CHAPTER 1
These are the words
of Jeremiah
son
of Hilkiah,
one of
the priests
in Anathoth
in the territory
of Benjamin.
The word
of the LORD
came
to Jeremiah
in the thirteenth
year
of the reign
of Josiah
son
of Amon
king
of Judah,
and
through the days
of Jehoiakim
son
of Josiah
king
of Judah,
until
the fifth
month
of the eleventh
year
of Zedekiah
son
of Josiah
king
of Judah,
when
the people of Jerusalem
went into exile.
“Before
I formed
you in the womb
I knew you,
and before
you were born
I set you apart
and appointed
you a prophet
to the nations.”
But the LORD
told
me:
“Do not
say,
‘I am
only a child.’
For
to
everyone
I send you,
you must go,
and all
that
I command you,
you must speak.
Then the LORD
reached out
His hand,
touched
my mouth,
and said
to me:
“Behold,
I have put
My words
into your mouth.
See,
I have appointed
you today
over
nations
and kingdoms
to uproot
and tear down,
to destroy
and overthrow,
to build
and plant.”
And the word
of the LORD
came
to me,
asking,
“What
do you
see,
Jeremiah?”
“I
see
a branch
of an almond tree,”
I replied.
Again
the word
of the LORD
came
to me,
inquiring,
“What
do you
see?”
“I
see
a boiling
pot,”
I replied,
“and it is tilting
away from
the north.”
Then the LORD
said
to me,
“Disaster
from the north
will be poured out
on
all
who live
in the land.
For
I am about to summon
all
the clans
and kingdoms
of the north,”
declares
the LORD.
“Their kings will come
and set up
their thrones
at the entrance
to Jerusalem’s
gates.
They will attack
all
her surrounding
walls
and all
the other cities
of Judah.
I will pronounce
My judgments
against them
for all
the evil
they did,
when they abandoned Me
to burn incense
to other
gods
and to worship
the works
of their own hands.
Get yourself
ready.
Stand up
and tell
them everything
that
I
command you.
Do not
be intimidated
by them,
or
I will terrify you
before them.
Now behold,
this day
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.
They will fight
against you
but never
overcome you,
since
I
am with
you to rescue you,”
declares
the LORD.