t the Israelites ask you,‘ What are you doing?’ They always refuse to obey me.“ Tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ This prophecy is about Zedekiah, the prince in Jerusalem. It is also about all the Israelites who still live there.” ’Tell them,‘ The things I’ve done are a picture of what’s going to happen to you.“‘ So what I’ve done will happen to you. You will be forced to leave home. You will be taken to Babylon as prisoners.’“ The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder and leave. He will do this at sunset. Someone will dig a hole in the city wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so he can’t see the land.I will spread out my net to catch him. He will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon. It is the land where the Chaldeans live. But he will not see it. He will die there.I will scatter to the winds all those around him. I will scatter his officials and all his troops. And I will chase them with a sword that is ready to strike them down.“ They will know that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations. I will send them to other countries.But I will spare a few of them. I will save them from war, hunger and plague. In those countries they will admit they have done all kinds of evil things. I hate those things. They will know that I am the Lord.”

The Lord is the God of Israel. He said to me,“ Take this cup from my hand. It is filled with the wine of my great anger. Make all the nations to which I send you drink it.When they drink it, they will not even be able to walk straight. It will drive them out of their minds. I am going to send war against them.”So I took the cup from the Lord’ s hand. I made all the nations to which he sent me drink from it.He sent me to Judah’s kings and officials. He told me to go to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. He wanted me to tell them they would be destroyed. Then people would be shocked because of them. They would make fun of them. They would use their name in a curse. And that’s how things still are today.Here is a list of the other kings and nations he sent me to. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt his attendants, his officials, all his peopleall the people from other lands who lived there all the kings of Uz the Philistine kings of Ashkelon, Gaza and Ekron the Philistines still living in AshdodEdom, Moab, Ammonall the kings of Tyre and Sidon the kings of the islands and other lands along the Mediterranean SeaDedan, Teman, Buz all the other places far away in the eastall the kings of Arabia all the other kings of people who live in the desertall the kings of Zimri, Elam and Mediaall the kings in the north, near and far So he sent me to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth, one after the other. They will all drink from the cup of the Lord’ s anger. After they drink, the king of Babylon will drink from it too.The Lord says,“ Tell them,‘ The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ Drink from this cup. Get drunk and throw up. Fall down and do not get up again. I am going to send war against you.” ’But they might refuse to take the cup from your hand. They might not want to drink from it. Then tell them,‘ The Lord who rules over all says,“ You must drink from it!I am beginning to bring trouble on the city where I have put my Name. You might think you will not be punished. But you will certainly be punished. I am sending war against everyone who lives on earth,” announces the Lord who rules over all.’“ Jeremiah, prophesy against them. Tell them,“‘ The Lord will roar from heaven like a lion. His voice will sound like thunder from his holy temple there. He will roar loudly against his land. He will shout like those who stomp on grapes in winepresses. He will shout against everyone who lives on earth.The noise of battle will be heard from one end of the earth to the other. That’s because the Lord will bring charges against the nations. He will judge every human being. He will kill sinful people with his sword,’ ” announces the Lord.The Lord who rules over all says,“ Look! Horrible trouble is spreading from one nation to another. A mighty storm is rising. It is coming from a place that is very far away.”At that time those the Lord kills will be lying around everywhere. They will be found from one end of the earth to the other. No one will mourn for them. Their dead bodies will not be gathered up or buried. Instead, they will be like human waste lying there on the ground.Weep and cry, you shepherds. Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. Your time to be killed has come. You will fall like the best of the rams.The shepherds won’t have any place to run to. The leaders of the flock won’t be able to escape.Listen to the cries of the shepherds. Hear the weeping of the leaders of the flock. The Lord is destroying their grasslands.Their peaceful meadows will be completely destroyed because of the Lord’ s great anger.Like a lion he will leave his den. The land of those leaders will become a desert. That’s because the sword of the Lord brings great harm. His anger will burn against them.

