KJ3 Literal Translation
Jeremiah 18
Under the type of a potter is shown Jehovah's absolute power in disposing of nations. Judgments threatened to Judah for her revolt.
1The Word which was to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
2Rise up and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.
3And I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was working a work on the wheel.
4And the vessel that he made in clay was ruined in the hand of the potter and turning back he made it another vessel, as it seemed good in the potter's eyes to make it.
5And the Word of Jehovah was to me, saying,
6O house of Israel, am I not able to do to you as this potter? a statement of Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
7The instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, or to break down, and to cause it to perish,
8if that nation against whom I have spoken will turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to it.
9And the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10if it does evil in My eye, not to obey My voice, then I will repent of the good which I had said to do good to it.
11And now please speak to the men of Judah and to those living in Jerusalem, saying, So says Jehovah, Behold, I am forming evil against you, and devising a plan against you. Now each man turn back from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
12But they say, It is hopeless. For we will walk after our own thoughts, and we will each man do according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.
13So Jehovah says this: Ask now among the nations, Who has heard things like these? The virgin of Israel has done a dreadful thing.
14Does the snow of Lebanon cease from the rock of the field? Or are the cold flowing waters from a foreign place plucked up?
15But My people have forgotten Me. They have burned incense to vain idols; and they have caused them to stumble in their ways, from the old paths, to walk in paths of a way not raised up;
16to make their land a desolation, a hissing forever. Everyone who passes by will be stunned and will shake his head.
17I will scatter them like an east wind before the enemy; I will make them see My back, and not My face in the day of their calamity.
18Then they said, Come and let us plot schemes against Jeremiah. For the Law shall not perish from the priest, and not counsel from the wise, and not word from the prophet. Come and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not attend to any of his words.
19O Jehovah, attend to me, and attend to the voice of my contenders.
20Should evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember, I stood before You to speak good concerning them, to turn Your wrath from them.
21Therefore, give their sons to the famine, and make them run onto the hand of the sword. And let their wives be bereaved, and be widows, and let their men be the slain of death, their young men be those struck by the sword in battle.
22Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring a raiding band on them. For they have dug a pit to capture me, and have hidden snares for my feet.
23Yet, O Jehovah, You know all their counsel to death against me. Do not atone for their iniquity, not do blot out their sin from Your face, but let them be those made to stumble before You; deal with them in the time of Your anger.
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