1 The Potter and the Clay The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh saying,
2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will make you hear My words.”
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making something on the 18:3Lit pair of stone discs wheel.
4 But the vessel that he was making of clay was ruined in the hand of the potter, so he turned around and made it into another vessel, according to what was right in the eyes of the potter to make.
5 Then the word of Yahweh came to me saying,
6 “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potterdoes?” declares Yahweh. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
7 At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to tear down, or to makeitperish;
8 but if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will 18:8Or regret, cf. 1 Sam 15:11, 29, 3 relent concerning the calamity I planned to do against it.
9 Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plantit;
10 but if it does evil in My sight by not listening to My voice, then I will 18:10Lit regret relent concerning the good which I promised, to do good to it.
11 So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Behold, I am forming calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and do good in your ways and your deeds.” ’
12 But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’
13 “Therefore thus says Yahweh,‘Ask now among the nations,Who ever heard the like of 18:13Lit these this?The virgin of IsraelHas done a most appalling thing.
14 ‘Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country?Or is the cold flowing waterfroma strangelandever uprooted?
15 ‘For My people have forgotten Me;They burn incense 18:15Lit to worthlessness to worthless gods,And they 18:15As in ancient versions; Heb caused them to have stumbled 18:15Or in from their ways, 18:15Or in From the ancient paths,To walk in bypaths,Not on a highway,
16 To make their land an object of horror,An object ofperpetual hissing;Everyone who passes by it will be 18:16Or desolate, cf. Lev 26:32 horrifiedAnd shake his head.
17 ‘Like an east wind I will scatter themBefore the enemy;I will 18:17As in ancient versions; M.T. look them in the back and not in the face show them My back and notMyfaceIn the day of their disaster.’ ”
18 Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to perish from the priest, nor counsel to the wise man, nor thedivineword to the prophet! Come on and let us strike at him withourtongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words.”
19 ¶Do give heed to me, O Yahweh,And listen to the voice of those who contend against me!
20 Should good be repaid with evil?For they have dug a pit for 18:20Lit my soul me.Remember how I stood before YouTo speak good on their behalf,So as to turn away Your wrath from them.
21 Therefore, give their children over to famineAnd deliver them up to the 18:21Lit hands of power of the sword;And let their wives become childless and widowed.Let their men also be 18:21Lit killed smitten to death,Their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
22 May an outcry be heard from their houses,When You suddenly bring raiders upon them;For they have dug a pit to capture meAnd hidden snares for my feet.
23 Yet You, O Yahweh, knowAll their 18:23 Lit unto death deadly counsel against me;Do not atone for their iniquityOr blot out their sin from before You.But may they be 18:23 Lit ones made to stumble overthrown before You;Deal with them in the time of Your anger!