Jeremiah 18

The Potter and the Clay

1The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,[#Literally “to say”]

2“Stand up and go down to the house of the potter, and there I will let you hear my words.”

3So I went down to the house of the potter and look, there he was doing work at the potter’s wheels.

4And the vessel that he was making with the clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter, so he made again another vessel, as it was right in the eyes of the potter to make.[#Literally “he turned back and he made it”]

5And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,[#Literally “to say”]

6“Like this potter, am I not able to do to you, O house of Israel?” declares Yahweh. “Look, like the clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.[#Literally “a declaration of”]

7One moment I speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom, to uproot, and to tear down, and to destroy it.[#Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation]

8But if that nation turns back from its evil that I have threatened against it, then I will relent concerning the disaster that I planned to do to it.

9And the next moment I speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom, to build, and to plant it.[#Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation]

10But if it does evil in my sight, to not listen to my voice, then I will relent concerning the good that I said I would do to it.

11“So now then, say, please, to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Look, I am preparing evil against you, and I am planning a plan against you. Please turn back, each one from his evil way, and walk rightly in your ways and your deeds.” ’[#Literally “man”; #Literally “to say”]

12But they will say, ‘It is hopeless, for we will go after our own plans, and each one of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’

13“Therefore thus says Yahweh,

‘Please ask among the nations, “Who has heard the like of this?”

14Does the snow of Lebanon leave from the crags of Sirion?[#Hebrew “crag”]

15But my people have forgotten me.

and they caused them to stumble in their ways, the ancient ways,

16To make their land a horror,

All who pass by it will be appalled,

17Like the wind from the east

I will show them my back and not my face

Jeremiah’s Imprecatory Prayer

18Then they said, “Come and let us plan plans against Jeremiah, for instruction will not be lost from the priest, nor advice from the wise man, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us bring charges against him, and let us not listen attentively to any of his words.”[#Literally “let us strike him with the tongue”]

19Listen attentively to me, O Yahweh,

20Should good be repaid in place of evil?

Remember my standing before you to speak good for them,

21Therefore give their children to the famine,[#Literally “To thus”]

and let their wives be bereaved and widows,

their young men struck dead

22Let a cry for help be heard from their houses

for they have dug a pit to catch me,

23But you, O Yahweh, you know

You must not make atonement for their iniquity,

But let them be overthrown before you.

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