1Yahweh gave another message to me. He said,
2“Go to the shop of the man who makes clay pots. I will give you a message there.”
3So I went to that shop, and I saw the man who makes pots. He was working at the wheel that he uses to form pots.
4But when he finished making one jar, it was not as good as he hoped/wanted it to be. So, he took that clay and formed it into another jar, shaping it as he desired.
5Then Yahweh gave me this message:
6“Perhaps the people of Israel think that I cannot do to them like this man who makes pots has done [RHQ]. But what they think is wrong. I can control what happens to them like this man controls what he does with the clay in his hands.
7There may be a time when I proclaim that I will get rid of a nation or kingdom, like someone pulls up a plant with its roots, and smashes it, and destroys it.
8But if the people of that nation repent of doing evil things, I will not send to them the disasters that I planned to send.
9And there may be a time when I proclaim that I will establish a nation or kingdom and cause it to be strong [MET].
10But if the people of that nation start to do evil things and refuse to obey me, then I will not bless them as I said that I would do.
11Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all the people in Jerusalem and in other places in Judah. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I am planning to cause you to experience a disaster [DOU]. So, each of you should turn from your evil behavior and start doing what is right, in order that you will not experience that disaster.” ’ ’”
12So I told that message to the people, but they replied, “It is useless for you to tell us that. We will continue to be stubborn and behave as we want to.”
13So, this is what Yahweh says:
14The snow certainly never [RHQ] completely disappears/melts from the rocky slopes of the mountains in Lebanon.
15But my people are not as reliable as those streams:
16Therefore, their land will become desolate,
17I will scatter the people when their enemies attack them
18Then some of the people said, “Come, let’s plan to attack Jeremiah. We have many priests who teach us God’s laws, and wise men who give us good advice, and prophets who tell us what will happen. We do not need Jeremiah! So, let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything that he says.”
19Then I prayed, “Yahweh, please listen to me!
20I am doing things that are good,
21So now, allow their children to die from hunger!
22Cause people to scream in their homes
23Yahweh, you know all the things that they are planning to do to kill me.