The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, among the priests of the city of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, are recorded below.

Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah, reigned thirteen years, and the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.

The word of the Lord also came to Jeremiah from the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah until the end of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the eleventh year, when the people of Jerusalem were taken captive.

Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

I did not create you in my womb, I already know you. You have not yet given birth, I have consecrated you. I have sent you as a prophet to the nations.

I said, O Lord GOD, I know not what to say, for I am young.

The Lord said to me, Do not say that I am young, for you will go to anyone I send you. Whatever I command you to say, you must say.

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will save you. This is what the Lord has said.

So the Lord reached out his hand and pressed on my mouth, saying to me, I have spoken the words that should be spoken to you.

See, today I have set you above the nations and nations to uproot, demolish, destroy, overturn, and to establish and plant.

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see. I said, I saw an apricot branch.

The Lord said to me, You see well. Because I pay attention to keeping my words conservative, which leads to success.

The word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, What do you see. I said, I saw a boiling pot tilting from the north.

The Lord said to me, Disaster will come from the north and come upon all the inhabitants of this land.

The Lord said, “See, I will call the families of the nations of the north.”. They will come and set their seats at the entrance of Jerusalem, attacking the city walls around them and all the cities of Judah.

As for all the evil of this people, who have abandoned me, burned incense to other gods, and worshipped the work of their own hands, I will issue my judgment against them.

So tie your waist and get up and tell them all the words I have commanded you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I make you dismayed before them.

See, today I have made you a strong city, an iron pillar, a bronze wall, against all the land, against the kings, leaders, priests, and all the people of Judah.

They want to attack you, but they cannot defeat you. Because I am with you, to save you. This is what the Lord has said.