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 upon a wheel.
4. And the vessel that he made of clay was broken 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, can I not do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
7. In an instant I shall speak against Gentiles and against kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy.
8. But if these Gentiles shall turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9. And in an instant I shall speak concerning the nation and concerning the kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10. but if it should do evil in my sight, not hearing my voice, then I will repent of the good that I had determined to do unto them.
11. Now therefore, speak to every man of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus hath the Lord said: Behold, I ordain evil against you and devise plans against you; return ye now each one from his evil way, and better your ways and your doings.