1The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin, 2To whom the word of the LORD came in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah, 3And continued through the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, and through the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem were carried away captive in the fifth month of that year.

4Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you were born, I sanctified you (set you apart), and I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations.” 6Then I said, “Ah, LORD God! Behold, I cannot speak for You; for I am too young.” 7But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young’; for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. 8Do not be intimidated by them; for I am with you to protect you”, says the LORD. 9Then the LORD reached out His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10See, I have this day appointed you over the nations and the kingdoms, to uproot, to tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build, and to plant.” 11Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch from an almond tree.” 12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly; for I will watch over and promptly fulfill My word.” 13And the word of the LORD came to me yet again, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a pot boiling; and it is tilting toward us from the north.” 14Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north trouble shall boil and spill out upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15For I am about to summon all the families of the kingdoms of the north”, says the LORD; “and their kings shall come, and shall all set their thrones at the entrance gates of Jerusalem, and against all her surrounding walls, and against all the towns of Judah. 16And I will pronounce My judgments against My people regarding all their wickedness in forsaking Me, burning incense to other gods, and worshipping what they have made with their own hands. 17You, therefore, prepare yourself, arise, and say to them all that I command you; do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish before them. 18For, behold, this day I have made you as strong as a fortified city, like an iron pillar, and bronze walls to stand against the whole land, the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and against all the people of the land. 19They shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to deliver you”, says the LORD.