The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
“Get up and go down to the potter’s house and I will tell you my message there.”
So I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making a work on the wheels.
Whenever the vessel that he made of the clay came out ruined in the hand of the potter, he made it again, into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
“House of Israel, can I not 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.
At one moment I may speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will change my mind about the evil that I thought to do to them.
And at one moment I may speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
if they do what is evil in my eyes by not obeying my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had said I would do for them.
So now, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘This is what Yahweh says: Behold, I am shaping evil against you, and planning a plan against you. Turn back, each one of you, from your evil ways and amend your ways and your doings.’
But they say, ‘It is in vain. For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart.’
Therefore this is what Yahweh says: Ask now among the nations, who has heard such things? Virgin Israel has done a very horrible thing.
Does the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Do the cold waters that flow down from afar ever dry up?
Yet my people have forgotten me. They have burned incense to worthless gods, and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up,
to make their land an astonishment and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and shake his head.
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.”
Then they said, “Come and let’s plan plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priests will not be lost, nor will counsel from the wise cease, nor the word cease from the prophet. Come and let’s strike him with our tongue, and let’s not pay attention to any of his words.”
Give heed to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
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.
Therefore 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 by disease, and their young men struck by the sword in battle.
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 hid snares for my feet.
Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel against me to kill me. Do not forgive their iniquity nor blot out their sin from your sight, but let them be overthrown before you; Deal with them in the time of your anger.