18
1 The
word which came
to Jeremiah from
the LORD, saying,
2 “Arise,
and go down
to the potter’s
house, and there
I will cause
you to hear
my words.”
3 Then
I went down
to the potter’s
house, and behold,
he was making
something on
the wheels.
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.
5 Then
the LORD’s word
came to me,
saying,
6 “House
of Israel, can’t
I do with
you as this
potter?” says the
LORD. “Behold, as
the clay in
the potter’s hand,
so are you
in my hand,
house of Israel.
7 At
the instant I
speak concerning a
nation, and
concerning a
kingdom, to pluck
up and to
break down and
to destroy it,
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.
9 At
the instant I
speak concerning a
nation, and
concerning a
kingdom, to build
and to plant
it,
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.
11 “Now
therefore, speak to
the men of
Judah, and to
the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, saying, ‘The
LORD 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.” ’
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.’ ”
13 Therefore
the LORD says:
“Ask now among
the nations,
‘Who has heard
such things?’
The virgin of
Israel has done
a very horrible
thing.
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?
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,
16 to
make their land an
astonishment,
and a perpetual
hissing.
Everyone who
passes by it
will be astonished,
and shake his
head.
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.
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.”
19 Give
heed to me,
LORD,
and listen to
the voice of
those who contend
with me.
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.
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.
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.
23 Yet,
LORD, 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.