1 T he words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,

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

2 t o whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

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

3 I t came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. The Prophet Is Called

It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

4 T hen the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

Now Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

5 “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 T hen said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

7 B ut the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.

8 D o not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.

9 T hen the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

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

10 S ee, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 M oreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

12 T hen the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”

13 A nd the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.”

Yahweh’s word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north.”

14 T hen the Lord said to me: “Out of the north calamity shall break forth On all the inhabitants of the land.

Then Yahweh said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.

15 F or behold, I am calling All the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the Lord; “They shall come and each one set his throne At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, Against all its walls all around, And against all the cities of Judah.

For, behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says Yahweh. “They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.

16 I will utter My judgments Against them concerning all their wickedness, Because they have forsaken Me, Burned incense to other gods, And worshiped the works of their own hands.

I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.

17 “ Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.

“You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them.

18 F or behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and 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.

For, behold, I have made you today 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 T hey will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”

They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says Yahweh, “to rescue you.”