Jeremiah 18:1-10

1The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,

2“Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.”

3So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel.

4But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

5Then the Lord gave me this message:

6“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.

7If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed,

8but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.

9And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom,

10but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.