Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah’s call

1The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

2The LORD’s word came to him in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3It also came in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when Jerusalem went into exile in the fifth month.

4The LORD’s word came to me: 5“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you;
before you came out at birth, I set you apart.
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! I do not know how to speak. I am only a youth.”

7But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth.’ Go to everyone I send you to, and speak everything I command you. 8Do not fear them, for I am with you to rescue you,” declares the LORD.

9Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth. The LORD said to me, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth. 10See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms,
to uproot and tear down,
to destroy and overthrow,
to build and plant.”

Two visions

11The LORD’s word came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see an almond branch.” 12The LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to carry it out.”

13The LORD’s word came to me a second time: “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a boiling pot, tilted away from the north.”

14Then the LORD said to me, “From the north disaster will be unleashed on everyone living in the land. 15Look, I am summoning all the clans of the northern kingdoms,” declares the LORD. “They will come, and each will set his throne at the entrance to Jerusalem’s gates, against all her surrounding walls and against all Judah’s cities. 16I will pronounce my judgments against them for all their wickedness: they abandoned me, burned offerings to other gods, and bowed down to what their own hands made.

17But you, tie up your robe, stand up, and tell them everything I command you. Do not be shattered by fear of them, or I will shatter you before them. 18Look, today I make you a fortified city, an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land—against Judah’s kings, officials, priests and people of the land. 19They will fight you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you,” declares the LORD, “to rescue you.”