1 ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

2 Get up, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will tell you what I have to say.

3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was forming a work on his wheel.

4 And whenever the vessel he was making of clay was marred in his hands: he remade it into another vessel, as seemed best to the potter to do.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you what this potter does with clay? says the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

7 At any time I might announce concerning a nation, and a kingdom, that I will pull it up, break it down, or destroy it;

8 If that nation, against which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will change my mind about the harm that I planned to do to them.

9 And any time I promise to plant and build a nation, and a kingdom;

10 If it does evil in my sight, refusing to listen to what I say, then I will change my mind about the good, that I promised I would do to them.

11 ¶ So now go and say to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, The LORD says; Behold, I am preparing to harm you, and making plans against you: turn now each one from his evil way, and conduct yourself in accord with what is good and right.

12 But they will say, There is no hope: so we will continue following our own plans, and each will be guided by the thoughts of his evil heart.

13 Therefore the LORD says; Ask now among the heathen, who has ever heard of such a thing: the virgin of Israel has done a horrible thing.

14 Does the snow of Lebanon cease to fall on the rocky slopes? or will the cold waters that flow down from afar dry up?

15 Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to nothing, and they have caused themselves to stagger from the path leaving the old ways, to walk on trails, that are not the way;

16 To make their land a horror, a perpetual object of scorn; every one who passes by will be horrified, and shake his head.

17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them my back, and not my face, on the day of their calamity.

18 ¶ Then they said, Come, and let us plot against Jeremiah; for the law will not depart from the priest, or counsel from the wise, or the word from the prophet. Come, and let us denounce him with our tongues, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.

19 Hear me, O LORD, and listen to what those who contend with me are saying.

20 Should good be paid back with evil? for they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before you to plead for them, asking you to turn away your wrath from them.

21 Therefore deliver their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you suddenly bring raiding hordes upon them: for they have dug a pit to trap me, and hidden snares for my feet.

23 Yet, LORD, you know all about their plot to kill me: do not overlook their sin, or turn a blind eye to it, but let them fall before you; deal thus with them in the time of your anger.