Yaram'Yahu (Jeremiah) — 18

The Potter and the Clay

1 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave another message to Yaramyahu, He said, 

2 “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” 

3 So I did as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH told me and found the potter working at his wheel. 

4 But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

5 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave me this message: 

6 “O Yashar'AL, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. 

7 If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, 

8 but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. 

9 And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, 

10 but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not barak it as I said I would.

11 “Therefore, Yaramyahu, go and warn all Yahudah and Yahushalam. Say to them, ‘This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”

12 But the people replied, “Do not waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.”

13 So this is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: “Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, even among the pagan nations? My virgin daughter Yashar'AL has done something terrible!

14 Does the snow ever disappear from the mountaintops of Labanun? Do the cold streams flowing from those distant mountains ever run dry?

15 But my people are not so reliable, for they have deserted me; they burn incense to worthless idols, they have stumbled off the ancient highways and walk in muddy paths.

16 Therefore, their land will become desolate, a monument to their stupidity, all who pass by will be astonished and will shake their heads in amazement.

17 I will scatter my people before their enemies as the east wind scatters dust, and in all their trouble I will turn my back on them and refuse to notice their distress.”

A Plot against Yaramyahu 

18 Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Yaramyahu, We have plenty of Kuhanym and wise men and Nabym, We do not need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies, Let us spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”

19 O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, hear me and help me! Listen to what my enemies are saying.

20 Should they repay evil for good? They have dug a pit to kill me, though I pleaded for them and tried to protect them from your anger.

21 So let their children starve! Let them die by the sword! Let their wives become childless widows, Let their old men die in a plague, and let their young men be killed in battle!

22 Let screaming be heard from their homes as warriors come suddenly upon them, For they have dug a pit for me and have hidden traps along my path.

23 O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, you know all about their murderous plots against me, Do not forgive their crimes and blot out their sins, Let them die before you, Deal with them in your anger.