1. The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2. Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought his work on the wheels.
4. And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6. O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
8. if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;