1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests whowerein Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
2 to whom the word of theLordcame in the days ofJosiah the son of Amon, king of Judah,in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 It came also in the days ofJehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah,until the carrying away of Jerusalem captivein the fifth month.
The Prophet Is Called
4 Then the word of theLordcame to me, saying:
5 “Before Iformed you in the wombI knew you;
# Before you were born Isanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then said I:
# “Ah, LordGod!
Behold, I cannot speak, for Iama youth.”
7 But theLordsaid to me:
“Do not say, ‘Iama youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
# Andwhatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces,
# ForIamwith you to deliver you,” says theLord.
9 Then theLordput forth His hand andtouched my mouth, and theLordsaid to me:
# “Behold, I haveput My words in your mouth.
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
# Toroot out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.”
11 Moreover the word of theLordcame to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12 Then theLordsaid to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”
13 And the word of theLordcame to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?”
# And I said, “I seea boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.”
14 Then theLordsaid to me:
# “Out of thenorth calamity shall break forth
On all the inhabitants of the land.
15 For behold, I amcalling
All the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says theLord;
# “They shall come andeach one set his throne
At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
Against all its walls all around,
And against all the cities of Judah.
16 I will utter My judgments
Against them concerning all their wickedness,
# Becausethey have forsaken Me,
# Burnedincense to other gods,
# And worshiped the works of their ownhands.
17 “Thereforeprepare yourself and arise,
And speak to them all that I command you.
# Do not be dismayed before their faces,
Lest I dismay you before them.
18 For behold, I have made you this day
# A fortified city and an iron pillar,
And bronze walls against the whole land—
Against the kings of Judah,
Against its princes,
Against its priests,
And against the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For Iamwith you,” says theLord, “to deliver you.”