1陶匠製造陶器的比喻耶和華有話臨到耶利米，說：
1The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2“起來，下到陶匠的家裡去，在那裡我要使你聽到我的話。”
2Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.
3我就下到陶匠的家裡去，見他正在轉盤旁工作。
3Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making a work on the wheels.
4陶匠用他手中的泥所做的器皿壞了，他就用這泥再做別的器皿，照著自己的意思去作。
4When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5於是耶和華的話臨到我，說：
5Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
6“以色列家啊！難道我不能待你們像這陶匠所作的一樣嗎？”這是耶和華的宣告。“看哪！泥在陶匠的手中怎樣，以色列家啊！你們在我的手中也必怎樣。
6House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter? says Yahweh. Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
7我甚麼時候宣布要拔出、拆毀、毀滅一邦或一國，
7At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
8如果我論到的那一邦轉離他們的惡行，我就必回心轉意，不把我原定的災禍降給他們。
8if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
9同樣，我甚麼時候宣布要建立、栽植一邦或一國，
9At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10如果他們行我眼中看為惡的事，不聽從我的話，我就必回心轉意，不把我應許的好處賜給他們。
10if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good, with which I said I would benefit them.
11“現在你要對猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民說：‘耶和華這樣說：看哪！我正在製造災禍對付你們，擬定計劃懲罰你們。你們各人要回轉，離開自己的惡道，改正你們的行徑和作為。’
11Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return you now everyone from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
12他們卻說：‘沒用的！我們要隨著自己的計劃而行，各人要按著自己頑梗的惡心行事。’”
12But they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do everyone after the stubbornness of his evil heart.
13棄絕 神的必遭棄絕因此耶和華這樣說：“你們問一問列國，有誰聽見過像這樣的事呢？童女以色列竟行了一件非常駭人的事。
13Therefore thus says Yahweh: Ask now among the nations, who has heard such things; the virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
14黎巴嫩山上巖石的積雪融化過嗎？從遠處流下清涼的溪水乾涸過嗎？
14Shall the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Shall the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?
15但我的子民竟忘記我，向虛無的偶像燒香，以致他們在自己的路上、在古道上絆倒，行走小路，不是修建過的大道。
15For my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false gods; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up;
16他們的土地變為荒涼，成為永遠被人嗤笑的對象；經過這地的，都必驚駭搖頭。
16to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.
17在他們的敵人面前，我要像東風吹散他們；在他們遭難的日子，我必使他們只見我的背，不見我的面。”
17I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
18耶利米求 神對付敵人他們說：“來吧！我們來設計對付耶利米；因為祭司的律法、智慧人的謀略、先知的話都不會斷絕。來吧！我們用舌頭攻擊他，不理會他的一切話。”
18Then they said, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
19耶和華啊！求你傾聽我的申訴，聽那些指控我的人的聲音。
19Give heed to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
20良善的應得惡報嗎？他們竟然挖陷坑害我。求你記念我怎樣站在你面前，為他們說好話，使你的烈怒離開他們。
20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
21因此，願你使他們的兒女遭受饑荒，把他們交給刀劍（“刀劍”原文作“刀劍的手”）；願他們的妻子喪夫失子；願他們的男人被殺死，他們的壯丁在戰場上被刀劍擊殺。
21Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, and their young men struck of the sword in battle.
22你使侵略者忽然臨到他們的時候，願人從他們的屋裡聽見呼救聲；因為他們挖陷坑要捉拿我，埋藏網羅要絆我的腳。
22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
23耶和華啊！至於你，你知道他們要殺我的一切計謀。求你不要赦免他們的罪孽，不要從你面前塗抹他們的罪！使他們在你面前絆倒；求你在發怒的時候，對付他們。
23Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel against me to kill me; don’t forgive their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from your sight; but let them be overthrown before you; deal you with them in the time of your anger.