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

2 God spoke to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon the king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

3 And also throughout the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah the king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile.

4 ¶ So the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; and before you came out of the womb I sanctified you, and I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

6 Then I said, O, Lord GOD! consider that I do not know how to speak: for I am a youth.

7 But the LORD said to me, Do not say, I am a youth: for you will go to everyone I send you to, and you will say whatever I command you.

8 Do not be afraid of them: for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

9 Then the LORD stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, See, I have put my words in your mouth.

10 Behold, I have this day appointed you to be over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, tear down, destroy, and demolish, and to build, and to plant.

11 ¶ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see the branch of an almond tree.

12 Then the LORD said to me, You have observed accurately: I will likewise watch over my word to perform it.

13 And 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 its opening is tilted away from the north.

14 Then the LORD said to me, From the north calamity will be poured out on all the inhabitants of the land.

15 For, the LORD said, I will call all the families and kingdoms of the north; and each will set up his throne at the entrance to the gates of Jerusalem, and they will come against all the walls around the city, and against all the cities of Judah.

16 And I will pronounce my judgment against them, for all their wickedness in leaving me, and burning incense to other gods, and worshiping the works of their own hands.

17 But you get ready for action, and tell them everything that I command you: do not be intimidated by their faces, lest I cause you to cower before them.

18 For, I have this day made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall to stand against the whole country, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.

19 And they will fight against you; but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.