18Jeremiah 18

Jeremiah Goes to the Pottery Shop

1The Lord told me,Select Jeremiah 18:1

2“Jeremiah, go to the pottery shop, and when you get there, I will tell you what to say to the people.”Select Jeremiah 18:2

3I went there and saw the potter making clay pots on his pottery wheel.Select Jeremiah 18:3

4And whenever the clay would not take the shape he wanted, he would change his mind and form it into some other shape.Select Jeremiah 18:4

5Then the Lord told me to say:Select Jeremiah 18:5

6People of Israel, I, the Lord, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay.Select Jeremiah 18:6

7If I threaten to uproot and shatter an evil nation,Select Jeremiah 18:7

8and that nation turns from its evil, I will change my mind.Select Jeremiah 18:8

9If I promise to make a nation strong,Select Jeremiah 18:9

10but its people start disobeying me and doing evil, then I will change my mind and not help them at all.Select Jeremiah 18:10

11So listen to me, people of Judah and Jerusalem! I have decided to strike you with disaster, and I won't change my mind unless you stop sinning and start living right.Select Jeremiah 18:11

12But I know you won't listen. You might as well answer, “We don't care what you say. We have made plans to sin, and we are going to be stubborn and do as we please!”Select Jeremiah 18:12

13So I, the Lord, command you to ask the nations, and find out if they have ever heard of such a horrible sin as what you have done.Select Jeremiah 18:13

14The snow on Lebanon's mountains never melts away, and the streams there never run dry.Select Jeremiah 18:14

15But you, my people, have turned from me to burn incense to worthless idols. You have left the ancient road to follow an unknown path where you stumble over idols.Select Jeremiah 18:15

16Your land will be ruined, and every passerby will look at it with horror and make insulting remarks.Select Jeremiah 18:16

17When your enemies attack, I will scatter you like dust blown by an eastern wind. Then, on that day of disaster, I will turn my back on you.Select Jeremiah 18:17

The Plot against Jeremiah

18Some of the people said, “Let's get rid of Jeremiah! We will always have priests to teach us God's laws, as well as wise people to give us advice, and prophets to speak the Lord's messages. So, instead of listening to Jeremiah any longer, let's accuse him of a crime.”Select Jeremiah 18:18

Jeremiah Prays about His Enemies

19Please, Lord, answer my prayer. Make my enemies stop accusing me of evil.Select Jeremiah 18:19

20I tried to help them, but they are paying me back by digging a pit to trap me. I even begged you not to punish them.Select Jeremiah 18:20

21But now I am asking you to let their children starve or be killed in war. Let women lose their husbands and sons to disease and violence.Select Jeremiah 18:21

22These people have dug pits and set traps for me, Lord. Make them scream in fear when you send enemy troops to attack their homes.Select Jeremiah 18:22

23You know they plan to kill me. So get angry and punish them! Don't ever forgive their terrible crimes.Select Jeremiah 18:23