[18:1] The Lord said to me,
[18:2] “Go down to the potter's house, where I will give you my message.”
[18:3] So I went there and saw the potter working at his wheel.
[18:4] Whenever a piece of pottery turned out imperfect, he would take the clay and make it into something else.
[18:5] Then the Lord said to me,
[18:6] “Don't I have the right to do with you people of Israel what the potter did with the clay? You are in my hands just like clay in the potter's hands.
[18:7] If at any time I say that I am going to uproot, break down, or destroy any nation or kingdom,
[18:8] but then that nation turns from its evil, I will not do what I said I would.
[18:9] On the other hand, if I say that I am going to plant or build up any nation or kingdom,
[18:10] but then that nation disobeys me and does evil, I will not do what I said I would.
[18:11] Now then, tell the people of Judah and of Jerusalem that I am making plans against them and getting ready to punish them. Tell them to stop living sinful lives—to change their ways and the things they are doing.
[18:12] They will answer, ‘No, why should we? We will all be just as stubborn and evil as we want to be.’”