Jeremiah 18:1-10

11The Lord gave this message to Jeremiah:

2‘Go down to the potter's house. I will tell you my message there.’

3So I went down to the potter's house. He was working at his wheel.

4He was using clay to make pots with his hands. But, as he worked, sometimes a pot had the wrong shape. So he used the clay to make it into another pot. He made it in the shape that he wanted.

5Then the Lord told me his message.

6He said, ‘I tell you this: I can do to you, nation of Israel, the same thing that this potter does with his clay. I hold you in my hands, as the potter holds the clay in his hands.

7Sometimes I may warn a nation or a kingdom that I will knock it down and destroy it.

8But when I warn them, those people might stop doing wicked things. Then I would not punish them as I had promised to do.

9Sometimes I may promise to build up a nation or a kingdom and make it strong.

10But those people might start to do evil things. They might stop obeying me. Then I would not help them as I had promised to do.