Jeremiah 1

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

The Call of Jeremiah

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”
“I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north,” I answered.
14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land.

15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.
“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.

16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made.
17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.

19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

JEREMIAH 1

1 My name is Jeremiah. I am a priest, and my father Hilkiah and everyone else in my family are from Anathoth in the territory of the Benjamin tribe. This book contains the things that the [Lord] told me to say. 2 t The [Lord] first spoke to me in the thirteenth year that Josiaht was king of Judah,

3 t and he continued to speak to me during the rule of Josiah's son Jehoiakim.t The last time the [Lord] spoke to me was in the fifth montht of the eleventh year that Josiah's son Zedekiaht was king. That was also when the people of Jerusalem were taken away as prisoners.

The [Lord] Chooses Jeremiah

4 The [Lord] said:

5 “Jeremiah, I am your Creator,
and before you were born,
I chose you to speak for me
to the nations.”

6 I replied, “I'm not a good speaker, [Lord], and I'm too young.”
7 “Don't say you're too young,” the [Lord] answered. “If I tell you to go and speak to someone, then go! And when I tell you what to say, don't leave out a word!

8 I promise to be with you and keep you safe, so don't be afraid.”
9 The [Lord] reached out his hand, then he touched my mouth and said, “I am giving you the words to say,

10 and I am sending you with authority to speak to the nations for me. You will tell them of doom and destruction, and of rising and rebuilding again.”

11 The [Lord] showed me something in a vision. Then he asked, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
I answered, “A branch of almonds that ripen early.”

12 “That's right,” the [Lord] replied, “and I always rise earlyt to keep a promise.”

13 Then the [Lord] showed me something else and asked, “What do you see now?”
I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water in the north, and it's about to spill out toward us.”

14 The [Lord] said:
I will pour out destruction
all over the land.

15 Just watch while I send
for the kings of the north.
They will attack and capture
Jerusalem and other towns,
then set up their thrones
at the gates of Jerusalem.

16 I will punish my people,
because they are guilty
of turning from me
to worship idols.

17 Jeremiah, get ready!
Go and tell the people
what I command you to say.
Don't be frightened by them,
or I will make you terrified
while they watch.

18 My power will make you strong
like a fortress
or a column of iron
or a wall of bronze.
You will oppose all of Judah,
including its kings and leaders,
its priests and people.

19 They will fight back,
but they won't win.
I, the [Lord], give my word—
I won't let them harm you.