The Potter And The Clay
4 But the vessel he was working on with the clay was ruined in the potter's hand. So he remade it into another vessel that seemed appropriate to him.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
4 But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.
4 But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.(B)
4 But the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled by the potter’s hand; so he made it over, reworking it and making it into another pot that seemed good to him.
6 "Israel, can't I deal with you like this potter?" declares the LORD. "Look, Israel, like clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand.
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
6 “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the (B)clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
6 “House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel.(C)
6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the Lord. “Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
7 At one moment I may speak about a nation or a kingdom to uproot it, pull it down, or destroy it.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
7 At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to (C)uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it;
7 At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it.(D)
7 At one moment I might [suddenly] speak concerning a nation or kingdom, that I will uproot and break down and destroy;
8 But if that nation about which I spoke turns from its evil way, I'll change my mind about the disaster that I had planned for it.
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
8 (D)if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will (b)(E)relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.
9 At another moment I may speak about a nation or kingdom to build it or plant it.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
9 Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to (F)build up or to plant it;
9 Or at another time I might [suddenly] speak about a nation or kingdom that I will build up or establish;
10 But if that nation does evil in my eyes by not obeying me, I'll change my mind about the good that I said I would bring on it.
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
10 if it does (G)evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will (c)(H)think better of the good with which I had promised to (d)bless it.
10 However, if it does what is evil in My sight by not listening to My voice, I will relent concerning the good I had said I would do to it.(G)
10 and if they do evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will reverse My decision concerning the good with which I had promised to bless them.
11 "Now say to the people of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem, "This is what the LORD says: "Look, I'm designing a disaster just for you, and I'm making plans against you. Each one of you must repent from his evil way. Make your ways and deeds right."'
11 Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
11 So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am (I)fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh (J)turn back, each of you from his evil way, and (e)reform your ways and your deeds.”’
11 So now, say to the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem: This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring harm to you and make plans against you. Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds.(H)
11 Now then, say to the men of Judah and to the citizens of Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am shaping a disaster and working out a plan against you. Turn back, each of you from his evil way; correct your habits and change your actions for the better.”’
12 But they'll say, "It's useless! We will follow our plans and each of us will pursue his own evil desires.'
12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
12 But (K)they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the (L)stubbornness of his evil heart.’
12 But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless.(I) We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
12 But they will say, ‘That is hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act in accordance with the stubbornness of his evil heart.’
Deluded Israel
13 "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: "Ask the nations. Who has ever heard of anything like this? You have done a most horrible thing, virgin Israel.
13 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
13 “Therefore thus says the Lord,‘(M)Ask now among the nations,Who ever heard the like of (f)this?The (N)virgin of IsraelHas done a most (O)appalling thing.
13 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:Ask among the nations,Who has heard things like these?Virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing.(J)
13 “Therefore thus says the Lord,‘Ask now among the nations,Who has heard of such things?The virgin IsraelHas done a very vile and horrible thing.
14 Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes? Or does the cold water from a foreign land ever cease to flow?
14 Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?
14 ‘Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country?Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever snatched away?
14 Does the snow of Lebanon ever leave the highland crags?Or does cold water flowing from a distance ever fail?
14 ‘Will the snow of [Mount] Lebanon melt and vanish from its rocks [which tower above Israel]?Will the cold, rushing waters of foreign lands [that flow down from the distant land] be dried up?
15 Yet my people have forgotten me, and they burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble in their journey on the ancient paths. They walk on trails, on a way that is not built up.
15 Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
15 ‘For (P)My people have forgotten Me,(Q)They burn incense (g)to worthless godsAnd they (h)have stumbled (i)from their ways,(j)From the (R)ancient paths,To walk in bypaths,Not on a (S)highway,
15 Yet My people have forgotten Me.(K)They burn incense to false idolsthat make them stumble in their wayson the ancient roads(L)and walk on new paths, not the highway.
15 ‘Yet My people have forgotten Me;They burn incense to worthless gods,They have stumbled from their waysFrom the ancient roads,To walk in pathways,Not on a highway,
16 They make their land into a desolate place, an object of lasting scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads.
16 To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.
16 To make their land a (T)desolation,An object of perpetual (U)hissing;Everyone who passes by it will be astonishedAnd (V)shake his head.
