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 knewt you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

6 "Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young."

7 But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' 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, "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 watchingt to see that my word is fulfilled."

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: "What do you see?"
"I see a pot that is boiling," I answered. "It is tilting toward us from the north."

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

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.