Jeremiah 18:5-15

5The Lord spoke his word to me. The Lord asked,

6“Nation of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter does with clay? Nation of Israel, you are like the clay in the potter’s hands.

7“At one time I may threaten to tear up, break down, and destroy a nation or a kingdom.

8But suppose the nation that I threatened turns away from doing wrong. Then I will change my plans about the disaster I planned to do to it.

9“At another time I may promise to build and plant a nation or a kingdom.

10But suppose that nation does what I consider evil and doesn’t obey me. Then I will change my plans about the good that I promised to do to it.

11“Now say to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: I’m going to prepare a disaster and make plans against you. Turn from your evil ways, change your lives, and do good.’

12“But they will answer, ‘It’s useless! We’ll live the way we want to. We’ll go our own stubborn, evil ways.’

13“This is what the Lord says: Ask among the nations if anyone has ever heard anything like this. The people of Israel have done a very horrible thing.

14The rocky slopes of Lebanon are never without snow. The cool mountain streams never dry up.

15But my people have forgotten me. They burn incense as an offering to worthless idols, and they stumble along the way, on the ancient path. They go on side roads and not on major highways.