Jeremiah 1

Demolish, and Then Start Over

1-4 The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin. God's Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah. It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. This is what God said:

5 "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations— that's what I had in mind for you."

6 But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!"

7-8 God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it. Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you." God's Decree.

9-10 God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, "Look! I've just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered! See what I've done? I've given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, And then start over, building and planting."

Stand Up and Say Your Piece

11-12 God's Message came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "A walking stick—that's all." And God said, "Good eyes! I'm sticking with you. I'll make every word I give you come true."

13-15 God's Message came again: "So what do you see now?" I said, "I see a boiling pot, tipped down toward us." Then God told me, "Disaster will pour out of the north on everyone living in this land. Watch for this: I'm calling all the kings out of the north." God's Decree.

16 "They'll come and set up headquarters facing Jerusalem's gates, Facing all the city walls, facing all the villages of Judah. I'll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah for walking out on me—what a terrible thing to do!— And courting other gods with their offerings, worshiping as gods sticks they'd carved, stones they'd painted.

17 "But you—up on your feet and get dressed for work! Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say. Don't pull your punches or I'll pull you out of the lineup.

18-19 "Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work. I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture, Against Judah's kings and princes, against the priests and local leaders. They'll fight you, but they won't even scratch you. I'll back you up every inch of the way." God's Decree.

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.