The Potter’s House and the Ruined Vessel

1The message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I’ll allow you to hear my words.” 3So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was doing work at the potter’s wheel. 4But the vessel he was working on with the clay was ruined in the potter’s hand. So he remade it into another vessel that seemed appropriate to him.

5Then this message from the LORD came to me: 6“Israel, can’t I deal with you like this potter?” declares the LORD. “Look, Israel, like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. 7At one moment I may speak about a nation or a kingdom to uproot it, pull it down, or destroy it. 8But if that nation about which I spoke turns from its evil way, I’ll change my mind about the disaster that I had planned for it. 9At another moment I may speak about a nation or kingdom to build it or plant it. 10But if that nation does evil in my eyes by not obeying me, I’ll change my mind about the good that I said I would bring on it.

11“Now say to the people of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Look, I’m designing a disaster just for you, and I’m making plans against you. Each one of you must repent from his evil way. Make your ways and deeds right.”’ 12But they’ll say, ‘It’s useless! We will follow our plans and each of us will pursue his own evil desires.’a

13“Therefore, this is what the LORD says:

‘Ask the nations.

Who has ever heard of anything like this?

You have done a most horrible thing,

virgin Israel.

14Does the snow of Lebanon

ever vanish from its rocky slopes?b

Or does the cold water from a foreign land

ever cease to flow?

15Yet my people have forgotten me,

and they burn incense to worthless idols

that make them stumble in their journey

on the ancient paths.

They walk on trails,

on a way that is not built up.

16They make their land into a desolate place,

an object of lasting scorn.c

All who pass by will be appalled

and will shake their heads.d

17‘Like the east wind, I’ll scatter them

before the enemy.

I’ll show them my back and not my face,

on the day of their downfall.’”

Jeremiah Reacts to the Plot against Him

18Then they said, “Come, let’s make up a plot against Jeremiah. After all, the priest’s instruction, the wise man’s counsel, and the prophet’s message won’t be destroyed.e So let’s verbally attack him. Pay no attention to anything he says!”

19LORD, pay attention to me.

Listen to the voice of my accusers!

20Should good be repaid with evil?

Yet they have dug a pit to take my life.f

Remember! I stood before you

and spoke good on their behalf

in order to turn your wrath away from them.

21Therefore, make their children undergo famine,

and deliver them over to death in time of war.g

May their women be childless widows!

May their men be slaughtered!h

May their young men be slain

by the sword in battle!

22Let a cry be heard from their houses because you

have brought a raiding party against them suddenly.

For they have dug a pit to capture me

and have seti traps for my feet.

23But you, LORD, know all their plots to kill me.

Don’t forgive their iniquity,

and don’t erase their sin from your sight.

Let them stumble before you.

When it’s time for you to be angry, act against them!