6. “I, the Lord, say: ‘O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter’s hand.’
7. There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom.
8. But if that nation I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it.
9. And there are times when I promise to build up and establish a nation or kingdom.
10. But if that nation does what displeases me and does not obey me, then I will cancel the good I promised to do to it.
11. So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem this: The Lord says, ‘I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you. So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing. Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.’
12. But they just keep saying, ‘We do not care what you say! We will do whatever we want to do! We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly!’”
13. Therefore, the Lord says,“Ask the people of other nationswhether they have heard of anything like this.Israel should have been like a virgin.But she has done something utterly revolting!
14. Does the snow ever completely vanish from the rocky slopes of Lebanon?Do the cool waters from those distant mountains ever cease to flow?
15. Yet my people have forgotten meand offered sacrifices to worthless idols!This makes them stumble along in the way they liveand leave the old reliable path of their fathers.They have left them to walk in bypaths,in roads that are not smooth and level.
16. So their land will become an object of horror.People will forever hiss out their scorn over it.All who pass that way will be filled with horrorand will shake their heads in derision.