1:1 The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied and did.1 He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. 1:2 The Lord2 began to speak to him3 in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. 1:3 The Lord also spoke to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah ruled over Judah, and he continued to speak to him until the fifth month of the eleventh year4 that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem5 were taken into exile.6
Jeremiah’s Call and Commission
1:4 The Lord said to me,
1:5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb7 I chose you.8
Before you were born I set you apart.
I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”
1:6 I answered, “Oh, Lord God,9 I really10 do not know how to speak well enough for that,11 for I am too young.”12 1:7 The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But go13 to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 1:8 Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you,14 for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord. 1:9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me.15 1:10 Know for certain that16 I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be17 uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.”18
Visions Confirming Jeremiah’s Call and Commission
1:11 Later the Lord spoke to me and asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 1:12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have observed correctly. This means19 I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.”20
1:13 The Lord spoke to me again and asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water, and it is tipped toward us from the north.”21 1:14 Then the Lord said to me, “This means22 destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. 1:15 For I will soon call for all the peoples of the kingdoms of the north to come,” says the Lord. “They will come and their kings will set up their thrones23 near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem.24 They will attack all the walls surrounding it. They will also attack all the towns in Judah.25 1:16 In this way26 I will pass sentence27 on the people of Jerusalem and Judah28 because of all their wickedness. For they left me and offered sacrifices to other gods and worshiped what they made with their own hands.”29
1:17 “But you, Jeremiah,30 get ready.31 Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified in front of them.32 1:18 I, the Lord,33 hereby promise to make you34 as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. That way you will be able to stand up against all who live in35 the whole land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the rest of the people of the land. 1:19 They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord.
The Lord Recalls Israel’s Earlier Faithfulness