If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom…
“If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will repent of the evil that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will repent of the good which I had intended to do to it.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Promises to destroy or build a nation are conditional on its moral behavior; repentance follows misaligned intentions.
In simple terms: Intentions depend on outcomes; adjust actions accordingly.
Align deeds with moral outcomes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- governance
- community leadership
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we assess a nation's moral direction?
- When should we change our plans?
Predicting future behavior is uncertain.