3 I went to the potter’s house, and he was working there at his wheel.
4 Whenever a clay pot he was working on was ruined, he would rework it into a new clay pot the way he wanted to make it.
5 The Lord spoke his word to me. The Lord asked,
6 “Nation of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter does with clay? Nation of Israel, you are like the clay in the potter’s hands.
7 “At one time I may threaten to tear up, break down, and destroy a nation or a kingdom.
8 But suppose the nation that I threatened turns away from doing wrong. Then I will change my plans about the disaster I planned to do to it.
9 “At another time I may promise to build and plant a nation or a kingdom.