I went down to the potter's house

and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
And the vessel that he made of clay
was marred in the hand of the potter:
so he made it again another vessel,
as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
O house of Israel,
cannot I do with you as this potter?
saith the LORD.

Behold,
as the clay is in the potter's hand,
so are ye in mine hand...
Jeremiah 18:3-6