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1. This is the word the Lord spoke to Jeremiah:
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1. The word H1697 which H834 came H1961 to H413 Jeremiah H3414 from H4480 H854 the LORD H3068 , saying H559 ,
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2. "Go down to the potter's house, and I will give you my message there."
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2. Arise H6965 , and go down H3381 to the potter H3335 's house H1004 , and there H8033 I will cause thee to hear H8085 H853 my words H1697 .
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3. So I went down to the potter's house and saw him working at the potter's wheel.
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3. Then I went down H3381 to the potter H3335 's house H1004 , and, behold H2009 , he wrought H6213 a work H4399 on H5921 the wheels H70 .
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4. He was using his hands to make a pot from clay, but something went wrong with it. So he used that clay to make another pot the way he wanted it to be.
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4. And the vessel H3627 that H834 he H1931 made H6213 of clay H2563 was marred H7843 in the hand H3027 of the potter H3335 : so he made H6213 it again H7725 another H312 vessel H3627 , as H834 seemed H5869 good H3474 to the potter H3335 to make H6213 it .
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5. Then the Lord spoke his word to me:
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5. Then the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came H1961 to H413 me, saying H559 ,
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6. "Family of Israel, can't I do the same thing with you?" says the Lord. "You are in my hands like the clay in the potter's hands.
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6. O house H1004 of Israel H3478 , cannot H3808 H3201 I do H6213 with you as this H2088 potter H3335 ? saith H5002 the LORD H3068 . Behold H2009 , as the clay H2563 is in the potter H3335 's hand H3027 , so H3651 are ye H859 in mine hand H3027 , O house H1004 of Israel H3478 .
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7. There may come a time when I will speak about a nation or a kingdom that I will pull up by its roots or that I will pull down to destroy it.
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7. At what instant H7281 I shall speak H1696 concerning H5921 a nation H1471 , and concerning H5921 a kingdom H4467 , to pluck up H5428 , and to pull down H5422 , and to destroy H6 it ;
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8. But if the people of that nation stop doing the evil they have done, I will change my mind and not carry out my plans to bring disaster to them.
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8. If that H1931 nation H1471 , against H5921 whom H834 I have pronounced H1696 , turn H7725 from their evil H4480 H7451 , I will repent H5162 of H5921 the evil H7451 that H834 I thought H2803 to do H6213 unto them.
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9. There may come another time when I will speak about a nation that I will build up and plant.
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9. And at what instant H7281 I shall speak H1696 concerning H5921 a nation H1471 , and concerning H5921 a kingdom H4467 , to build H1129 and to plant H5193 it ;
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10. But if I see it doing evil by not obeying me, I will change my mind and not carry out my plans to do good for them.
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10. If it do H6213 evil H7451 in my sight H5869 , that it obey H8085 not H1115 my voice H6963 , then I will repent H5162 of H5921 the good H2896 , wherewith H834 I said H559 I would benefit H3190 them.
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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 and making plans against you. So stop doing evil. Change your ways and do what is right.'
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11. Now H6258 therefore go H4994 to, speak H559 to H413 the men H376 of Judah H3063 , and to H5921 the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 , saying H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 ; Behold H2009 , I H595 frame H3335 evil H7451 against H5921 you , and devise H2803 a device H4284 against H5921 you: return H7725 ye now H4994 every one H376 from his evil H7451 way H4480 H1870 , and make your ways H1870 and your doings H4611 good H3190 .
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12. But the people of Judah will answer, 'It won't do any good to try! We will continue to do what we want. Each of us will do what his stubborn, evil heart wants!'"
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12. And they said H559 , There is no hope H2976 : but H3588 we will walk H1980 after H310 our own devices H4284 , and we will every one H376 do H6213 the imagination H8307 of his evil H7451 heart H3820 .
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13. So this is what the Lord says: "Ask the people in other nations this question: 'Have you ever heard anything like this?' The people of Israel have done a horrible thing.
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13. Therefore H3651 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 ; Ask H7592 ye now H4994 among the heathen H1471 , who H4310 hath heard H8085 such H428 things : the virgin H1330 of Israel H3478 hath done H6213 a very H3966 horrible thing H8186 .
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14. The snow on the mountains of Lebanon never melts from the rocks. Its cool, flowing streams do not dry up.
