1This is the word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“Go down to the potter's house, and there I will speak to you.” 3Then I went down to the potter's house, and watched the potter working at the wheel. 4But the clay pot he was making was marred in his hands; so he crushed it back into a fresh lump of clay and made another pot, as seemed good to him to make. 5Then this word of the LORD came to me: 6“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. 7In whatever instant I declare my intent to uproot, tear down, or destroy a nation or a kingdom, 8If that nation, against whom I have proclaimed a warning, turns from its evil, I will not punish it as I intended to. 9And at whatever instant I shall declare My intent to build and to plant a nation or kingdom; 10If it does evil in My sight, and disobeys My voice, then I will reconsider doing the good with which I said I would bless them. 11Now, therefore, tell the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the LORD; “Behold, I plan to punish your evil behavior; turn, now, everyone, from his evil way, and make your ways and your deeds good.”’ 12But they answer, “There is not much hope for that; we will all just continue steering our own course.”, and each one acts as their stubborn evil heart leads.”’

13Therefore, the LORD says, “Ask among the pagan nations: has anyone ever heard of such a thing? My virgin nation of Israel has done a very horrible thing. 14Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from the rocky mountain tops? Or does the cold water that comes from distant places stop flowing? 15And yet My people have deserted Me, and have burned incense to worthless idols, straying from the established and proven paths, to stumble in muddy byways, on ancient deteriorated paths; 16Making their land desolate, and a perpetual scorn. So that all who pass by it are astonished, and wag their heads. 17I will scatter them before their enemies like an east wind; I will turn My back on them, and ignore them in the day of their calamity.”

18They said, “Come, let us plot how to stop Jeremiah; for we have plenty of teaching of the law from the priests, counsel from the wise, and words from the prophets. Come, and let us ridicule and disregard all that he says.” 19Hear me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries are saying about me. 20Should evil be rewarded with good? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember that I stood before You to speak good for them, and to turn Your wrath away from them. 21So now, give their children to the famine, and shed their blood by the sword; let their wives be widows bereaved of their children; as their men are put to death; let their young men die by the sword in battle. 22Let a cry of dismay rise from their houses, when You suddenly bring invaders against them; for they have dug a pit for me, and hidden traps for my feet. 23LORD, You know all their plots to kill me; do not forgive their evil intent, nor clear their sin from Your sight, but let them be overthrown before You; deal with them in Your anger.