6. O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the Lord. As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
7. At one moment I may speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it.
8. If that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to do to it.
9. Or at another moment I may speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to build and to plant it.
10. If it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will relent of the good with which I said I would bless it.
11. Now therefore speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Repent now, everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your deeds good.
12. But they say, “There is no hope! But we will walk after our own devices, and each of us will do according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.”
13. Therefore thus says the Lord: Ask now among the nations,who has heard such things?The virgin of Israelhas done a very horrible thing.
14. Shall a man leave the snow of Lebanon,which comes from the rock of the field?Shall the cold flowing water that comes from another placebe forsaken?
15. Because My people have forgotten Me,they have burned incense to vain godsand they have stumbled in their waysfrom the ancient paths,to walk in bypaths,not on a highway,
16. to make their land desolate,and a perpetual hissing;everyone who passes by shall be astonishedand shake his head.
17. I will scatter them before the enemyas with an east wind;I will show them the back and not the facein the day of their calamity.