| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. | 1The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied. He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. |
| 2The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, | 2The LORD began to speak to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. |
| 3and 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. | 3The 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 year that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile. |
| 4The word of the LORD came to me, saying: | 4The LORD said to me, |
| 5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” | 5"Before I formed you in your mother's womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations." |
| 6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” | 6I answered, "Oh, Lord GOD, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young." |
| 7But 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. | 7The LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. |
| 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. | 8Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you," says the LORD. |
| 9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. | 9Then 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. |
| 10See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.” | 10Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted." |
| 11And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied. | 11Later the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I answered, "I see a branch of an almond tree." |
| 12“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.” | 12Then the LORD said, "You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out." |
| 13Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.” | 13The 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." |
| 14Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land. | 14Then the LORD said, "This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. |
| 15For 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 of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah. | 15For 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 thrones near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all the walls surrounding it, and all the towns in Judah. |
| 16I will pronounce My judgments against them for all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me to burn incense to other gods and to worship the works of their own hands. | 16In this way I will pass sentence on the people of Jerusalem and Judah because of all their wickedness. For they rejected me and offered sacrifices to other gods, worshiping what they made with their own hands." |
| 17Get 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. | 17"But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! 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. |
| 18Now behold, this day I have made you like 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. | 18I, the LORD, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. |
| 19They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. | 19They 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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