Jeremiah 18:6-10

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.