1The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who lived in Anathoth, in the territory of Benjamin.
2Yahweh’s message came to him during the reign of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his rule.
3It also came during the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, and continued until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, son of Josiah, king of Judah, when Jerusalem was taken captive in the fifth month.
4Then Yahweh’s message came to me, saying,
5“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special purpose. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6Then I said, “Oh, Lord Yahweh! Look, I don’t know how to speak, because I am just a child.”
7But Yahweh said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a child,’ because you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.
8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.
9Then Yahweh reached out his hand and touched my mouth. And Yahweh said to me, “See, I have put my words in your mouth.
10Look, today I have given you authority over nations and over kingdoms, to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
11Furthermore, Yahweh’s message came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching carefully to make sure my word is carried out.”
13Yahweh’s message came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling pot, and its opening is tilted away from the north.”
14Then Yahweh said to me, “From the north, disaster will break out on all the people of the land.”
15Because I am calling for all the families of the northern kingdoms,” says Yahweh. “They will come and each will set up his throne at the entrance of Jerusalem’s gates, all around its walls, and against all the towns of Judah.
16I will announce my judgments against them for all their wickedness. They abandoned me, burned incense to other gods, and worshiped things they made with their own hands.
17So get yourself ready, stand up, and tell them everything I command you. Don't be afraid of them, or I will make you afraid in front of them.
18Today 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.
19They will fight against you, but they will not defeat you, because I am with you,” says Yahweh, “to rescue you.”