“ My people have sinned twice. They have deserted me, even though I am the spring of water that gives life. And they have dug their own wells. But those wells are broken. They can’t hold any water.

因为我的百姓做了两件恶事，就是离弃我这活水的泉源，为自己凿出池子，是破裂不能存水的池子。”

因为我的百姓做了两件恶事：离弃我这活水的泉源；又为自己凿出水池，却是破裂不能储水的池子。”

因为我的百姓做了两件恶事：离弃我这活水的泉源；又为自己凿出水池，却是破裂不能储水的池子。”

因为我的子民犯了两项罪，他们离弃了我这活水源泉，为自己挖了不能蓄水的破池子。

“因为我的子民作了两件恶事，就是离弃了我这活水的泉源，为自己凿了池子，是破裂不能存水的池子。

因為我的百姓做了兩件惡事，就是離棄我這活水的泉源，為自己鑿出池子，是破裂不能存水的池子。

因為我的百姓做了兩件惡事：離棄我這活水的泉源；又為自己鑿出水池，卻是破裂不能儲水的池子。」

因為我的百姓做了兩件惡事：離棄我這活水的泉源；又為自己鑿出水池，卻是破裂不能儲水的池子。」

因為我的子民犯了兩項罪，他們離棄了我這活水源泉，為自己挖了不能蓄水的破池子。

“因為我的子民作了兩件惡事，就是離棄了我這活水的泉源，為自己鑿了池子，是破裂不能存水的池子。

因為我的人民作了兩件壞事：就是離棄了我這活水之源頭，去為自己鑿出池子，破裂的池子，不能存水的。

我民作惡有二、我為活水之源、彼乃棄我、而自掘井、厥井破裂、不能蓄水、

我民作二大惡、我乃活水之源、彼反棄予、器易敗漏、不得盛水、彼反造作。

我民作惡二端、我乃活水之源、彼反棄我而自鑿井、其井滲漏、不能存水、

“ My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

“ For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves— cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

“ For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, The fountain of living waters, To carve out for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That do not hold water.

“ For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns— broken cisterns that can hold no water.

For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters,[ and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

“ Do so because my people have committed a double wrong: they have rejected me, the fountain of life-giving water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns which cannot even hold water.”

“ For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.

But anyone who drinks the water I give them will never be thirsty. In fact, the water I give them will become a spring of water in them. It will flow up into eternal life.”

You have the fountain of life. We are filled with light because you give us light.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life. It was as clear as crystal. It flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Lord, you are Israel’s only hope. Everyone who deserts you will be put to shame. The names of those who turn away from you will be listed among the dead. Lord, they have deserted you. You are the spring of water that gives life.

He said to me,“ It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water to anyone who is thirsty. The water will come from the spring of the water of life. It doesn’t cost anything!

It was the last and most important day of the feast. Jesus stood up and spoke in a loud voice. He said,“ Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

The Holy Spirit and the bride say,“ Come!” And the person who hears should say,“ Come!” Anyone who is thirsty should come. Anyone who wants to take the free gift of the water of life should do so.

Has a nation ever changed its gods? Actually, they are not even gods at all. But my people have traded away their glorious God. They have traded me for worthless statues of gods.

Why spend money on what is not food? Why work for what does not satisfy you? Listen carefully to me. Then you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the richest food there is.

“ But my people wouldn’t listen to me. Israel wouldn’t obey me.So I let them go their own stubborn way. I let them follow their own sinful plans.“ I wish my people would listen to me! I wish Israel would live as I want them to live!

The Lord says,“ My people are foolish. They do not know me. They are children who do not have any sense. They have no understanding at all. They are skilled in doing what is evil. They do not know how to do what is good.”

Haven’t you brought this on yourselves? I am the Lord your God, but you deserted me. You left me even while I was leading you.

“ You who are now living, consider my message. I am saying,“ Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been like a land of deep darkness? Why do my people say,‘ We are free to wander. We won’t come to you anymore’?Does a young woman forget all about her jewelry? Does a bride forget her wedding jewels? But my people have forgotten me more days than anyone can count.

These people are like springs without water. They are like mists driven by a storm. The blackest darkness is reserved for them.

