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The Parable of the Potter
v. 1. The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
v. 2. Arise and go down to the potter's house, his workshop being located in the lower part of the city, near the clay-pits, and there I will cause thee to hear My words, in a special message intended for the people of Judah.
v. 3. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels, literally, "on the disks," for the potter's lathe consisted of two horizontal wooden plates, the lower one larger than the upper, the clay being molded into shape on the upper disk.
v. 4. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, it was spoiled in the making, due to some mischance; so he made it again another vessel, using the same lump of clay over again, as seemed good to the potter to make it. This was the incident which the Lord used as the basis of His parable.
v. 5. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
v. 6. O house of Israel, the entire nation being addressed, as including the true Church of God, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord, namely, in discarding a people that had proved unfaithful to His call and choosing others in its stead. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel, still in a position to be molded if they but heeded His call.
v. 7. At what instant, namely, in a moment of time, when the nation least expects it, I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it, threatening extermination:
v. 8. if that nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their evil, giving heed to His warnings, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them, in accordance with His long-suffering and mercy, according to which He does not desire the death of the sinner.
v. 9. And at what instant, with the same suddenness, I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to build and to plant it, having arranged to carry out a plan of blessing upon it, to give it a position of power and authority above others:
v. 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, the obstinacy and wickedness of such a people depriving it of the blessings which the Lord would freely have vouchsafed all its members. It is man's own fault if he does not become a partaker of the benefits which God's kindness and mercy would like to bestow upon all men.