The precioussonsof Zion,Weighedagainst finegold,Howthey are regardedas earthenjars,The workof a potter'shands!
Whose collapseis like the smashingof a potter'sjar,So ruthlesslyshatteredThat a sherdwill not be foundamong its piecesTo takefirefrom a hearthOr to scoopwaterfrom a cistern."
Thereis noneto guideher amongallthe sonsshe has borne,Noris thereoneto takeher by the handamongallthe sonsshe has reared.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Goand buya potter'searthenwarejar,and [take] someof the eldersof the peopleand someof the seniorpriests.
and sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Justsowill I breakthispeopleand thiscity,evenas one breaksa potter'svessel,whichcannotagainbe repaired;and they will buryin Tophethbecausethereis no[other] placefor burial.
"Is thismanConiaha despised,shatteredjar?Oris he an undesirablevessel?Whyhave he and his descendantsbeen hurledout And castinto a landthat they had not known?
On the groundin the streetsLieyoungand old;My virginsand my youngmenHave fallenby the sword.You have slain[them] in the dayof Your anger,You have slaughtered,not sparing.
Princeswere hungby their hands;Elderswere not respected.
Israelis swallowedup; They are nowamong the nationsLike a vesselin which noonedelights.
For I will bendJudahas My bow,I will fillthe bowwith Ephraim.And I will stirup your sons,O Zion,againstyour sons,O Greece;And I will makeyou like a warrior'ssword.
But we havethistreasurein earthenvessels,sothat the surpassing greatnessof the powerwill be of Godand not from ourselves;
Nowin a largehousethere are not onlygoldand silvervessels,but alsovessels of woodand of earthenware,and someto honorand someto dishonor.
