1 T he word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,

¶ The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

2 A rise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 T hen I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.

Then I went down to the potter’s house; and, behold, he wrought a work upon a wheel.

4 A nd when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

And the vessel that he made of clay was broken in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 T hen the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.

O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.

7 A t what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;

In an instant I shall speak against Gentiles and against kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy.

8 i f that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

But if these Gentiles shall turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

9 A nd at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

And in an instant I shall speak concerning the nation and concerning the kingdom, to build and to plant it;

10 i f they do that which is evil in my sight, that they obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

but if it should do evil in my sight, not hearing my voice, then I will repent of the good that I had determined to do unto them.

11 N ow therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.

¶ Now therefore, speak to every man of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus hath the LORD said: Behold, I ordain evil against you and devise plans against you; return ye now each one from his evil way, and better your ways and your doings.

12 B ut they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart.

And they said, This is useless, for we must walk after our own devices, and we must each one do the imagination of his evil heart.

13 T herefore thus saith Jehovah: Ask ye now among the nations, who hath heard such things; the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.

Therefore thus hath the LORD said; Ask now among the Gentiles, who has heard such things: the virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.

14 S hall the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? or shall the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?

Will anyone leave the snow of the rock of the field that flows from Lebanon? or shall they forsake the singular, cold, flowing waters?

15 F or my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false gods; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in bypaths, in a way not cast up;

Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not trodden;

16 t o make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.

to make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passes thereby shall be astonished and wag his head.

17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their perdition.

18 T hen said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

¶ Then they said, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not consider any of his words.

19 G ive heed to me, O Jehovah, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

Consider me, O LORD, and hear the voice of those that contend with me.

20 S hall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before thee to speak good for them, to turn away thy wrath from them.

Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them and to turn away thy wrath from them.

21 T herefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, and their young men smitten of the sword in battle.

Therefore deliver up their sons to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

22 L et a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them; for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them; for they have dug a pit to take me and hid snares for my feet.

23 Y et, Jehovah, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me; forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight; but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thou with them in the time of thine anger.

Yet, LORD, thou dost know all their counsel against me to slay me; do not forgive their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.