1The word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying:
2"Arise, and go down to the house of the potter, and there I will cause you to hear my words."
3And I went down to the house of the potter, and behold, he was doing work on the wheels.
4And the vessel that he was making of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; and he turned and made it into another vessel, as it was right in the eyes of the potter to make.
5And the word of YHWH came to me, saying:
6"Like this potter, am I not able to do to you, house of Israel? declares YHWH. Behold, like the clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
7At one moment I may speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy;
8but if that nation turns from its evil, concerning which I have spoken against it, then I will relent of the evil that I thought to do to it.
9And at one moment I may speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant;
10but if it does evil in my eyes, so as not to hear my voice, then I will relent of the good with which I said I would benefit it.
11And now, speak, please, to the men (ish) of Judah and concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: Thus said YHWH: Behold, I am fashioning evil against you and devising a device against you; return, please, each man (ish) from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds."
12But they say: "It is hopeless; for after our own devices we will walk, and we will do each man (ish) after the stubbornness of his evil heart."
13Therefore thus said YHWH: Ask, please, among the nations, who has heard the like of these? A very horrible thing the virgin of Israel has done.
14Does the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? or are plucked up the strange, cold, flowing waters?
15For my people have forgotten me; to vanity they burn incense, and they have made them stumble in their ways, the ancient paths, to walk in byways, a road not built up,
16to make their land a desolation, a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes by it shall be appalled and shake his head.
17Like a spirit (ruach) of the east I will scatter them before the enemy; the back of the neck and not the face I will show them in the day of their calamity.
18And they said: "Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for Torah shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."
19Give heed to me, YHWH, and hear the voice of those who contend with me.
20Shall evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul (nephesh). Remember my standing before you, to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
21Therefore give their sons to the famine, and pour them out by the hands of the sword; and let their wives (ishah) be bereaved and widows, and let their men (ish) be slain by death, their young men smitten by the sword in battle.
22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring a troop upon them suddenly; for they have dug a pit to capture me, and snares they have hidden for my feet.
23And you, YHWH, know all their counsel against me for death; do not cover their iniquity, and their sin from before you do not blot out; but let them be made to stumble before you; in the time of your anger deal with them.