Yeremia 18

1The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2“Arise and go out to the potter's house, for I will have you hear my word there.” 3So I went out to the potter's house, and behold! The potter was working on the potter's wheel. 4But the object of clay that he was molding was ruined in his hand, so he changed his mind and made another object that seemed good in his eyes to do. 5Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 6“Should I not be able to act like this potter with you, house of Israel?—this is Yahweh's declaration. Behold! Like clay in a potter's hand—that is how you are in my hand, house of Israel. 7At one moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will drive it out, tear it down, or destroy it. 8But if the nation about which I have made that proclamation turns from its evil, then I will relent from the disaster that I was planning to bring upon it. 9At another moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will build it up or plant it. 10But if it does evil in my eyes by not listening to my voice, then I will stop the good that I had said I would do for them. 11So now, speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and say, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to form disaster against you. I am about to devise a plan against you. Repent, each person from his wicked way, so your ways and your practices will bring good to you.' 12But they will say, 'This is no use. We will act according to our own plans. Each one of us will do what his evil, stubborn heart desires.' 13Therefore Yahweh says this, 'Ask the nations, who has ever heard of such a thing as this? 14Does the snow in Lebanon ever leave the rocky hills on its sides? 15Yet my people have forgotten me. They have made offerings to useless idols and been made to stumble in their paths; 16Their land will become a horror, an object of everlasting hissing. 17I will scatter them before their enemies like an eastern wind. I will show them my back, and not my face, on the day of their disaster.'” 18So the people said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, since the law will never perish from the priests, or advice from the wise men, or words from the prophets. Come, let us attack him with our words and no longer pay attention to anything he proclaims.” 19Pay attention to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of my enemies. 20Will disaster from them really be my reward for being good to them? For they have dug a pit for me. 21Therefore give their children over to famine, and give them to the hands of those who use the sword. 22Let a distressed shout be heard from their houses, as you suddenly bring raiders against them.