Jeremiah 18 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

This is the message that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh:

"Get up and go down to the potter's workshop. I'll give you my message there."

So I went down to the potter's workshop, and there he was, working at his wheel.

But the pot he was shaping from the clay came out flawed in his hands — so the potter reshaped it into a different pot, whatever seemed right to him.

Then Yahweh's message came to me:

"Can't I do with you what this potter does, people of Israel?" declares Yahweh. "Look — like clay in the potter's hands, that's what you are in my hands, people of Israel."

"At any moment I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed."

"But if that nation I warned turns away from its destructive path, I'll reconsider the disaster I had planned for it."

"And at any moment I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be built up and planted."

"But if it does what's destructive in my eyes and refuses to listen to my voice, I'll reconsider the good I had planned for it."

"So now, tell the people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem: 'This is what Yahweh says: Look — I am shaping disaster for you. I am crafting a plan against you. Each one of you, turn back from your destructive path. Fix your ways and your actions.'"

But they'll say, "It's no use. We're going to follow our own plans. Each of us will act on the stubbornness of our own twisted hearts."

So this is what Yahweh says: "Ask around among the nations — has anyone ever heard anything like this? The young woman Israel has done something absolutely horrifying."

"Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky peaks? Do the cold streams flowing down from far-off mountains ever dry up?"

"But my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless idols that made them stumble off the ancient paths — the well-worn roads — and wander down unmarked trails instead."

"They've turned their land into a wasteland, a target of endless scorn. Everyone who passes through will be shocked and shake their heads."

"Like an east wind I will scatter them before their enemies. I will show them my back, not my face, on the day of their disaster."

Then they said, "Come on, let's make plans against Jeremiah. After all, teaching won't disappear just because the priest is gone, and advice won't vanish just because the wise man is gone, and the message won't stop just because the prophet is gone. Come on — let's attack him with our words and ignore everything he says."

Pay attention to me, Yahweh! Listen to what my accusers are saying!

Should good be repaid with destruction? They've dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before you and spoke up for them, trying to turn your anger away from them.

So hand their children over to famine. Pour them out to the blade of the sword. Let their wives lose their children and become widows. Let their men be cut down by death, their young men struck by the sword in battle.

Let screams be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring raiders against them. Because they dug a pit to capture me and hid traps for my feet.

But you, Yahweh — you know every one of their plans to kill me. Don't wipe away their guilt. Don't erase their failures from your sight. Let them be brought down right in front of you. Deal with them in the heat of your anger.