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 11 So now, say to the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I am about to bring harm to you and make plans against you. Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds.’c 12 But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless.d We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ ”