The Potter and the Clay

18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ² “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” ³ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the ^[a]wheel. ⁴ And the vessel that he ^[b]made of clay was ^[c]marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ⁶ “O house of Israel, ^(A)can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, ^(B)as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For ^(A)who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? ^(B)Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Does not the ^(C)potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make ^(D)one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?