1 T he word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying,

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:

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

“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.”

3 S o I went down to the pot-maker’s house, and saw him making one on the wheel.

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.

4 B ut 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.

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

5 T hen the Word of the Lord came to me saying,

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

6 “ 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.

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

7 I f at any time I speak about a nation, to pull up, and to break down and to destroy,

The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,

8 a nd 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.

if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.

9 I f at another time I speak about a nation, that I will build and plant it,

And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,

10 a nd 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.

if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.

11 S o 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.”’

“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.”’” God’s Warning Rejected

12 B ut 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

And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.”

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

Therefore thus says the Lord: “Ask now among the Gentiles, Who has heard such things? The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.

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

Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters?

15 B ut 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.

“Because My people have forgotten Me, They have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in pathways and not on a highway,

16 T hey make their land a waste, a thing that is spoken against forever. Everyone who passes by it will be surprised and shake his head.

To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head.

17 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

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.” Jeremiah Persecuted

18 T hey 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.”

Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans 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 attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”

19 T hink of me, O Lord, and listen to what those who hate me are saying!

Give heed to me, O Lord, And listen to the voice of those who contend with me!

20 S hould 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.

Shall evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You To speak good for them, To turn away Your wrath from them.

21 S o 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.

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, And pour out their blood By the force of the sword; Let their wives become widows And bereaved of their children. Let their men be put to death, Their young men be slain By the sword in battle.

22 M ay 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.

Let a cry be heard from their houses, When You bring a troop suddenly upon them; For they have dug a pit to take me, And hidden snares for my feet.

23 Y et 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.

Yet, Lord, You know all their counsel Which is against me, to slay me. Provide no atonement for their iniquity, Nor blot out their sin from Your sight; But let them be overthrown before You. Deal thus with them In the time of Your anger.