Jeremiah 18:1 ←
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
Jeremiah 18:2 ←
“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.”
Jeremiah 18:3 ←
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making something on the wheels.
Jeremiah 18:4 ←
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.
Jeremiah 18:5 ←
Then Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
Jeremiah 18:6 ←
“House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
Jeremiah 18:7 ←
At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it,
Jeremiah 18:8 ←
if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
Jeremiah 18:9 ←
At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,
Jeremiah 18:10 ←
if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good with which I said I would benefit them.
Jeremiah 18:11 ←
“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a plan against you. Everyone return from his evil way now, and amend your ways and your doings.” ’
Jeremiah 18:12 ←
But they say, ‘It is in vain; for we will walk after our own plans, and we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ ”
Jeremiah 18:13 ←
Therefore Yahweh says: “Ask now among the nations, ‘Who has heard such things?’ The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
Jeremiah 18:14 ←
Will the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Will the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?
Jeremiah 18:15 ←
For my people have forgotten me. They have burned incense to false gods. They have been made to stumble in their ways in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up,
Jeremiah 18:16 ←
to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and shake his head.
Jeremiah 18:17 ←
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.
Jeremiah 18:18 ←
Then they said, “Come! Let’s devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law won’t perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let’s strike him with the tongue, and let’s not give heed to any of his words.”
Jeremiah 18:19 ←
Give heed to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
Jeremiah 18:20 ←
Should evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
Jeremiah 18:21 ←
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless and widows. Let their men be killed and their young men struck by the sword in battle.
Jeremiah 18:22 ←
Let a cry be heard from their houses when you bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me and hidden snares for my feet.
Jeremiah 18:23 ←
Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel against me to kill me. Don’t forgive their iniquity. Don’t blot out their sin from your sight, Let them be overthrown before you. Deal with them in the time of your anger.
Public Domain