Jeremiah 1

1The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.

2The word of Yahweh came to him in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

3It came also in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, until Jerusalem was taken into exile in the fifth month.

4The word of Yahweh came to me:

5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Look, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”

7But Yahweh said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy.’ You must go to everyone I send you to, and you must speak whatever I command you.

8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you, declares Yahweh.”

9Then Yahweh reached out his hand and touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth.

10See, today I have appointed you over nations and over kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11The word of Yahweh came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

12Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to carry it out.”

13The word of Yahweh came to me a second time: “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is tilted away from the north.”

14Then Yahweh said to me, “Out of the north disaster will break loose on all who live in the land.

15For I am about to summon all the clans of the kingdoms of the north, declares Yahweh. They will come, and each of them will set up his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its surrounding walls, and against all the cities of Judah.

16I will pronounce my judgments on them for all their evil, because they have forsaken me, burned incense to other gods, and bowed down to the works of their own hands.

17As for you, get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything I command you. Do not be terrified of them, or I will terrify you in front of them.

18As for me, today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.

19They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue you, declares Yahweh.”