6. "People of Israel, I can do with you just as this potter does," announces the Lord. "The clay is in the potter's hand. And you are in my hand, people of Israel.
7. "Suppose at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is going to be pulled up by the roots. And I tell it that it will be torn down and destroyed.
8. But suppose the nation I warned turns away from its sins. Then I will not do what I said I would. I will not bring trouble on it as I had planned.
9. "Suppose at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is going to be built up and planted.
10. But it does what is evil in my sight. It does not obey me. Then I will think again about the good things I had wanted to do for it.
11. "So speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Tell them, 'The Lord says, "Look! I am making plans against you. I am going to bring trouble on you. So each one of you must turn from your evil ways. Change the way you live and act." '
12. "But they will reply, 'It's no use. We will continue to do what we've already planned. All of us will do what our stubborn and evil hearts want us to do.' "
13. So the Lord says, "Ask the nations a question. Say to them, 'Who has ever heard anything like this? The people of Israel have done a very horrible thing.
14. Does the snow ever disappear from Lebanon's rocky slopes? Do its cool waters ever stop flowing from places far away?
15. But my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless gods. Their gods made them trip and fall as they walked on the old paths. They made them use side roads instead of roads that were built up.