Jeremiah 18:4

But now, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are the clay and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.

Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’

Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

“House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay; that the thing made should say about him who made it, “He didn’t make me;” or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding?”

Woe to him who strives with his Maker— a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands?’

Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’

He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

Haven’t you driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves according to the ways of the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of those who are no gods.

Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.

Should an ax brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.

Concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Yahweh says: “You have burned this scroll, saying, “Why have you written therein, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cause to cease from there man and animal?’ ” ’

I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren’t aware. You are found, and also caught, because you have fought against Yahweh.

“Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the middle of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.

because you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won’t let them go.

You shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office.

When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood, but the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”

It shall happen that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. I will make the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you, cease from me.”

Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.

After this thing Jeroboam didn’t return from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the people. Whoever wanted to, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places.

Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from them.

So they feared Yahweh, and also made from among themselves priests of the high places for themselves, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to Yahweh.

Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don’t fight against Yahweh, the God of your fathers; for you will not prosper.”

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?

“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.

Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and bronze?

Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I will deal with you? I, Yahweh, have spoken it, and will do it.

“For, behold, Yahweh commands, and the great house will be smashed to pieces, and the little house into bits.

But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.