The Lord said to Jeremiah,“ Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people. Also tell some of the priests to go with you.Go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom. Stand near the entrance of the gate where broken pieces of pottery are thrown away. There announce the message I give you.Tell the people,‘ Listen to the Lord’ s message, you kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ Listen! I am going to bring trouble on Jerusalem. It will be so horrible that it will make the ears of everyone who hears about it ring.My people have deserted me. They have made this city a place where other gods are worshiped. They have burned incense to them here. They, their people of long ago and the kings of Judah had never known these gods. My people have also filled this place with the blood of those who aren’t guilty.They have built the high places where they worship Baal. There they sacrifice their children in the fire as offerings to Baal. That is something I did not command or talk about. It did not even enter my mind.So watch out!” announces the Lord.“ The days are coming when people will not call this place Topheth anymore. And they will not call it the Valley of Ben Hinnom either. Instead, they will call it the Valley of Death.“‘ “In this place I will make the plans of Judah and Jerusalem as useless as a broken jar. I will use their enemies to kill my people by swords. They will die at the hands of those who want to take their lives. I will give their dead bodies as food to the birds and the wild animals.I will completely destroy this city. I will make it a horrible thing. People will make fun of it. All those who pass by it will be shocked. They will laugh at its people because of all their wounds.I will make the people of this city eat their sons and daughters. And they will eat one another. They will do this because things will be so bad during the attack. The enemies who want to take their lives will bring all this trouble on them.” ’“ Jeremiah, break the jar while those who go with you are watching.Tell them,‘ Here is what the Lord who rules over all says.“ This potter’s jar is smashed and can’t be repaired. And I will smash this nation and this city. People will bury their dead in Topheth. But they will run out of room.Here is what I will do to Jerusalem and those who live here,” ’ announces the Lord.‘“ I will make this city like Topheth.The houses in Jerusalem will be made‘ unclean’ like Topheth. So will the houses of the kings of Judah. All these people burned incense on their roofs to all the stars. They poured out drink offerings to other gods.” ’ ”Then Jeremiah returned from Topheth. That’s where the Lord had sent him to prophesy. Jeremiah stood in the courtyard of the Lord’ s temple. He spoke to all the people. He said,“ The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,‘ Listen! I am going to punish this city and all the villages around it. I am going to bring against them all the trouble I have announced. That’s because my people were stubborn. They would not listen to what I said.’ ”

Samuel turned to leave. But Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.Samuel said to Saul,“ The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to someone better than you.

The Lord said,“ Make a yoke out of ropes and wooden boards. Put it on your neck.Then write down a message for the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon. Give it to their messengers who have come to Jerusalem. They have come to see Zedekiah, the king of Judah.Give them a message for the kings who sent them. It should say,‘ The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ Here is what I want you to tell your masters.I reached out my great and powerful arm. I made the earth. I made its people and animals. And I can give the earth to anyone I please.Now I will hand over all your countries to my servant Nebuchadnezzar. He is the king of Babylon. I will put even the wild animals under his control.All the nations will serve him and his son and grandson. After that, I will judge his land. Then many nations and great kings will make him serve them.“‘ “But suppose any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. And suppose it refuses to put its neck under his yoke. Then I will punish that nation with war, hunger and plague,” announces the Lord.“ I will punish it until his powerful hand destroys it.So do not listen to your prophets. Do not listen to those who claim to have secret knowledge. Do not listen to those who try to explain your dreams. Do not listen to those who get messages from people who have died. Do not listen to those who practice evil magic. All of them will tell you,‘ You won’t serve the king of Babylon.’But they prophesy lies to you. If you listen to them, you will be removed far away from your lands. I will drive you away from them. And you will die.But suppose any nation will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon. And suppose it serves him. Then I will let that nation remain in its own land. I will let its people plow the land and live there,” ’ ” announces the Lord.I gave the same message to Zedekiah, the king of Judah. I said,“ Put your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon. Obey him. Serve his people. Then you will live.Why should you and your people die? Why should you die of war, hunger and plague? That’s what the Lord said would happen to any nation that won’t serve the king of Babylon.Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who say to you,‘ You won’t serve the king of Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you.‘ I have not sent them,’ announces the Lord.‘ They are prophesying lies in my name. So I will drive you away from your land. And you will die. So will the prophets who prophesy to you.’ ”Then I spoke to the priests and all these people. I said,“ The Lord says,‘ Do not listen to the prophets who speak to you. They say,“ Very soon the objects from the Lord’ s house will be brought back from Babylon.” Those prophets are prophesying lies to you.Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon. Then you will live. Why should this city be destroyed?If they are prophets and have received a message from me, let them pray to me. I am the Lord who rules over all. Those prophets should pray that what is still in Jerusalem will remain here. They should pray that the objects in my house and the king’s palace will not be taken to Babylon.I am the Lord who rules over all. Do you know what these objects are? They include the two pillars in front of the temple. They include the huge bronze bowl. They include the bronze stands that can be moved around. And they include the other things left in this city.Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, did not take these things away at first. That was when he took King Jehoiachin from Jerusalem to Babylon. Jehoiachin is the son of Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar also took all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem along with Jehoiachin.I am the Lord who rules over all. I am the God of Israel. Here is what will happen to the things that are left in my house, the king’s palace and Jerusalem.They will be taken to Babylon. They will remain there until the day I come for them,’ announces the Lord.‘ Then I will bring them back. I will return them to this place.’ ”

