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The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:
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"Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words."
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Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.
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And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
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Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
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"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
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The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,
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if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
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And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,
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if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.
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"Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." ' "