Jeremiah 1

The Prophet Jeremiah

1 These are the words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah. He was one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.2 The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Josiah, son of Amon, was in his thirteenth year as king of Judah.

3 The Lord also spoke when Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah and during the 11 years that Zedekiah, another son of Josiah, was king of Judah. The Lord continued to speak to Jeremiah until the people of Jerusalem were taken away into captivity in the fifth month of the year.

The Lord Gives Jeremiah a Message for His People

4 The Lord spoke his word to me,5 “Before I formed you in the womb,I knew you.Before you were born,I set you apart for my holy purpose.I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”6 I, Jeremiah, said, “Almighty Lord, I do not know how to speak. I am only a boy!”7 But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say.

8 Don’t be afraid of people. I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. The Lord said to me,“Now I have put my words in your mouth.10 Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms.You will uproot and tear down.You will destroy and overthrow.You will build and plant.”11 Again the Lord spoke his word to me and asked, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”12 Then the Lord said to me, “Right. I am watching to make sure that my words come true.”t13 Again the Lord spoke his word to me and asked, “What do you see?”I answered, “I see a boiling pot, and its top is tilted away from the north.”14 Then the Lord said to me,“Disaster will be poured out from the northon all those who live in the land.15 I am going to call every family and kingdom from the north,”declares the Lord.“They will come, and they will set up their thronesat the entrance of Jerusalem’s gates.They will attack all the walls around the cityand all the cities of Judah.16 I will pass sentence on my people because of all their wickedness.They abandoned me,burned incense to other gods,and worshiped what their hands have made.17 Brace yourself, Jeremiah!Stand up, and say to them whatever I tell you to say.Don’t be terrified in their presence,or I will make you even more terrified in their presence.18 Today I have made you like a fortified city,an iron pillar, and a bronze wall.You will be able to stand up to the whole land.You will be able to stand up to Judah’s kings,its officials, its priests, and all the common people.19 They will fight you, but they will not defeat you.I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1

The Superscription

1 The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied.t He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin.2 The Lords began to speak to himt in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah.

3 The Lord also spoke to him when Jehoiakim son of Josiah ruled over Judah, and he continued to speak to him until the fifth month of the eleventh years that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalems were taken into exile.t

Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

4 The Lord said to me,

5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s wombt I chose you.t
Before you were born I set you apart.
I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”
6 I answered, “Oh, Lord God,ts I reallyt do not know how to speak well enough for that,t for I am too young.”t7 The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But got to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you.8 Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you,t for I will be with you to protectt you,” says the Lord.9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me.ts

10 Know for certain thatt I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will bet uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.”s

Visions Confirming Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

11 Later the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

12 Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This meanst I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.”ts
13 The Lord again asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water; it is tipped toward us from the north.”t14 Then the Lord said, “This meanst destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land.15 For I will soon summon all the peoples of the kingdoms of the north,” says the Lord. “They will come and their kings will set up their thronest near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem.s They will attack all the walls surrounding it, and all the towns in Judah.t

16 In this wayt I will pass sentences on the people of Jerusalem and Judaht because of all their wickedness. For they rejected me and offered sacrifices to other gods, worshiping what they made with their own hands.”t
17 “But you, Jeremiah,t get yourself ready!t Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them.t18 I, the Lord,t hereby promise to make yout as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live int the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land.

19 They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord.