The Potter And The Clay

1 The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying,

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:

1 The message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

2 Rise, and thou hast gone down to the potter's house, and there I cause thee to hear My words;

2 “Arise and (A)go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.”

2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

2 “Go down at once to the potter’s house;(A) there I will reveal My words to you.”

2 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I'll allow you to hear my words."

3 and I go down to the potter's house, and lo, he is doing a work on the stones,

3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the (a)wheel.

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel.(a)

3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was doing work at the potter's wheel.

4 and marred is the vessel that he is making, as clay in the hand of the potter, and he hath turned and he maketh it another vessel, as it was right in the eyes of the potter to make.

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 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 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 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.

5 And there is a word of Jehovah to me, saying:

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

5 The word of the Lord came to me:

5 Then this message from the LORD came to me:

6 As this potter am I not able to do to you? O house of Israel, an affirmation of Jehovah. Lo, as clay in the hand of the potter, So are ye in My 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 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 “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 "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.

7 The moment I speak concerning a nation, And concerning a kingdom, To pluck up and to break down, and to destroy,

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 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 announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it.(D)

7 At one moment I may speak about a nation or a kingdom to uproot it, pull it down, or destroy it.

8 And that nation hath turned from its evil, Because I have spoken against it, Then I have repented of the evil that I thought to do to it.

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.

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 However, if that nation I have made an announcement about turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.(E)

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.

9 And the moment I speak concerning a nation, And concerning a kingdom, to build, and to plant,

9 Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to (F)build up or to plant it;

9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

9 At another time I announce that I will build and plant a nation or a kingdom.(F)

9 At another moment I may speak about a nation or kingdom to build it or plant it.

10 And it hath done the evil thing in Mine eyes, So as not to hearken to My voice, Then I have repented of the good That I have spoken of doing to it.

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 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 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 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.

11 And now, speak, I pray thee, unto men of Judah, And against inhabitants of Jerusalem, Saying: Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am framing against you evil, And devising against you a device, Turn back, I pray you, each from his evil way And amen your ways and your doings.

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 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, 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 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."'

12 And they have said, It is incurable, For after our own devices we do go, And each the stubbornness of his evil heart we do.

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 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 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'll say, "It's useless! We will follow our plans and each of us will pursue his own evil desires.'

Deluded Israel

13 Therefore, thus said Jehovah: Ask, I pray you, among the nations, Who hath heard like these? A very horrible thing hath the virgin of Israel done.

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 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, 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, 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.

14 Doth snow of Lebanon Cease from the rock of the field? Failed are the cold strange waters that flow?

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 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 ever leave the highland crags?Or does cold water flowing from a distance ever fail?

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?

15 But My people have forgotten Me, to a vain thing they make perfume, And they cause them to stumble in their ways -- paths of old, To walk in paths -- a way not raised 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 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 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, 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.

16 To make their land become a desolation, A hissing age-during, Every passer by it is astonished, And bemoaneth with 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 To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag 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 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.

17 As an east wind I scatter them before an enemy, The neck, and not the face, I shew them, 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 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 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 "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.'"

Jeremiah's Imprecatory Prayer

18 And they say, Come, And we devise against Jeremiah devices, For law doth not perish from the priest, Nor counsel from the wise, Nor the word from the prophet, Come, and we smite him with the tongue, And we do not attend 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 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 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 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!"

19 Give attention, O Jehovah, unto me, And hearken to the voice of those contending with me.

19 Do give heed to me, O Lord,And listen to (l)what my opponents are saying!

19 Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

19 Pay attention to me, Lord.Hear what my opponents are saying!(U)

19 LORD, pay attention to me. Listen to the voice of my accusers!

20 Is evil recompensed instead of good, That they have dug a pit for my soul? Remember my standing before Thee to speak good of them, To turn back 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 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 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 to take my life. Remember! I stood before you and spoke good on their behalf in order to turn your wrath away from them.

21 Therefore, give up their sons to famine, And cause them to run on the sides of the sword, And their wives are bereaved and widows, And their men are slain by death, Their young men smitten by 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 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, 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, 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!

22 A cry is heard from their houses, For Thou bringest against them suddenly a troop, For they dug a pit to capture me, And snares they have hidden 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 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 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 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.

23 And Thou, O Jehovah, Thou hast known, All their counsel against me is for death, Thou dost not cover over their iniquity, Nor their sin from before Thee blottest out, And they are made to stumble before Thee, In the time of Thine anger work against them!

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 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 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 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!

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