New American Standard Bible 1995

Jeremiah 18

The Potter and the Clay

1The wordהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834cameהָיָ֣הha.YahH1961to Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֔הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414from the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2“Ariseק֥וּםkumH6965andgoוְיָרַדְתָּ֖ve.ya.rad.TaH3381downH3381to the potter’sהַיּוֹצֵ֑רhai.yo.TzerH3335houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,and thereוְשָׁ֖מָּהve.Sha.mahH8033I will announceאַשְׁמִֽיעֲךָ֥'ash.mi.'a.KhaH8085My wordsדְּבָרָֽי׃de.va.RaiH1697to you.”

3Then I wentH3381downוָאֵרֵ֖דva.'e.RedH3381to the potter’sהַיּוֹצֵ֑רhai.yo.TzerH3335houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,and thereוְהִנֵּה־ה֛וּאve.hi.neh-hu'H2009he was, makingעֹשֶׂ֥ה'o.SehH6213somethingמְלָאכָ֖הme.la.KhahH4399on thewheelהָאָבְנָֽיִם׃ha.'a.ve.Na.yimH70.

4But the vesselהַכְּלִ֗יha.ke.LiH3627that he was makingעֹשֶׂ֛ה'o.SehH6213of clayבַּחֹ֖מֶרba.Cho.merH2563was spoiledוְנִשְׁחַ֣תve.nish.ChatH7843in the handבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of the potterהַיּוֹצֵ֑רhai.yo.TzerH3335;so he remadeוְשָׁ֗ב וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ve.Shav vai.ya.'a.Se.huH7725 H6213it into anotherאַחֵ֔ר'a.CherH312vesselכְּלִ֣יke.LiH3627,as it pleasedיָשַׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥יya.Shar be.'ei.NeiH5869 H3474the potterהַיּוֹצֵ֖רhai.yo.TzerH3335to makeלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ פla.'a.SotH6213.

5Then the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961to me sayingלֵאמֽוֹר׃le.MorH559,

6“Canאוּכַ֨ל'u.KhalH3201I not, O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,dealלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213with you as thisהַזֶּ֜הha.ZehH2088potterהֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨רha.khai.yo.TzerH3335does?”declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068. “Beholdהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009, like theclayכַחֹ֙מֶר֙kha.Cho.merH2563in the potter’sהַיּוֹצֵ֔רhai.yo.TzerH3335handבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027,soכֵּן־ken-H3651are you in My handבְּיָדִ֖יbe.ya.DiH3027,O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElH3478.

7At one momentרֶ֣גַעRe.ga'H7281I might speakאֲדַבֵּ֔ר'a.da.BerH1696concerningעַל־'al-H5921a nationגּ֖וֹיGoyH1471or concerningוְעַל־ve.'al-H5921a kingdomמַמְלָכָ֑הmam.la.KhahH4467touprootלִנְת֥וֹשׁlin.To.oshH5428,to pullוְלִנְת֖וֹץve.lin.TotzH5422downH5422,or to destroyוּֽלְהַאֲבִֽיד׃U.le.ha.'a.VidH6it;

8if that nationהַגּ֣וֹיha.GoyH1471againstעָלָ֑יו'a.LavH5921whichH834I have spokenדִּבַּ֖רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696turnsוְשָׁב֙ve.ShavH7725from its evilH7463, I willrelentוְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ve.ni.cham.TiH5162concerningעַל־'al-H5921the calamityH7463I plannedחָשַׁ֖בְתִּיcha.Shav.tiH2803to bringלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213on it.

9Or at another momentוְרֶ֣גַעve.Re.ga'H7281I might speakאֲדַבֵּ֔ר'a.da.BerH1696concerningעַל־'al-H5921a nationגּ֖וֹיGoyH1471or concerningוְעַל־ve.'al-H5921a kingdomמַמְלָכָ֑הmam.la.KhahH4467tobuildלִבְנֹ֖תliv.NotH1129up or to plantוְלִנְטֹֽעַ׃ve.lin.To.a'H5193it;

10if it doesוְעָשָׂ֤הve.'a.SahH6213evilהָרַע֙ha.ra.'ahH7451in My sightבְּעֵינַ֔יbe.'ei.NaiH5869by not obeyingשְׁמֹ֣עַshe.Mo.a'H8085My voiceבְּקוֹלִ֑יbe.ko.LiH6963, then I willthinkH5162betterH5162of the goodH2899with whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834I had promisedאָמַ֖רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559toblessלְהֵיטִ֥יבle.hei.TivH3190it.

