The word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah, a young priest, who says he cannot speak. God says he knew him before he was formed and touches his mouth, putting words in it. Jeremiah sees an almond branch and a boiling pot, signs of coming judgment.
1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah , of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin :
2 To 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 .
3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah , unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah , unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month .
4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying ,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations .
6 Then said I, Ah , Lord GOD ! behold, I cannot speak : for I am a child .
7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child : for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak .
8 Be not afraid of their faces : for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD .
9 Then the LORD put forth his hand , and touched my mouth . And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth .
10 See , I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms , to root out , and to pull down , and to destroy , and to throw down , to build , and to plant .
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying , Jeremiah , what seest thou? And I said , I see a rod of an almond tree .
12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen : for I will hasten my word to perform it.
13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time , saying , What seest thou? And I said , I see a seething pot ; and the face thereof is toward the north .
14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land .
15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north , saith the LORD ; and they shall come , and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem , and against all the walls thereof round about , and against all the cities of Judah .
16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness , who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods , and worshipped the works of their own hands .
17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins , and arise , and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces , lest I confound thee before them.
18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city , and an iron pillar , and brasen walls against the whole land , against the kings of Judah , against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land .
19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD , to deliver thee.