Chapter 1
1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah , one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin .
2 The LORD ’s ", usually pronounced Yahweh). word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah , in the thirteenth year of his reign .
3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah , king of Judah , to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah , the son of Josiah , king of Judah , to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month .
4 Now the LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,
5 " Before I formed you in the womb , I knew you . Before you were born , I sanctified you . I have appointed you a prophet to the nations ."
6 Then I said , "Ah, Lord GOD ! Behold , ", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. I don’t know how to speak ; for I am a child ."
7 But the LORD said to me , "Don’t say , ‘ I am a child ;’ for you must go to whomever I send you , and you must say whatever I command you .
8 Don’t be afraid because of them , for I am with you to rescue you ," says the LORD .
9 Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth . Then the LORD said to me , " Behold , I have put my words in your mouth .
10 Behold , I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms , to uproot and to tear down , to destroy and to overthrow , to build and to plant ."
11 Moreover the LORD ’s word came to me , saying , " Jeremiah , what do you see ?" I said , " I see a branch of an almond tree ."
12 Then the LORD said to me , " You have seen well ; for I watch over my word to perform it ."
13 The LORD ’s word came to me the second time , saying , " What do you see ?" I said , " I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north ."
14 Then the LORD said to me , " Out of the north , evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 For behold , I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north ," says the LORD . " They will come , and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem , and against all its walls all around , and against all the cities of Judah .
16 I will utter my judgements against them concerning all their wickedness , in that they have forsaken me , and have burnt incense to other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands .
17 " You therefore put your belt on your waist , arise , and say to them all that I command you . Don’t be dismayed at them , lest I dismay you before them .
18 For behold , I have made you today a fortified city , an iron pillar , and bronze walls against the whole land— against the kings of Judah , against its princes , against its priests , and against the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you , but they will not prevail against you ; for I am with you ", says the LORD , " to rescue you ."