5 The word of the Lord came to me: 6 “House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.aa 7 At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it.ab 8 However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.ac 9 At another time I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it.a 10 However, if it does what is evil in my sight by not listening to me, I will relent concerning the good I had said I would do to it.b