Jeremiah 18
1. The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying * ,
2. Arise * , and go down * to the potter's * house, and there I will cause thee to hear * my words.
3. Then I went down * to the potter's * house, and, behold, he wrought * a work on the wheels.
4. And the vessel that he made * of clay was marred * in the hand of the potter * : so he made * it again * another vessel, as seemed good * to the potter * to make * it.
5. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying * ,
6. O house of Israel, cannot * I do * with you as this potter * ? saith * the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's * hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7. At what instant I shall speak * concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up * , and to pull down * , and to destroy * it;
8. If that nation, against whom I have pronounced * , turn * from their evil, I will repent * of the evil that I thought * to do * unto them.
9. And at what instant I shall speak * concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build * and to plant * it;
10. If it do * evil in my sight,that it obey * not my voice, then I will repent * of the good, wherewith I said * I would benefit * them.
11. Now therefore go to, speak * to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants * of Jerusalem, saying * , Thus saith * the LORD; Behold, I frame * evil against you, and devise * a device against you: return * ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good * .
12. And they said * , There is no hope * : but we will walk * after our own devices, and we will every one do * the imagination of his evil heart.
13. Therefore thus saith * the LORD; Ask * ye now among the heathen, who hath heard * such things: the virgin of Israel hath done * a very horrible thing.
14. Will a man leave * the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing * waters that come from another place * be forsaken * ?
15. Because my people hath forgotten * me, they have burned incense * to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble * in their ways from the ancient paths * ,to walk * in paths, in a way not cast up * ;
16. To make * their land desolate,and a perpetual hissing * ; every one that passeth * thereby shall be astonished * , and wag * his head.
17. I will scatter * them as with an east wind before the enemy * ; I will shew * them the back, and not the face,in the day of their calamity.
18. Then said * they, Come * , and let us devise * devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish * from the priest, nor counsel from the wise,nor the word from the prophet. Come * , and let us smite * him with the tongue, and let us not give heed * to any of his words.
19. Give heed * to me, O LORD, and hearken * to the voice of them that contend with me.
20. Shall evil be recompensed * for good? for they have digged * a pit for my soul. Remember * that I stood * before thee to speak * good for them, and to turn away * thy wrath from them.
21. Therefore deliver up * their children to the famine, and pour out * their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, 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 thou shalt bring * a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged * a pit * to take * me, and hid * snares for my feet.
23. Yet, LORD, thou knowest * all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive * not their iniquity, neither blot out * their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown * before thee; deal * thus with them in the time of thine anger.