Those who make statues of gods don’t amount to anything. And the statues they think so much of are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind. They don’t know anything. So they will be put to shame.People make statues of gods. But those gods can’t do any good.People who do that will be put to shame. Those who make statues of gods are mere human beings. Let all of them come together and state their case. They will be terrified and put to shame.A blacksmith gets his tool. He uses it to shape metal over the burning coals. He uses his hammers to make a statue of a god. He forms it with his powerful arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength. He doesn’t drink any water. He gets weaker and weaker.A carpenter measures a piece of wood with a line. He draws a pattern on it with a marker. He cuts out a statue with sharp tools. He marks it with compasses. He shapes it into the form of a beautiful human being. He does this so he can put it in a temple.He cuts down a cedar tree. Or perhaps he takes a cypress or an oak tree. It might be a tree that grew in the forest. Or it might be a pine tree he planted. And the rain made it grow.A man gets wood from trees to burn. He uses some of it to warm himself. He starts a fire and bakes bread. But he also uses some of it to make a god and worship it. He makes a statue of a god and bows down to it.He burns half of the wood in the fire. He prepares a meal over it. He cooks meat over it. He eats until he is full. He also warms himself. He says,“ Good! I’m getting warm. The fire is nice and hot.”From the rest of the wood he makes a statue. It becomes his god. He bows down and worships it. He prays to it. He says,“ Save me! You are my god!”People like that don’t even know what they are doing. Their eyes are shut so that they can’t see the truth. Their minds are closed so that they can’t understand it.No one even stops to think about this. No one has any sense or understanding. If anyone did, they would say,“ I used half of the wood for fuel. I even baked bread over the fire. I cooked meat. Then I ate it. Should I now make a statue of a god out of the wood that’s left over? Should I bow down to a block of wood? The Lord would hate that.”That’s as foolish as eating ashes! The mind of someone like that has led him astray. He can’t save himself. He can’t bring himself to say,“ This thing I’m holding in my right hand isn’t really a god at all.”

God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the person who pleases him. But to a sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth. Then the sinner must hand it over to the one who pleases God. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

But then I looked over everything my hands had done. I saw what I had worked so hard to get. And nothing had any meaning. It was like chasing the wind. Nothing was gained on this earth.

Some people pour out gold from their bags. They weigh out silver on the scales. They hire someone who works with gold to make it into a god. They bow down to it and worship it.They lift it up on their shoulders and carry it. They set it up in its place, and there it stands. It can’t move from that spot. Someone might cry out to it. But it does not answer. It can’t save them from their troubles.

I will judge my people. They have done many evil things. They have deserted me. They have burned incense to other gods. They have worshiped the gods their own hands have made.

So the people cried out to the Lord. They said,‘ We have sinned. We’ve deserted the Lord. We’ve served gods that are named Baal. We’ve served female gods that are named Ashtoreth. But save us now from the power of our enemies. Then we will serve you.’

“ Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher.“ Everything is completely meaningless! Nothing has any meaning.”

The prophets prophesy lies. The priests rule by their own authority. And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”

Don’t put your trust in human leaders. Don’t trust in people who can’t save you.When they die, they return to the ground. On that day their plans come to nothing.

But the statues of their gods are made out of silver and gold. They are made by human hands.They have mouths but can’t speak. They have eyes but can’t see.They have ears but can’t hear. They have noses but can’t smell.They have hands but can’t feel. They have feet but can’t walk. They have throats but can’t say anything.Those who make statues of gods will be like them. So will all those who trust in them.

I’ve seen what is done on this earth. All of it is meaningless. It’s like chasing the wind.

You have said no to me,” announces the Lord.“ You keep on turning away from me. So I will reach out and destroy you. I am tired of showing you pity.

So my people will be taken away as prisoners. That’s because they don’t understand what the Lord has done. Their nobles will die of hunger. The rest of the people won’t have any water to drink.

But you have deserted me. You have served other gods. So I will not save you anymore.

“ A thief is dishonored when he is caught. And you people of Israel are filled with shame. Your kings and officials are dishonored. So are your priests and your prophets.

But lately my people have attacked one another as if they were enemies. You strip off the rich robes from those who happen to pass by. They thought they were as safe as men returning from a battle they had won.

The Lord says,“ My people, what have I done to you? Have I made things too hard for you? Answer me.

I also saw that a person works hard and accomplishes a lot. But they do it only because they want what another person has. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

“ Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher.“ Nothing has any meaning.”

“ Jeremiah, some of my people are evil. They hide and wait just as people hide to catch birds. They set traps for people.

Does the snow ever disappear from Lebanon’s rocky slopes? Do its cool waters ever stop flowing from places far away?

The ox knows its master. The donkey knows where its owner feeds it. But Israel does not know me. My people do not understand me.”

In the past he said,“ They are my people. They are children who will be faithful to me.” So he saved them.

A person might use wisdom, knowledge and skill to do their work. But then they have to leave everything they own to someone who hasn’t worked for it. That doesn’t have any meaning either. In fact, it isn’t fair.