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.

“Go down to the pot-maker’s house, and there I will let you hear My words.”

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

So I went down to the pot-maker’s house, and saw him making one on the 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.

But the pot he was making of clay did not come out like he wanted it. So the pot-maker used the clay to make another pot that pleased him.

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 people of Israel, can I not do with you as this potmaker has done?” says the Lord. “Like the clay in the pot-maker’s hand, so are you in My hand, O people 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;

If at any time I speak about a nation, to pull up, and to break 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.

and if that nation I spoke against turns from its sin, then I will change My mind about the trouble I planned to bring upon it.

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

If at another time I speak about a nation, that I will build and 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.

and if it does what is sinful in My eyes by not obeying My voice, then I will change My mind about the good I had promised to bring to it.

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.

So now speak to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem. Tell them, ‘The Lord says, “See, I am making trouble for you and making a plan against you. So each of you turn from your sinful way. Change your ways and your works.”’

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.

But they will say, ‘There is no hope! For we are going to follow our own plans. Each of us will act in the strong-will of his sinful heart.’ The People Turn from the Lord

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.

“So the Lord says, ‘Ask now among the nations: Who has heard such things? Pure Israel has done a very sinful 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?

Does the snow of Lebanon ever leave its rocky mountains? Does the cold flowing water of other lands ever dry up?

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;

But My people have forgotten Me. They burn special perfume to false gods of no worth. They have fallen in their ways, from the old paths, and have gone on side roads, not on the straight road.

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

They make their land a waste, a thing that is spoken against forever. Everyone who passes by it will be surprised and shake 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 send them out everywhere like an east wind in front of those who hate them. I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their trouble.’” Plans to Kill Jeremiah

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.

They said, “Come and let us make plans against Jeremiah. For the Law is not going to be lost to the religious leader, or wise words to the wise man, or the Word of God to the man of God! Come and let us hurt him with our tongue, and let us not listen to any of his words.”

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

Think of me, O Lord, and listen to what those who hate me are saying!

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.

Should bad be given in return for good? Yet they have dug a deep hole for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good for them, to turn Your anger away 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.

So give their children over to hunger. Give them up to the power of the sword. Let their wives lose their children and husbands. Let their men be put to death. And let their young men be killed 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.

May a cry be heard from their houses when You bring an army upon them by surprise. For they have dug a deep hole to take me, and have hidden traps 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 You, O Lord, know all their plans to kill me. Do not forgive their wrong-doing or cover their sin from Your eyes. Let them be taken down before You. Punish them in the time of Your anger.