16 They have made their land a horror,(M)a perpetual object of scorn;(b)(N)everyone who passes by it will be horrified(O)and shake his head.(P)
16 Making their land a desolation and a horror,A thing to be hissed at perpetually;Everyone who passes by will be astoundedAnd shake his head [in scorn].
17 "Like the east wind, I'll scatter them before the enemy. I'll show them my back and not my face, on the day of their downfall.'"
17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
17 ‘Like an (W)east wind I will (X)scatter themBefore the enemy;I will (k)show them (Y)My back and not My face(Z)In the day of their calamity.’”
17 I will scatter them before the enemy like the east wind.(Q)I will show them(c) My back and not My faceon the day of their calamity.
17 ‘I will scatter them like an east windBefore the enemy;I will show them My back and not My faceIn the day of their disaster [says the Lord].’”
Jeremiah's Imprecatory Prayer
18 Then they said, "Come, let's make up a plot against Jeremiah. After all, the priest's instruction, the wise man's counsel, and the prophet's message won't be destroyed. So let's verbally attack him. Pay no attention to anything he says!"
18 Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
18 Then they said, “Come and let us (AA)devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the (AB)law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor (AC)counsel to the sage, nor the divine (AD)word to the prophet! Come on and let us (AE)strike at him with our tongue, and let us (AF)give no heed to any of his words.”
18 Then certain ones said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah,(R) for instruction will never be lost from the priest,(S) or counsel from the wise, or an oracle from the prophet.(T) Come, let’s denounce him(d) and pay no attention to all his words.”
18 Then [my enemies] said, “Come and let us work out schemes against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest [as Jeremiah predicts], nor the counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us strike him with our tongue [by making charges against him before the king], and let us ignore anything he says.”
20 Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit to take my life. Remember! I stood before you and spoke good on their behalf in order to turn your wrath away from them.
20 Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
20 (AG)Should good be repaid with evil?For they have (AH)dug a pit for (m)me.Remember how I (AI)stood before YouTo speak good on their behalf,So as to turn away Your wrath from them.
20 Should good be repaid with evil?Yet they have dug a pit for me.(V)Remember how I stood before Youto speak good on their behalf,to turn Your anger from them.
20 Should good be repaid with evil?Yet they have dug a pit for me.Remember [with compassion] that I stood before YouTo speak good on their behalf,To turn Your anger away from them.
21 Therefore, make their children undergo famine, and deliver them over to death in time of war. May their women be childless widows! May their men be slaughtered! May their young men be slain by the sword in battle!
21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.
21 Therefore, (AJ)give their children over to famineAnd deliver them up to the (n)power of the sword;And let their wives become (AK)childless and (AL)widowed.Let their men also be smitten to death,Their (AM)young men struck down by the sword in battle.
21 Therefore, hand their children over to famine,(W)and pour the sword’s power on them.Let their wives become childless and widowed,their husbands slain by deadly disease,(e)their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
21 Therefore, give their children over to the famine;Give them over to the power of the sword.And let their wives become childless and widowed;Let their men meet death [by virulent disease],Their young men be struck down by the sword in battle.
22 Let a cry be heard from their houses because you have brought a raiding party against them suddenly. For they have dug a pit to capture me and have set traps for my feet.
22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
22 May an (AN)outcry be heard from their houses,When You suddenly bring raiders upon them;(AO)For they have dug a pit to capture meAnd (AP)hidden snares for my feet.
22 Let a cry be heard from their houseswhen You suddenly bring raiders against them,for they have dug a pit to capture meand have hidden snares for my feet.(X)
22 Let an outcry be heard from their housesWhen You suddenly bring [a troop of] raiders upon them,For they have dug a pit to capture meAnd have hidden snares for my feet.
23 But you, LORD, know all their plots to kill me. Don't forgive their iniquity, and don't erase their sin from your sight. Let them stumble before you. When it's time for you to be angry, act against them!
23 Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.
23 Yet You, O Lord, knowAll their (o)deadly designs against me;(AQ)Do not (p)forgive their iniquityOr blot out their sin from Your sight.But may they be (q)(AR)overthrown before You;Deal with them in the (AS)time of Your anger!
23 But You, Lord, knowall their deadly plots against me.Do not wipe out their guilt;(Y)do not blot out their sin before You.Let them be forced to stumble before You;deal with them in the time of Your anger.
23 Yet You, O Lord, knowAll their deadly plotting against me;Do not forgive their wickednessOr blot out their sin from Your sight.But let them be overthrown before You;Deal with them in the time of Your anger.