O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as thispotter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’shand, so are ye in minehand, O house of Israel.
Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thussaith the LORD; Behold, I frameevilagainst you, and devise a deviceagainst you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and makeyourways and yourdoingsgood.
Because my peoplehathforgotten me, theyhaveburnedincense to vanity, and theyhavecausedthem to stumble in theirwaysfrom the ancientpaths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
Thensaidthey, Come, and let us devisedevicesagainstJeremiah; for the law shall not perishfrom the priest, nor counselfrom the wise, nor the wordfrom the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not giveheed to any of his words.
Shallevil be recompensed for good? for theyhavedigged a pit for my soul. Rememberthat I stoodbeforethee to speakgood for them, and to turnaway thy wrathfromthem.
Thereforedeliver up theirchildren to the famine, and pour out theirblood by the force of the sword; and let theirwives be bereaved of theirchildren, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let theiryoung men be slain by the sword in battle.
Yet, LORD, thouknowest all theircounselagainst me to slay me: forgive not theiriniquity, neitherblot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrownbeforethee; dealthuswiththem in the time of thineanger.