The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Jeremiah 18
1 The word whichcame to Jeremiahfrom
Yahweh, saying,
2 “Arise, and go down to the potter’s
house, and there I will cause you to hear
my words.”
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house,
and behold, he was making something on
the wheels.
4 When the vessel that he made of the
clay was marred in the hand of the potter,
he made it again another vessel, as seemed
good to the potter to make it.
5 Then Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
6 “House of Israel, can’t I do with you as
this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the
clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my
hand, house of Israel.
7 At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and
concerning a kingdom, to pluck
up and to break down and to destroy it,
8 if that nation, concerning which I have
spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent
of the evil that I thought to do to them.
9 At the instant I speak concerning a nation,
and concerning a kingdom, to build
and to plant it,
10 if they do that which is evil in my
sight, that they not obey my voice, then I
will repent of the good with which I said I
would benefit them.
11 “Now therefore, speak to the men of
Judah, and to the inhabitants ofJerusalem,
saying, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I frame evil
against you, and devise a plan against you.
Everyone return from his evil way now,
and amend your ways and your doings.” ’
12 But they say, ‘It is in vain; for we will
walk after our own plans, and we will each
follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.
13 Therefore Yahweh says:
“Ask now among the nations,
‘Who has heard such things?’
The virgin of Israel has done a very
horrible thing.
14 Will the snow of Lebanon fail from the
rock of the field? Will the cold waters that flow down
from afar be dried up?
15 For my people have forgotten me. They have burned
incense to false gods. They have been made to stumble
in their ways in the ancient paths, to walk in byways,
in a way not built up,
16 to make their land an astonishment,
and a perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes
by it will be astonished, and shake his head.
17 I will scatter them as with an east wind
before the enemy. I will show them the back, and not the
face, in the day of their calamity.
18 Then they said, “Come! Let’s devise
plans against Jeremiah; for the law won’t
perish from the priest, nor counsel from
the wise, nor the word from the prophet.
Come, and let’s strike him with the tongue,
and let’s not give heed to any of his words.”
19 Give heed to me, Yahweh,
and listen to the voice of those who
contend with me.
20 Should evil be recompensed for good?
For they have dug a pit for my soul.
Rememberhow I stoodbefore youto speak
good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
21 Therefore deliver up their children to
the famine, and give them over to the power ofthe
sword. Let their wives become childless and widows.
Let their men be killed and their young men struck by the
sword in battle.
22 Let a cry be heard from their houses
when you bring a troop suddenly on
them; for they have dug a pit to take me
and hidden snares for my feet.
23 Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel
against me to kill me Don’t forgive their iniquity.
Don’tblot outtheir sinfromyour sight,
Let them be overthrown before you.
Deal with them in the time of your
anger.