5. Then Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
6. “House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
7. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
8. if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
9. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10. 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.
11. “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you. Everyone return from his evil way now, and amend your ways and your doings.”’
12. But they say, ‘It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do everyone after the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
13. Therefore Yahweh says: “Ask now among the nations, who has heard such things. The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
14. Shall the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Shall the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?