Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah's Call and Commission

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim 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 exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

6 Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD!
Behold, I do not know how to speak,
Because I am a youth."

7 But the LORD said to me,
"Do not say, 'I am a youth,'
Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.

8 "Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD.9 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me,
"Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

10 "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant."

The Almond Rod and Boiling Pot

11 The word of the LORD came to me saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree."12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."

13 The word of the LORD came to me a second time saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north."14 Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.15 For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north," declares the LORD; "and they will come and they will set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah.16 I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.17 Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them.18 Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land.19 They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver 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.