11So nowוְעַתָּ֡הve.'a.TahH6258then, speakאֱמָר־'e.mor-H559to the menאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Judahיְהוּדָה֩ye.hu.DahH3063and againstוְעַל־ve.'al-H5921the inhabitantsיוֹשְׁבֵ֨יyo.she.VeiH3427of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םye.ru.sha.LimH3389sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, ‘Thusכֹּ֚הkohH3541saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, “Beholdהִנֵּ֨הhi.NehH2009, I amfashioningיוֹצֵ֤רyo.TzerH3335calamityH7463againstעֲלֵיכֶם֙'a.lei.KhemH5921you and devisingוְחֹשֵׁ֥בve.cho.ShevH2803a planמַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑הma.cha.sha.VahH4284againstעֲלֵיכֶ֖ם'a.lei.KhemH5921you. OhH4994turnשׁ֣וּבוּShu.vuH7725backH7725,eachאִ֚ישׁ'ishH376of you from his evilH7451wayמִדַּרְכּ֣וֹmi.dar.KoH1870, andreformוְהֵיטִ֥יבוּve.hei.Ti.vuH3190your waysדַרְכֵיכֶ֖םdar.khei.KhemH1870and your deedsוּמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃u.ma.'a.lei.KhemH4611.”’

12Butthey will sayוְאָמְר֖וּve.'a.me.RuH559, ‘It’s hopelessנוֹאָ֑שׁno.'AshH2976!For we are goingH1980to followאַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiH310 H1980our own plansמַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙mach.she.vo.Tei.nuH4284,and eachוְאִ֛ישׁve.'IshH376of us will actנַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ סna.'a.SehH6213according to thestubbornnessשְׁרִר֥וּתshe.ri.RutH8307of his evilהָרָ֖עha.Ra'H7451heartלִבּֽוֹ־li.bov-H3820.’

13“Thereforeלָכֵ֗ןla.KhenH3651thusכֹּ֚הkohH3541saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, ‘Askשַֽׁאֲלוּ־sha.'a.lu-H7592nowנָא֙na'H4994among the nationsבַּגּוֹיִ֔םba.go.YimH1471,Whoמִ֥יmiH4310ever heardשָׁמַ֖עsha.Ma'H8085the like ofthisכָּאֵ֑לֶּהka.'E.lehH428? Thevirginבְּתוּלַ֖תbe.tu.LatH1330of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478Has doneעָשְׂתָ֣ה'a.se.TahH6213a mostמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966appallingH8186thingשַֽׁעֲרֻרִת֙sha.'a.ru.RitH8186.

14Does the snowשֶׁ֣לֶגShe.legH7950of Lebanonלְבָנ֑וֹןle.va.NonH3844forsakeהֲיַעֲזֹ֥בha.ya.'a.ZoH5800the rockמִצּ֛וּרmi.TzurH6697of the open countryH7706?Orאִם־'im-H518is the coldקָרִ֖יםka.RimH7119flowingנוֹזְלִֽים׃noz.LimH5140waterמַ֛יִםMa.yimH4325froma foreignזָרִ֥יםza.RimH2114landever snatchedH5428awayH5428?

15ForMy peopleעַמִּ֖י'a.MiH5971have forgottenשְׁכֵחֻ֥נִיshe.khe.Chu.niH7911Me,They burnH6999incenseH6999to worthlessלַשָּׁ֣וְאla.Shav'H7723gods And theyhave stumbledוַיַּכְשִׁל֤וּםvai.yakh.shi.LumH3782from their waysבְּדַרְכֵיהֶם֙be.dar.khei.HemH1870, From theancientעוֹלָ֔םo.LamH5769pathsשְׁבִילֵ֣יshe.vi.LeiH7635,To walkלָלֶ֣כֶתla.Le.khetH1980in bypathsנְתִיב֔וֹתne.ti.VotH5410, Not on ahighwayדֶּ֖רֶךְ סְלוּלָֽה׃De.rekh se.lu.LahH1870 H5549,

16To makeלָשׂ֥וּםla.SumH7760their landאַרְצָ֛ם'ar.TzamH776adesolationלְשַׁמָּ֖הle.sha.MahH8047, An object ofperpetualעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769hissingשְׁרִיק֣וֹתshe.ru.katH8292;Everyoneכֹּ֚לkolH3605who passesעוֹבֵ֣רo.VerH5674by it will be astonishedיִשֹּׁ֖םyi.ShomH8074Andshakeוְיָנִ֥ידve.ya.NidH5110his headבְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃be.ro.ShoH7218.

17Like aneastקָדִ֥יםka.DimH6921windכְּרֽוּחַ־ke.Ru.ach-H7307I willscatterאֲפִיצֵ֖ם'a.fi.TzemH6327themBeforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the enemyH340; I willshowאֶרְאֵ֖ם'er.'EmH7200themMy backעֹ֧רֶף'O.refH6203and not Myfaceפָנִ֛יםfa.NimH6440In the dayבְּי֥וֹםbe.YomH3117of their calamityאֵידָֽם׃ ס'ei.DamH343.’”

