18The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,H1697H3414H3068H5592“Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.”H6965H3381H3335H1004H8085H16973So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel.H3381H3335H1004H2009H6213H4399H704But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.H3627H6213H2563H7843H3027H3335H6213H7725H312H3627H5869H3474H3335H62135Then the Lord gave me this message:H1697H3068H5596“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.H1004H3478H3201H6213H3335H5002H3068H2563H3335H3027H3027H1004H34787If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed,H7281H1696H1471H4467H5428H5422H68but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.H1471H1696H7725H7451H5162H7451H2803H62139And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom,H7281H1696H1471H4467H1129H519310but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.H6213H7451H5869H8085H6963H5162H2896H559H319011“Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”H559H376H3063H3427H3389H559H559H3068H3335H7451H2803H4284H7725H376H7451H1870H1870H4611H319012But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.”H559H2976H3212H310H4284H376H6213H8307H7451H382013So this is what the Lord says: “Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, even among the pagan nations? My virgin daughter Israel has done something terrible!H559H3068H7592H1471H8085H1330H3478H6213H3966H818614Does the snow ever disappear from the mountaintops of Lebanon? Do the cold streams flowing from those distant mountains ever run dry?H5800H7950H3844H6697H7704H7119H5140H4325H2114H542815But my people are not so reliable, for they have deserted me; they burn incense to worthless idols. They have stumbled off the ancient highways and walk in muddy paths.H5971H7911H6999H7723H3782H1870H5769H7635H7635H3212H5410H1870H554916Therefore, their land will become desolate, a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will shake their heads in amazement.H7760H776H8047H5769H8292H8292H5674H8074H5110H721817I will scatter my people before their enemies as the east wind scatters dust. And in all their trouble I will turn my back on them and refuse to notice their distress.”H6327H6921H7307H6440H341H7200H6203H6440H3117H343
A Plot against Jeremiah
18Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”H559H3212H2803H4284H3414H8451H6H3548H6098H2450H1697H5030H3212H5221H3956H7181H169719Lord, hear me and help me! Listen to what my enemies are saying.H7181H3068H8085H6963H340120Should they repay evil for good? They have dug a pit to kill me, though I pleaded for them and tried to protect them from your anger.H7451H7999H2896H3738H7745H5315H2142H5975H6440H1696H2896H7725H253421So let their children starve! Let them die by the sword! Let their wives become childless widows. Let their old men die in a plague, and let their young men be killed in battle!H5414H1121H7458H5064H3027H2719H802H7909H490H582H2026H4194H970H5221H2719H442122Let screaming be heard from their homes as warriors come suddenly upon them. For they have dug a pit for me and have hidden traps along my path.H2201H8085H1004H935H1416H6597H3738H7745H7882H3920H2934H6341H727223Lord, you know all about their murderous plots against me. Don’t forgive their crimes and blot out their sins. Let them die before you. Deal with them in your anger.H3068H3045H6098H4194H3722H5771H4229H2403H6440H3782H6440H6213H6256H639
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