Jeremiah 18:11-12

18:11 So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem ¹  this: The Lord says, ‘I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you. ²  So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing. ³  Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.’ ⁴  18:12 But they just keep saying, ‘We do not care what you say! ⁵  We will do whatever we want to do! We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly!’” ⁶ 

[18:11]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[18:11]  ² sn Heb “I am forming disaster and making plans against you.” The word translated “forming” is the same as that for “potter,” so there is a wordplay taking the reader back to v. 5. They are in his hands like the clay in the hands of the potter. Since they have not been pliable he forms new plans. He still offers them opportunity to repent; but their response is predictable.

[18:11]  ³ tn Heb “Turn, each one from his wicked way.” See v. 8.

[18:11]  ⁴ tn Or “Make good your ways and your actions.” See the same expression in 7:3, 5.

[18:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “It is useless!” See the same expression in a similar context in Jer 2:25.

[18:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “We will follow our own plans and do each one according to the stubbornness of his own wicked heart.”