Jeremiah 18:1-10

New American Standard Bible

The Potter and the Clay

18 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, ² “Arise and ^(A)go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. ⁴ But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁶ “Am I not able, house of Israel, to deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the ^(B)clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel. ⁷ At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to ^(C)uproot it, to tear it down, or to destroy it; ^8 (D)if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will ^(E)relent of the disaster that I planned to bring on it. ⁹ Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to ^(F)build up or to plant it; ¹⁰ if it does ^(G)evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will ^(H)relent of the good with which I said ^[a]that I would bless it.