The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

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- Chapter 18 -

This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah and said,

“Arise and go out to the potter’s house, for I will have you hear my word there.”

So I went out to the potter’s house, and behold! The potter was working on the potter’s wheel.

But the object of clay that he was molding was ruined in his hand, so he changed his mind and made another object that seemed good in his eyes to do.

Then the word of Yahweh came to me and said,

“Should I not be able to act like this potter with you, house of Israel?-this is Yahweh’s declaration. See! Like clay in a potter’s hand-that is how you are in my hand, house of Israel.

At one moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will drive it out, tear it down, or destroy it.

But if the nation about which I have made that proclamation turns from its evil, then I will relent from the disaster that I was planning to bring upon it.

At another moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will build it up or plant it.

But if it does evil in my eyes by not listening to my voice, then I will stop the good that I had said I would do for them.

So now, speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and say, ‘Yahweh says this: See, I am about to form disaster against you. I am about to devise a plan against you. Repent, each person from his wicked path, so your ways and your practices will bring good to you.’

But they will say, ‘This is no use. We will act according to our own plans. Each one of us will do what his evil, stubborn heart desires.’

Therefore, Yahweh says this, ’Ask the nations, who has ever heard of such a thing as this? The virgin Israel has committed a horrible act.

Does the snow in Lebanon ever leave the rocky hills on its sides? Are the mountain streams coming from far away ever destroyed, those cold streams?

Yet my people have forgotten me. They have made offerings to useless idols and been made to stumble in their paths; they have left the ancient paths to walk lesser paths.

Their land will become a horror, an object of everlasting hissing. Everyone who passes by her will shudder and shake his head.

I will scatter them before their enemies like an eastern wind. I will show them my back, and not my face, on the day of their disaster.’”

Another Plot against Jeremiah

(Jeremiah 11:18–23)

So the people said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, since the law will never perish from the priests, or advice from the wise men, or words from the prophets. Come, let us attack him with our words and no longer pay attention to anything he proclaims.”

Pay attention to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of my enemies.

Will disaster from them really be my reward for being good to them? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before you to speak for their welfare, to cause your fury to turn away from them.

Therefore, hand over their children to famine, and give them to the hands of those who use the sword. So let their women become bereaved and widows, and their men be killed, and their young men killed by the sword in battle.

Let a distressed shout be heard from their houses, as you suddenly bring raiders against them. For they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden traps for my feet.

But you, Yahweh, you know all of their plans against me to kill me. Do not forgive their iniquities and sins. Do not wipe their sins away from you. Instead, let them be overthrown before you. Act against them in the time of your wrath.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.”

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making something on the wheels.

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.

Then the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“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.

At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it,

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.

At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,

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.

“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.”’

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.’”

Therefore the LORD says: “Ask now among the nations, ‘Who has heard such things?’ The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.

Will the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Will the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?

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,

to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and shake his head.

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.

Another Plot against Jeremiah

(Jeremiah 11:18–23)

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.”

Give heed to me, LORD, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.

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.

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.

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.

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.