18Then they saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Comeלְכ֨וּle.KhuH1980and let usdeviseוְנַחְשְׁבָ֣הve.nach.she.VahH2803plansמַחֲשָׁבוֹת֒ma.cha.sha.VotH4284againstעַֽל־'al-H5921Jeremiahיִרְמְיָהוּ֮yir.me.ya.HuH3414.Surelyכִּי֩kiH3588thelawתּוֹרָ֜הto.RahH8451is not going to be lostתֹאבַ֨דto.VadH6to the priestמִכֹּהֵ֗ןmi.ko.HenH3548,norH3808counselוְעֵצָה֙ve.'e.TzahH6098to the sageמֵֽחָכָ֔םme.cha.KhamH2450,norH3808the divinewordוְדָבָ֖רve.da.VarH1697to the prophetמִנָּבִ֑יאmi.na.Vi'H5030!Comeלְכוּ֙le.KhuH1980on and let usstrikeוְנַכֵּ֣הוּve.na.Ke.huH5221at him with ourtongueבַלָּשׁ֔וֹןva.la.ShonH3956, and let usgiveH7181noוְאַל־ve.'al-H408heedH7181to anyכָּל־kol-H3605of his wordsדְּבָרָֽיו׃de.va.RavH1697.”

19Do giveH7181heedH7181to me, O Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,And listenוּשְׁמַ֖עu.she.Ma'H8085towhatH6963my opponentsיְרִיבָֽי׃ye.ri.VaiH3401are sayingH6963!

20Should goodH2899be repaidהַיְשֻׁלַּ֤םhay.shu.LamH7999with evilH7463? For they havedugכָר֥וּkha.RuH3738a pitשׁוּחָ֖הshu.ChahH7745for me.Rememberזְכֹ֣ר׀ze.KhorH2142how Istoodעָמְדִ֣י'a.me.DiH5975beforeלְפָנֶ֗יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440YouTo speakלְדַבֵּ֤רle.da.BerH1696goodH2899on their behalfעֲלֵיהֶם֙'a.lei.HemH5921,So as to turnלְהָשִׁ֥יבle.ha.ShivH7725awayH7725Your wrathחֲמָתְךָ֖cha.ma.te.KhaH2534from them.

21Thereforeלָכֵן֩la.KhenH3651,giveתֵּ֨ןtenH5414their childrenבְּנֵיהֶ֜םbe.nei.HemH1121over to famineלָרָעָ֗בla.ra.'AvH7458And deliverוְהַגִּרֵם֮ve.ha.gi.RemH5064them up to thepowerיְדֵי־ye.dei-H3027of the swordחֶרֶב֒che.RevH2719;And let their wivesנְשֵׁיהֶ֤םne.shei.HemH802becomeH1961childlessשַׁכֻּלוֹת֙sha.ku.lOtH7909andwidowedוְאַלְמָנ֔וֹתve.'al.ma.NotH490.Let their menH376also be smittenהֲרֻ֣גֵיha.Ru.geiH2026to deathמָ֑וֶתMa.vetH4194, Theiryoungבַּח֣וּרֵיהֶ֔םba.Chu.rei.HemH970menH970struckH5221downמֻכֵּי־mu.kei-H5221by the swordחֶ֖רֶבChe.revH2719in battleבַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ba.mil.cha.MahH4421.

22May anoutcryזְעָקָה֙ze.'a.KahH2201be heardתִּשָּׁמַ֤עti.sha.Ma'H8085from their housesמִבָּ֣תֵּיהֶ֔םmi.Ba.tei.HemH1004,WhenH3588You suddenlyפִּתְאֹ֑םpit.'OmH6597bringתָבִ֧יאta.Vi'H935raidersגְּד֖וּדge.DudH1416upon them;For they have dugכָר֤וּkha.RuH3738a pitשׁוּחָה֙shi.chahH7745to captureלְלָכְדֵ֔נִיle.la.khe.De.niH3920me Andhiddenטָמְנ֥וּta.me.NuH2934snaresוּפַחִ֖יםu.fa.ChimH6341for my feetלְרַגְלָֽי׃le.rag.LaiH7272.

23Yet You, O Lordיְ֠הוָהYah.wehH3068,knowיָדַ֜עְתָּya.Da'.taH3045Allכָּל־kol-H3605theirdeadlyלַמָּ֔וֶתla.Ma.vetH4194designsעֲצָתָ֤ם'a.tza.TamH6098againstH5921me; Do notforgiveתְּכַפֵּר֙te.kha.PerH3722their iniquityעֲוֹנָ֔ם'a.vo.NamH5771Or blotתֶּ֑מְחִיTem.chiH4229out their sinוְחַטָּאתָ֖םve.cha.ta.TamH2403from Your sightמִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָmi.le.fa.Nei.khaH6440. But may they beoverthrownמֻכְשָׁלִים֙mukh.sha.LimH3782beforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440You;Dealעֲשֵׂ֥ה'a.SehH6213with them in thetimeבְּעֵ֥תbe.'EtH6256of Your angerאַפְּךָ֖'a.pe.KhaH639!

The Potter and the Clay

Commentaries on Jeremiah 18