1. The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
2. Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3. And I went down to the potter's house; and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4. And the vessel that he made was marred, as clay, in the hand of the potter; and he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make.
5. And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
6. House of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, house of Israel.
7. At the moment that I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to break down, and to destroy,
8. if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, then I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9. And at the moment that I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant,
10. if it do evil in my sight, that it hearken not unto my voice, then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them.
11. And now, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I prepare evil against you, and devise a device against you: turn ye then every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
12. But they say, There is no hope; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will each one do according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.