Study Desk

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying,

"Arise and ^(a)go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you."

Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the ^[a]wheel.

But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

"Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord . "Behold, like the ^(b)clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to ^(c)uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it;

^(d)if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will ^[b](e)relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.

Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to ^(f)build up or to plant it;

if it does ^(g)evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will ^[c](h)think better of the good with which I had promised to ^[d]bless it.

So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the Lord , "Behold, I am ⁽ⁱ⁾fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh ^(j)turn back, each of you from his evil way, and ^[e]reform your ways and your deeds."'

But ^(k)they will say, ‘It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the ^(l)stubbornness of his evil heart.'

"Therefore thus says the Lord , ‘^(m)Ask now among the nations, Who ever heard the like of ^[f]this? The ⁽ⁿ⁾virgin of Israel Has done a most ^(o)appalling thing.