Jeremiah 1

1The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.

2to whom Yahweh's word came in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

3It was in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

4The word of Yahweh came to me, saying.

5Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you came out from the womb, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

6I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! See, I do not know how to speak, because I am a boy.”

7Yahweh said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for to everyone I send you, you will go, and whatever I command you, you will speak."

8Do not fear them, for I am with you to deliver you, says Yahweh.

9Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth."

10See, today I have appointed you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and break down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.

11The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I said, "I see an almond rod."

12Yahweh said to me, "You have seen well, for I watch over my word to perform it."

13Yahweh's word came to me again, saying, "What do you see?" I said, "I see a boiling pot, and its face is from the north."

14Yahweh said to me, "Disaster will break forth from the north upon all who dwell in the land."

15For look, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms from the north, says Yahweh; they will come and each set his throne at the entrance of Jerusalem's gates, against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.

16I will declare my judgments against them for all their evil by which they forsook me, burned incense to other gods, and bowed down to the works of their hands.

17You, gird your loins, arise, and speak to them all that I command you; do not be dismayed before them, lest I terrify you in their presence.

18Look, today I have appointed you 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.

19They will fight against you, but they will not prevail over you, for I am with you, declares Yahweh, to deliver you.