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 Jehovah 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, 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 Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7 But Jehovah said to me, Don't say, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatever I command you you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver you, says Jehovah.
9 Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And Jehovah said to me, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have this day set you 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 The word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
12 Then said Jehovah to me, You have well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
13 And the word of Jehovah came to me the second time, saying, What do you see? And I said, I see a boiling pot; and the face is toward the North.
14 Then Jehovah said to 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, says Jehovah; 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 on every side, 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 to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17 You therefore gird up your loins, and arise, and speak to them all that I command you; Do not be dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them.
18 For, 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 the princes, against the priests, and against the people of the land.
19 And they shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you, says Jehovah, to deliver you.