4. 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.
5. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,
6. "Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
7. At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it;
8. if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.
9. Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it;
10. if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.