Jeremiah 1

The Superscription

1:1 The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied.¹ He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. 1:2 The Lord² began to speak to him³ in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. 1:3 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 year⁴ that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem⁵ were taken into exile.⁶

Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

1:4 The Lord said to me,

1:5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb⁷ I chose you.⁸

Before you were born I set you apart.

I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

1:6 I answered, “Oh, Lord God,⁹ I really¹⁰ do not know how to speak well enough for that,¹¹ for I am too young.”¹² 1:7 The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But go¹³ to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 1:8 Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you,¹⁴ for I will be with you to protect¹⁵ you,” says the Lord. 1:9 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.¹⁶ 1:10 Know for certain that¹⁷ I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be¹⁸ uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.”¹⁹

Visions Confirming Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

1:11 Later the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 1:12 Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This means²⁰ I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.”²¹

1:13 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.”²² 1:14 Then the Lord said, “This means²³ destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. 1:15 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 thrones²⁴ near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem.²⁵ They will attack all the walls surrounding it, and all the towns in Judah.²⁶ 1:16 In this way²⁷ I will pass sentence²⁸ on the people of Jerusalem and Judah²⁹ because of all their wickedness. For they rejected me and offered sacrifices to other gods, worshiping what they made with their own hands.”³⁰

1:17 “But you, Jeremiah,³¹ get yourself ready!³² 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.³³ 1:18 I, the Lord,³⁴ hereby promise to make you³⁵ as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in³⁶ the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. 1:19 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.

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