CLV(i)
1 The word that has been unto Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2 Rise, and you have gone down [to] the potter's house, and there I cause you to hear My words;"
3 and I go down [to] the potter's house, and lo, he is doing a work on the stones,
4 and marred is the vessel that he is making, as clay in the hand of the potter, and he has turned and he makes it another vessel, as it was right in the eyes of the potter to make."
5 And there is a word of Yahweh to me, saying:"
6 As this potter am I not able to do to you? O house of Israel, an affirmation of Yahweh. Lo, as clay in the hand of the potter, So [are] you in My hand, O house of Israel."
7 The moment I speak concerning a nation, And concerning a kingdom, To pluck up and to break down, and to destroy,
8 And that nation has turned from its evil, Because I have spoken against it, Then I have repented of the evil that I thought to do to it."
9 And the moment I speak concerning a nation, And concerning a kingdom, to build, and to plant,
10 And it has done the evil thing in Mine eyes, So as not to hearken to My voice, Then I have repented of the good That I have spoken of doing to it."
11 And now, speak, I pray you, unto men of Judah, And against inhabitants of Jerusalem, Saying:Thus said Yahweh:Lo, I am framing against you evil, And devising against you a device, Turn back, I pray you, each from his evil way And amen your ways and your doings."
12 And they have said, It is incurable, For after our own devices we do go, And each the stubbornness of his evil heart we do."
13 Therefore, thus said Yahweh:Ask, I pray you, among the nations, Who has heard like these? A very horrible thing has the virgin of Israel done."
14 Does snow of Lebanon Cease from the rock of the field? Failed are the cold strange waters that flow?
15 But My people have forgotten Me, to a vain thing they make perfume, And they cause them to stumble in their ways--paths of old, To walk in paths--a way not raised up,
16 To make their land become a desolation, A hissing eonian, Every passer by it is astonished, And bemoans with his head."
17 As an east wind I scatter them before an enemy, The neck, and not the face, I show them, In the day of their calamity.'"
18 And they say, Come, And we devise against Jeremiah devices, For law does not perish from the priest, Nor counsel from the wise, Nor the word from the prophet, Come, and we smite him with the tongue, And we do not attend to any of his words."
19 Give attention, O Yahweh, unto me, And hearken to the voice of those contending with me."
20 Is evil recompensed instead of good, That they have dug a pit for my soul? Remember my standing before You to speak good of them, To turn back Your wrath from them."
21 Therefore, give up their sons to famine, And cause them to run on the sides of the sword, And their wives are bereaved and widows, And their men are slain by death, Their young men smitten by sword in battle,
22 A cry is heard from their houses, For You bring against them suddenly a troop, For they dug a pit to capture me, And snares they have hidden for my feet."
23 And You, O Yahweh, You have known, All their counsel against me [is] for death, You do not cover over their iniquity, Nor their sin from before You blot out, And they are made to stumble before You, In the time of Your anger work against them!"