Jeremiah 18

All 23 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1The LORD spoke to Jeremiah with this message:
2. 2Get up and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.
3. 3So I went down to the potter's house and saw him working at the wheel.
4. 4But the pot he was making was flawed in his hands, so he made it into another pot, as he thought best.
5. 5Then the LORD spoke to me:
6. 6House of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the LORD. Look, just as clay is in the potter's hand, you are in my hand, house of Israel.
7. 7"If at any moment I announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed —
8. 8but that nation turns away from its evil, then I will repent of the disaster I had planned for them.
9. 9And if at any moment I announce that a nation or kingdom will be built up and planted —
10. 10but that nation does what is evil and refuses to obey me, then I will repent of the good I had promised to do for them.
11. 11"So go and tell the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem: 'This is what the LORD says: I am shaping disaster against you and forming a plan to bring it. Turn back now — every one of you — from your evil ways. Change your behavior and your actions.'"
12. 12But they will say, 'It's no use. We're going to follow our own plans, and each of us will keep doing whatever our stubborn, evil hearts desire.'
13. 13Therefore, this is what the LORD says: Ask among the nations, who has heard such things? The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
14. 14Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon that comes from the rock of the field? Or will the cold flowing waters that come from another place be abandoned?
15. 15Yet my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless idols. These false gods have made them stumble off the ancient paths and wander down unmarked side roads —
16. 16turning their land into a wasteland that will be mocked forever. Everyone who passes through it will be shocked and shake their head in disbelief.
17. 17I will scatter them before their enemies as with an east wind. In the day of their calamity, I will show them my back, not my face.
18. 18Then the people said, "Come on, let's make plans against Jeremiah. After all, we'll always have priests to teach the law, wise men to give counsel, and prophets to speak God's word — we don't need him. Let's destroy him with accusations and ignore everything he says."
19. 19LORD, pay attention to me! Listen to what my accusers are saying.
20. 20Should evil be repaid for good? They have dug a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before you to speak good for them and to turn your wrath away from them.
21. 21So hand their children over to famine and cut them down with the sword. Let their wives lose their children and become widows. Let their men be struck dead and their young men killed in battle.
22. 22Let screams be heard from their houses when you suddenly send raiders against them — because they dug a pit to capture me and hid traps along my path.
23. 23But you already know all this, LORD. You know every plot they've made to kill me. Don't forgive their guilt. Don't wipe their sin from your sight. Let them be brought down before you. Deal with them in the full heat of your anger.