| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: | 1The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, |
| 2“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” | 2“Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” |
| 3Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. | 3So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. |
| 4And 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. | 4But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. |
| 5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: | 5Then the LORD gave me this message: |
| 6“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! | 6“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. |
| 7The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, | 7If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, |
| 8if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. | 8but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. |
| 9And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, | 9And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, |
| 10if 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. | 10but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would. |
| 11“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.” ’ ” | 11“Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’” |
| 12And 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.” | 12But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.” |
| 13Therefore thus says the LORD: “Ask now among the Gentiles, Who has heard such things? The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing. | 13So this is what the LORD says: “Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, even among the pagan nations? My virgin daughter Israel has done something terrible! |
| 14Will 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? | 14Does the snow ever disappear from the mountaintops of Lebanon? Do the cold streams flowing from those distant mountains ever run dry? |
| 15“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, | 15But my people are not so reliable, for they have deserted me; they burn incense to worthless idols. They have stumbled off the ancient highways and walk in muddy paths. |
| 16To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head. | 16Therefore, their land will become desolate, a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will shake their heads in amazement. |
| 17I 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.” | 17I will scatter my people before their enemies as the east wind scatters dust. And in all their trouble I will turn my back on them and refuse to notice their distress.” A Plot against Jeremiah |
| 18Then 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.” | 18Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.” |
| 19Give heed to me, O LORD, And listen to the voice of those who contend with me! | 19LORD, hear me and help me! Listen to what my enemies are saying. |
| 20Shall 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. | 20Should they repay evil for good? They have dug a pit to kill me, though I pleaded for them and tried to protect them from your anger. |
| 21Therefore 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. | 21So let their children starve! Let them die by the sword! Let their wives become childless widows. Let their old men die in a plague, and let their young men be killed in battle! |
| 22Let 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. | 22Let screaming be heard from their homes as warriors come suddenly upon them. For they have dug a pit for me and have hidden traps along my path. |
| 23Yet, 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. | 23LORD, you know all about their murderous plots against me. Don’t forgive their crimes and blot out their sins. Let them die before you. Deal with them in your anger. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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