Word of the Lord Comes to Jeremiah
1 The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from Anathoth, [1] in the land of Benjamin.
2 The word of the Lord came to him in the days of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign, [AA]
3 and again in the days of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, son of Josiah, king of Judah—down to the exile of Jerusalem, in the fifth month. [AB]
4 The word of the Lord came to me:
5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. [2] [AC]
6 "Ah, Lord God!" I said, "I do not know how to speak. I am too young!" [3]
7 But the Lord answered me, Do not say, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the Lord.
9 Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying to me,See, I place my words in your mouth! [AD]
10 Today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, To uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
11 The word of the Lord came to me: What do you see, Jeremiah? "I see a branch of the almond tree," [4] I replied.
12 Then the Lord said to me: You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to carry it out.
13 [AE] A second time the word of the Lord came to me: What do you see? I replied, "I see a boiling kettle whose mouth is tipped away from the north." [5]
14 The Lord said to me, And from the north evil will pour out over all who dwell in the land. [AF]
15 Look, I am summoning all the kingdoms of the north—oracle of the Lord— Each king shall come and set up his throne in the gateways of Jerusalem, Against all its surrounding walls and against all the cities of Judah. [AG]
16 I will pronounce my sentence against them for all their wickedness in forsaking me, In burning incense to other gods, in bowing down to the works of their hands. [AH]
Assurance Given to Jeremiah
17 But you, prepare yourself; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Do not be terrified on account of them, or I will terrify you before them;
18 For I am the one who today makes you a fortified city, A pillar of iron, a wall of bronze, against the whole land: Against Judah's kings and princes, its priests and the people of the land. [AI]
19 They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the Lord.