Jeremiah 1

1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah. He belonged to the family of priests who lived in the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.2 The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah.

3 The Lord also spoke to Jeremiah while Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah and during the eleven years that Zedekiah son of Josiah was king of Judah. In the fifth month of his last year, the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives.

The Lord Calls Jeremiah

4 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

5 “Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “But Lord God, I don’t know how to speak. I am only a boy.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am only a boy.’ You must go everywhere I send you, and you must say everything I tell you to say.

8 Don’t be afraid of anyone, because I am with you to protect you,” says the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth. He said to me, “See, I am putting my words in your mouth.

10 Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will pull up and tear down, destroy and overthrow, build up and plant.”

Jeremiah Sees Two Visions

11 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying: “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
I answered, “I see a stick of almond wood.”

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, because I am watching to make sure my words come true.”

13 The Lord spoke his word to me again: “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water, tipping over from the north.”
14 The Lord said to me, “Disaster will come from the north and strike all the people who live in this country.

15 In a short time I will call all of the people in the northern kingdoms,” said the Lord.
“Those kings will come and set up their thrones near the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem.
They will attack all the city walls around Jerusalem and all the cities in Judah.

16 And I will announce my judgments against my people because of their evil in turning away from me.
They offered sacrifices to other gods and worshiped idols they had made with their own hands.
17 “Jeremiah, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything I command you to say. Don’t be afraid of the people, or I will give you good reason to be afraid of them.18 Today I am going to make you a strong city, an iron pillar, a bronze wall. You will be able to stand against everyone in the land: Judah’s kings, officers, priests, and the people of the land.19 They will fight against you, but they will not defeat you, because I am with you to protect you!” says 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.