“ This city has always stirred up my great anger. It has done it since the day it was built. Now I must remove it from my sight.

The Lord said to me,“ Go and buy a linen belt. Put it around your waist. But do not let it get wet.”So I bought a belt, just as the Lord had told me to do. And I put it around my waist.Then another message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ 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.”So I went and hid it at Perath. I did just as the Lord had told me to do.Many days later the Lord said to me,“ Go to Perath. Get the belt I told you to hide there.”So 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.Then another message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ In the same way, I will destroy Judah’s pride. And I will destroy the great pride of Jerusalem.These 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.A 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.“ 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?’If 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.I 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.” ’ ”

“ Jeremiah, go down to the potter’s house. I will give you my message there.”So I went down to the potter’s house. I saw him working at his wheel.His hands were shaping a pot out of clay. But he saw that something was wrong with it. So he formed it into another pot. He shaped it in the way that seemed best to him.Then the Lord’ s message came to me.“ People of Israel, I can do with you just as this potter does,” announces the Lord.“ The clay is in the potter’s hand. And you are in my hand, people of Israel.Suppose I announce that something will happen to a nation or kingdom. Suppose I announce that it will be pulled up by the roots. And I announce that it will be torn down and destroyed.But suppose the nation I warned turns away from its sins. Then I will not do what I said I would. I will not bring trouble on it as I had planned.But suppose I announce that a nation or kingdom is going to be built up and planted.And then it does what is evil in my eyes. It does not obey me. Then I will think again about the good things I had wanted to do for it.“ So speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Tell them,‘ The Lord says,“ Look! I am making plans against you. I am going to bring trouble on you. So each one of you must turn from your evil ways. Change the way you live and act.” ’But they will reply,‘ It’s no use. We will continue to do what we’ve already planned. All of us will do what our stubborn and evil hearts want us to do.’ ”

The Lord who rules over all speaks to the Babylonians. He says,“ Cut down some trees. Use the wood to build ramps against Jerusalem’s walls. I must punish that city. It is filled with people who treat others badly.

I spoke to the prophets. They saw many visions. I gave you warnings through them.”

Ahijah grabbed the new coat he had on. He tore it up into 12 pieces.Then he said to Jeroboam,“ Take ten pieces for yourself. The Lord is the God of Israel. He says,‘ I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand. I will give you ten of its tribes.

