1The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah , of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin : 2to 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 . 3It 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 . 4Now the word of Jehovah came unto me , saying , 5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee , and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee ; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations . 6Then said I , Ah, Lord Jehovah ! behold , I know not how to speak ; for I am a child . 7But Jehovah said unto me , Say not , I am a child ; for to whomsoever I shall send thee thou shalt go , and whatsoever I shall command thee thou shalt speak . 8Be not afraid because of them ; for I am with thee to deliver thee , saith Jehovah . 9Then Jehovah put forth his hand , and touched my mouth ; and Jehovah said unto me , Behold , I have put my words in thy mouth : 10see , I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms , to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow , to build and to plant .
Jeremiah's Hesitation and God's Assurance
11Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me , saying , Jeremiah , what seest thou ? And I said , I see a rod of an almond-tree. 12Then said Jehovah unto me , Thou hast well seen : for I watch over my word to perform it . 13And the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time , saying , What seest thou ? And I said , I see a boiling caldron ; and the face thereof is from the north . 14Then Jehovah said unto me , Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15For , lo , I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north , saith Jehovah ; and they shall come , and they shall set every one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem , and against all the walls thereof round about , and against all the cities of Judah . 16And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness , in that they have forsaken me , and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands . 17Thou therefore gird up thy loins , and arise , and speak unto them all that I command thee : be not dismayed at them , lest I dismay thee before them . 18For , behold , I have made thee this day a fortified city , and an iron pillar , and brazen 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. 19And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith Jehovah , to deliver thee.