“ 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!

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.

“ 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.

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 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 those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who turn away from you will be disgraced. They will be buried in the dust of the earth, for they have abandoned the Lord, the fountain of living water.

And he also said,“ It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega— the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds,“ Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!

The Spirit and the bride say,“ Come.” Let anyone who hears this say,“ Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.

“ But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!

“ My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord.“ They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!”

And you have brought this upon yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God, even though he was leading you on the way!

“ O my people, listen to the words of the Lord! Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been to them a land of darkness? Why then do my people say,‘ At last we are free from God! We don’t need him anymore!’Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have forgotten me.

These people are as useless as dried up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.

How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame.Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit?All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen— mere humans— who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame.The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him hungry and weak. It makes him thirsty and faint.Then the wood carver measures a block of wood and draws a pattern on it. He works with chisel and plane and carves it into a human figure. He gives it human beauty and puts it in a little shrine.He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain.Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then— yes, it’s true— he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship! He makes an idol and bows down in front of it!He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says,“ Ah, that fire feels good.”Then he takes what’s left and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it.“ Rescue me!” he says.“ You are my god!”Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think.The person who made the idol never stops to reflect,“ Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,“ Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless— like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

Some people pour out their silver and gold and hire a craftsman to make a god from it. Then they bow down and worship it!They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.

I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil— for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands!

“ Then they cried to the Lord again and confessed,‘ We have sinned by turning away from the Lord and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.’

“ Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher,“ completely meaningless!”

the prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. Worse yet, my people like it that way! But what will you do when the end comes?

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands.They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see.They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell.They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound.And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.

I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless— like chasing the wind.

You have abandoned me and turned your back on me,” says the Lord.“ Therefore, I will raise my fist to destroy you. I am tired of always giving you another chance.

So my people will go into exile far away because they do not know me. Those who are great and honored will starve, and the common people will die of thirst.

Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore.

“ Israel is like a thief who feels shame only when he gets caught. They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets— all are alike in this.

Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy! You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, making them as ragged as men returning from battle.

“ O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me!

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

“ Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher,“ completely meaningless.”

“ Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind. They continually set traps to catch people.

Does the snow ever disappear from the mountaintops of Lebanon? Do the cold streams flowing from those distant mountains ever run dry?

Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care— but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.”

He said,“ They are my very own people. Surely they will not betray me again.” And he became their Savior.

Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy.