Jeremiah 18:2-12

2“Go down at once to the potter’s house. I will speak to you further there.”

3So I went down to the potter’s house and found him working at his wheel.

4Now and then there would be something wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay with his hands. So he would rework the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit.

5Then the Lord said to me,

6“I, the Lord, say: ‘O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter’s hand.’

7There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom.

8But if that nation I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it.

9And there are times when I promise to build up and establish a nation or kingdom.

10But if that nation does what displeases me and does not obey me, then I will cancel the good I promised to do to it.

11So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem this: The Lord says, ‘I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you. So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing. Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.’

12But they just keep saying, ‘We do not care what you say! We will do whatever we want to do! We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly!’”