Jeremiah 18:1-23

Here is the word YAHWEH spoke to Jeremiah: “Arise and go to the potter’s workshop, and I will speak to you there.” So I went to the potter’s workshop, and there was the potter spinning his wheel. And whenever a piece of pottery turned out flawed, he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter. Then YAHWEH began to speak to me. “Can I not do with the people of Israel just as the potter has done with the clay?” declares YAHWEH. “Listen, people of Israel. You are clay that I shape in my hands like the clay in the potter’s hands. If I speak of uprooting, breaking down, or destroying a nation or a kingdom, and that nation turns back from its wicked ways, then I will turn back from the disaster that I planned against it. And at another time, if I speak of planting or building a nation or a kingdom, but that nation does evil in my eyes and does not listen to my voice, then I will relent concerning the good that I planned to show it. “So now, go say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, ‘YAHWEH says: Listen, I am a potter shaping punishment for you and working on a plan against you. Turn back, each person, from the evil way you live and the evil things you do!’ “But they will answer: ‘It’s too late! We’ll live as we choose and be just as stubborn and evil as we want to be.’ ” YAHWEH Therefore YAHWEH says: “Ask the people of every nation and find out if they have ever heard of such a horrible sin as what you, virgin Israel, have done to betray me. Does the snow on Lebanon’s mountains ever melt away? Do the cold mountain streams ever run dry? But my people have forgotten me and burn incense to gods who are nothing, who make my people stumble in their ways. They no longer follow the ways of blessing they knew before but have followed paths that lead them nowhere. Their homeland is a wasteland, and everyone who passes by is horrified and trembles with fear. Like a strong wind from the east, I will blow them away before their enemies. Since they have turned their back on me, I will turn my back on them and refuse to help them in their day of trouble.” Then the people said: “Come on, let’s plan a scheme against Jeremiah! There are always priests and wise ones who can give us instruction. We will still have prophets to give us YAHWEH’s message. Come on, let’s attack his reputation and drum up phony charges against him. And let’s pay no attention to anything he says.” So I prayed, “YAHWEH, hear my cry! Can’t you hear the voice of my adversaries? Good should not be repaid with evil, but look! They are digging a pit for me. Remember how I made intercession for them, pleading in your presence to turn away your wrath from them? Therefore, may their children experience food shortages, and let them be killed by the sword. May death and warfare take away the men and youths, leaving the women as childless widows. May cries be heard from their homes as you suddenly bring raiders upon them without warning. For they’ve dug a pit to catch me and hidden snares for my feet. Yet, you know, YAHWEH, all their plots to kill me. Do not pardon their sin or blot out their guilt! Let them stumble before you. Deal with them severely in the time of your anger.”