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14. Will a man leave H5800 the snow H7950 of Lebanon H3844 which cometh from the rock H4480 H6697 of the field H7704 ? or shall the cold H7119 flowing H5140 waters H4325 that come from another place H2114 be forsaken H5428 ?
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15. But my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless idols and have stumbled in what they do and in the old ways of their ancestors. They walk along back roads and on poor highways.
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15. Because H3588 my people H5971 hath forgotten H7911 me , they have burned incense H6999 to vanity H7723 , and they have caused them to stumble H3782 in their ways H1870 from the ancient H5769 paths H7635 , to walk H1980 in paths H5410 , in a way H1870 not H3808 cast up H5549 ;
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16. So Judah's country will become an empty desert. People will not stop making fun of it. They will shake their heads as they pass by; they will be shocked at how the country was destroyed.
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16. To make H7760 their land H776 desolate H8047 , and a perpetual H5769 hissing H8292 ; every one H3605 that passeth H5674 thereby H5921 shall be astonished H8074 , and wag H5110 his head H7218 .
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17. Like a strong east wind, I will scatter them before their enemies. At that awful time they will not see me coming to help them; they will see me leaving."
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17. I will scatter H6327 them as with an east H6921 wind H7307 before H6440 the enemy H341 ; I will show H7200 them the back H6203 , and not H3808 the face H6440 , in the day H3117 of their calamity H343 .
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18. Then the people said, "Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah. Surely the teaching of the law by the priest will not be lost. We will still have the advice from the wise men and the words of the prophets. So let's ruin him by telling lies about him. We won't pay attention to anything he says."
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18. Then said H559 they, Come H1980 , and let us devise H2803 devices H4284 against H5921 Jeremiah H3414 ; for H3588 the law H8451 shall not H3808 perish H6 from the priest H4480 H3548 , nor counsel H6098 from the wise H4480 H2450 , nor the word H1697 from the prophet H4480 H5030 . Come H1980 , and let us smite H5221 him with the tongue H3956 , and let us not H408 give heed H7181 to H413 any H3605 of his words H1697 .
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19. Lord, listen to me. Listen to what my accusers are saying!
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19. Give heed H7181 to H413 me , O LORD H3068 , and hearken H8085 to the voice H6963 of them that contend H3401 with me.
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20. Good should not be paid back with evil, but they have dug a pit in order to kill me. Remember that I stood before you and asked you to do good things for these people and to turn your anger away from them.
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20. Shall evil H7451 be recompensed H7999 for H8478 good H2896 ? for H3588 they have digged H3738 a pit H7745 for my soul H5315 . Remember H2142 that I stood H5975 before H6440 thee to speak H1696 good H2896 for H5921 them, and to turn away H7725 H853 thy wrath H2534 from H4480 them.
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21. So now, let their children starve, and let their enemies kill them with swords. Let their wives lose their children and husbands. and the young men be killed with swords in battle.
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21. Therefore H3651 deliver up H5414 H853 their children H1121 to the famine H7458 , and pour out H5064 their blood by H5921 the force H3027 of the sword H2719 ; and let their wives H802 be H1961 bereaved of their children H7909 , and be widows H490 ; and let their men H376 be H1961 put H2026 to death H4194 ; let their young men H970 be slain H5221 by the sword H2719 in battle H4421 .
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22. Let them cry out in their houses when you bring an enemy against them suddenly. Let all this happen, because my enemies have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden traps for my feet.
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22. Let a cry H2201 be heard H8085 from their houses H4480 H1004 , when H3588 thou shalt bring H935 a troop H1416 suddenly H6597 upon H5921 them: for H3588 they have digged H3738 a pit H7745 to take H3920 me , and hid H2934 snares H6341 for my feet H7272 .
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23. Lord, you know about all their plans to kill me. Don't forgive their crimes or erase their sins from your mind. Make them fall from their places; punish them while you are angry.
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23. Yet, LORD H3068 , thou H859 knowest H3045 H853 all H3605 their counsel H6098 against H5921 me to slay H4194 me : forgive H3722 not H408 their iniquity H5771 , neither H408 blot out H4229 their sin H2403 from thy sight H4480 H6440 , but let them be H1961 overthrown H3782 before H6440 thee; deal H6213 thus with them in the time H6256 of thine anger H639 .
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