18The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:H1697H3414H3068H5592"Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I'll allow you to hear my words."H6965H3381H3335H1004H8085H16973So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was doing work at the potter's wheel.H3381H3335H1004H2009H6213H4399H704But 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.H3627H6213H2563H7843H3027H3335H6213H7725H312H3627H5869H3474H3335H62135Then the word of the Lord came to me:H1697H3068H5596"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.H1004H3478H3201H6213H3335H5002H3068H2563H3335H3027H3027H1004H34787At one moment I may speak about a nation or a kingdom to uproot it, pull it down, or destroy it.H7281H1696H1471H4467H5428H5422H68But 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.H1471H1696H7725H7451H5162H7451H2803H62139At another moment I may speak about a nation or kingdom to build it or plant it.H7281H1696H1471H4467H1129H519310But 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.8H6213H7451H5869H8085H6963H5162H2896H559H319011"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."'H559H376H3063H3427H3389H559H559H3068H3335H7451H2803H4284H7725H376H7451H1870H1870H4611H319012But they'll say, 'It's useless! We will follow our plans and each of us will pursue his own evil desires.'11H559H2976H3212H310H4284H376H6213H8307H7451H382013"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.H559H3068H7592H1471H8085H1330H3478H6213H3966H818614Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes?Or does the cold water from a foreign land ever cease to flow -H5800H7950H3844H6697H7704H7119H5140H4325H2114H542815Yet 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.H5971H7911H6999H7723H3782H1870H5769H7635H7635H3212H5410H1870H554916They make their land into a desolate place, an object of lasting scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads.H7760H776H8047H5769H8292H8292H5674H8074H5110H721817'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.'"H6327H6921H7307H6440H341H7200H6203H6440H3117H343
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 word won't be destroyed. So let's verbally attack him. Pay no attention to anything he says!"18H559H3212H2803H4284H3414H8451H6H3548H6098H2450H1697H5030H3212H5221H3956H7181H169719Lord, pay attention to me. Listen to the voice of my accusers!H7181H3068H8085H6963H340120Should good be repaid with evil?Yet they have dug a pit to take my life. Remember! I stood before you and spoke good on their behalf in order to turn your wrath away from them.H7451H7999H2896H3738H7745H5315H2142H5975H6440H1696H2896H7725H253421Therefore, make their children undergo famine, and deliver them over to death in time of war. May their women be childless widows! May their men be slaughtered! May their young men be slain by the sword in battle!H5414H1121H7458H5064H3027H2719H802H7909H490H582H2026H4194H970H5221H2719H442122Let 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 set traps for my feet.H2201H8085H1004H935H1416H6597H3738H7745H7882H3920H2934H6341H727223But 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!H3068H3045H6098H4194H3722H5771H4229H2403H6440H3782H6440H6213H6256H639
Dublin, OH
