JeremiahChapter 18
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1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2"Go down right now to the potter's house. There I will give you my message." 3So I went down to the potter's house. I saw him working at his wheel. 4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was spoiled in his hand. So he made it into another pot, in the way that seemed best to him. 5Then the LORD gave me this message: 6"People of Israel, can't I do with you what this potter does with his clay? says the LORD. You are in my hand just like clay in the potter's hand, people of Israel. 7At any time I might say that a nation or kingdom will be pulled up, torn down, and destroyed. 8But suppose that nation I warned turns away from its evil. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I planned to bring on it. 9And at another time I might say that I will build up a nation or kingdom and make it strong. 10But suppose it does evil in my sight and does not listen to my voice. Then I will change my mind about the good I meant to do for it. 11So now, tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: 'Look, I am planning a disaster for you. I am making a plan against you. So turn now, each of you, from your evil ways. Change your ways and the things you do.' 12But they will answer, 'It's no use. We will follow our own plans. Each of us will do what his stubborn, evil heart wants.'" 13So this is what the LORD says:
"Ask among the nations,
'Who has ever heard of things like these?'
The virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing. 14Does the snow of Lebanon ever leave its rocky slopes?
Do its cool waters that flow from far away ever dry up? 15Yet my people have forgotten me.
They burn incense to worthless idols.
These make them trip as they walk.
They leave the old roads
and walk on bumpy side paths instead of the main road. 16They have made their land an empty waste,
something people will always make fun of.
All who pass by will be shocked
and shake their heads. 17Like the east wind, I will scatter them
in front of their enemy.
I will show them my back and not my face
on the day of their disaster." 18Then some people said, "Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah. For the priests will never run out of teaching the law. The wise will never run out of advice. The prophets will never run out of messages. Come, let's speak against him. Let's pay no attention to anything he says." 19Listen to me, LORD.
Hear what the people against me are saying! 20Should good be paid back with evil?
Yet they have dug a pit for me.
Remember how I stood before you
to speak good things for them.
I asked you to turn your anger away from them. 21So give their children over to hunger.
Let them be killed by the sword.
Let their wives lose their children and become widows.
Let their husbands be killed by disease.
Let their young men be cut down by the sword in battle. 22Let screams be heard from their houses
when you suddenly bring raiders against them.
For they have dug a pit to catch me.
They have hidden traps for my feet. 23But you, LORD, know all their plans to kill me.
Do not forgive their guilt.
Do not wipe away their sin from your sight.
Let them fall down in front of you.
Deal with them when you are angry.