The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 1 The Calling and First Vision of Jeremiah

 The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 1

The Calling and First Vision of Jeremiah

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

2 The word of the Lord came to him in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

3 It also came to him 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 Jerusalem was taken captive in the fifth month.

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me:

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You shall go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth.

10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me a second time: “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and its face is toward the north.”

14 Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north disaster will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.”

15 “See, I am summoning all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares the Lord, “and they will come and each one will set up his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.

16 I will pronounce my judgments against them because of all their wickedness; for they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.

17 “Therefore, gird up your loins and arise and tell them all that I command you. Do not be afraid before them, for I will make you fearless in their presence.”

18 For behold, I have made you this day 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.

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