6 “O house of Israel, ^acan I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, ^bas the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!  ‡

7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to ^apluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,  ‡

11 “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. ^aReturn now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings ^bgood.” ’ ”  ‡

12 And they said, ^a“That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one¹ obey the ^bdictates of his evil heart.”  ‡