5 Then the Lord spoke his word to me:
6 “Family of Israel, can’t I do the same thing with you?” says the Lord. “You are like the clay in the potter’s hands.
7 There may come a time when I will speak about a nation or a kingdom. I might say I will pull that nation up by its roots. Or I might say I will pull that nation down and destroy it.
8 But if the people of that nation are sorry for the evil they have done, I would change my mind. I would not carry out my plans to bring disaster to them.
9 There may come another time when I will speak about a nation. I might say that I will build up and plant that nation.
10 But if I see it doing evil by not obeying me, I would change my mind. I would not carry out my plans to do good for them.
11 “So, say this to the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am preparing disaster for you right now. I am making plans against you. So stop doing the evil you are doing. Change your ways and do what is right.’