Study Desk

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord :

"Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message."

So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Then the word of the Lord came to me.

He said, "Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?" declares the Lord . "Like clay^(a) in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand,^(b) Israel.

If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted,^(c) torn down and destroyed,

and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent^(d) and not inflict on it the disaster^(e) I had planned.

And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built^(f) up and planted,

and if it does evil^(g) in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider^(h) the good I had intended to do for it.⁽ⁱ⁾

"Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster^(j) for you and devising a plan^(k) against you. So turn^(l) from your evil ways,^(m) each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'⁽ⁿ⁾

But they will reply, ‘It's no use.^(o) We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.^(p)'"

Therefore this is what the Lord says: "Inquire among the nations: Who has ever heard anything like this?^(q) A most horrible^(r) thing has been done by Virgin^(s) Israel.

Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes? Do its cool waters from distant sources ever stop flowing?^[a]

Yet my people have forgotten^(t) me; they burn incense^(u) to worthless idols,^(v) which made them stumble^(w) in their ways, in the ancient paths.^(x) They made them walk in byways, on roads not built up.^(y)

Their land will be an object of horror^(z) and of lasting scorn;^(aa) all who pass by will be appalled^(ab) and will shake their heads.^(ac)

Like a wind^(ad) from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them my back and not my face^(ae) in the day of their disaster."

They said, "Come, let's make plans^(af) against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest^(ag) will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise,^(ah) nor the word from the prophets.^(ai) So come, let's attack him with our tongues^(aj) and pay no attention to anything he says."

Listen to me, Lord ; hear what my accusers^(ak) are saying!

Should good be repaid with evil?^(al) Yet they have dug a pit^(am) for me. Remember that I stood^(an) before you and spoke in their behalf^(ao) to turn your wrath away from them.

So give their children over to famine;^(ap) hand them over to the power of the sword.^(aq) Let their wives be made childless and widows;^(ar) let their men be put to death, their young men^(as) slain by the sword in battle.

Let a cry^(at) be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring invaders against them, for they have dug a pit^(au) to capture me and have hidden snares^(av) for my feet.

But you, Lord , know all their plots to kill^(aw) me. Do not forgive^(ax) their crimes or blot out their sins from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger.^(ay)