“ Son of man, get a sharp sword. Use it as a barber’s razor. Shave your head and beard with it. Then get a set of scales and weigh the hair. Separate it into three piles.Burn up a third of the hair inside the city. Do this when you stop attacking the model of Jerusalem. Next, get another third of the hair. Strike it with a sword all around the city. Then scatter the last third to the winds. That is because I will chase the people with a sword that is ready to strike them down.But save a few hairs. Tuck them away in the clothes you are wearing.Next, get a few more hairs. Throw them into the fire. Burn them up. The fire will spread to all the people of Israel.”The Lord and King says,“ What you do with the hair stands for what I will do with Jerusalem’s people. I have placed that city in the center of the nations. Countries are all around it.But its people are sinful. They have refused to obey my laws and rules. They have turned their backs on my laws. They have not followed my rules. These people are worse than the nations and countries around them.”The Lord and King continues,“ You people have been worse than the nations around you. You have not lived by my rules or kept my laws. You have not even lived up to the standards of the nations around you.”The Lord and King continues,“ Jerusalem, I myself am against you. I will punish you in the sight of the nations.I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again. That is because you worship statues of gods. I hate them.So parents will eat their own children inside the city. And children will eat their parents. I will punish you. And I will scatter to the winds anyone who is left alive.You have made my temple‘ unclean.’ You have set up statues of all your evil gods. You have done other things I hate. So I will cut you off just like Ezekiel cut off his hair. I will not spare you or feel sorry for you. And that is just as sure as I am alive,” announces the Lord and King.A third of your people will die of the plague inside your walls. Or they will die of hunger there. Another third will be killed by swords outside your walls. And I will scatter the last third of your people to the winds. I will chase them with a sword that is ready to strike them down.“ Then I will not be angry anymore. My great anger against them will die down. And I will be satisfied. Then they will know that I have spoken with strong feelings. And my great anger toward them will come to an end. I am the Lord.“ I will destroy you. I will bring shame on you in the sight of the nations around you. All those who pass by will see it.You will be put to shame. The nations will make fun of you. You will serve as a warning to others. They will be shocked when they see you. So I will punish you because I am very angry with you. You will feel the sting of my warning. I have spoken. I am the Lord.I will shoot at you with my deadly, destroying arrows of hunger. I will shoot to kill. I will bring more and more hunger on you. I will cut off your food supply.I will send hunger and wild animals against you. They will destroy all your children. Plague and murder will sweep over you. And I will send swords to kill you. I have spoken. I am the Lord.”

Three years earlier the Lord had spoken to Isaiah, the son of Amoz. The Lord had said,“ Take off the rough clothing you are wearing. And take off your sandals.” So Isaiah did. He went around barefoot and naked.After Ashdod was captured, the Lord said,“ My servant Isaiah has gone around barefoot and naked for three years. He is a sign and reminder to Egypt and Cush about what will happen to them.The king of Assyria will lead prisoners away from Egypt and Cush. Young people and old people alike will be taken away. Like Isaiah, they will be barefoot and naked. Their backsides will be bare. So the Egyptians will be put to shame.

The Lord said to me,“ Go. Show your love to your wife again. She is loved by another man. And she has committed adultery. But I want you to love her just as I love the people of Israel. They turn to other gods. And they love to offer raisin cakes to Baal and eat them. In spite of that, I love my people.”So I bought Gomer for six ounces of silver and 430 pounds of barley.Then I told her,“ You must wait for me for a long time. You must not be a prostitute. You must not have sex with any man. And I will be faithful to you too.”So the people of Israel will live for a long time without a king or prince. They won’t have sacrifices or sacred stones. They won’t have sacred linen aprons or statues of family gods.After that, the people of Israel will return to the Lord their God. They will look to him and to a king from the family line of David. In the last days, they will tremble with fear as they come to the Lord. And they will receive his full blessing.

“ Out of all the families on earth I have chosen only you. So I will punish you because you have committed so many sins.”

The Lord began to speak through Hosea. He said to him,“ Go. Marry a woman who has sex with anyone she wants. Have children with her. Do this because the people of the land are like that kind of wife. They have not been faithful to me.”So Hosea married Gomer. She was the daughter of Diblaim. Gomer became pregnant and had a son by Hosea.Then the Lord said to Hosea,“ Name him Jezreel. That’s because I will soon punish Jehu’s royal family. He killed many people at the city of Jezreel. So I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.At that time I will break their military power. It will happen in the Valley of Jezreel.”Gomer became pregnant again. She had a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea,“ Name her Lo- Ruhamah.” Lo- Ruhamah means Not Loved.“ That’s because I will no longer show love to the people of Israel. I will not forgive them anymore.But I will show love to the people of Judah. And I will save them. I will not use bows or swords or other weapons of war to do it. I will not save them by using horses and horsemen either. Instead, I will use my own power to save them. I am the Lord their God. And I will save them.”Later, Gomer stopped nursing Lo- Ruhamah. After that, she had another son.Then the Lord said,“ Name him Lo- Ammi.” Lo- Ammi means Not My People.“ That’s because Israel is no longer my people. And I am no longer their God.