Add parallel Print Page Options

The Call of Jeremiah

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the kohanim who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. The word of Adonai came to him during the days of King Josiah of Judah, son of Amon, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It continued during the days of King Jehoiakim of Judah, son of Josiah, until the end of the eleventh year of King Zedekiah of Judah, son of Josiah—until the exile from Jerusalem in the fifth month.

The word of Adonai came to me, saying:

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,
    and before you were born, I set you apart—
    I appointed you prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “Alas, Adonai Elohim!
    Look, I don’t know how to speak!
    For I’m still a boy!”
But Adonai answered me,
    “Do not say ‘I’m only a boy!’
    For to everyone I send you, you will go,
    and all I command you, you will speak.
Do not be afraid of them!
    For I am with you to deliver you.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.

Then Adonai stretched out His hand and touched my mouth and Adonai said to me,

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 See, today I have appointed you over nations and over kingdoms:
    to uproot and to tear down,
    to destroy and to overthrow,
    to build and to plant.”

11 Moreover, the word of Adonai came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

I answered, “I see an almond branch.”

12 Then Adonai said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching over[a] My word to perform it.”

13 The word of Adonai came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?”

I replied, “I see a boiling pot that is tilting away from the north.”

14 Then Adonai said to me:

“From the north, disaster will be poured out
    on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 Behold! I am calling all the families
    of the kingdoms of the north.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
    “So they will come and each will set up his throne
        at the entry of the gates of Jerusalem,
        against all her surrounding walls
        and against all the cities of Judah.
16 I will pronounce My judgments on them for all their wickedness—
    they have forsaken Me,
        offering incense to other gods,
        worshipping the works of their hands.
17 Now, you, gird up your loins!
    Get up and tell them everything that I order you!
    Do not be terrified by them,
        or else I will terrify you before them.
18 Look, today I have set you up
    as a fortified city—
    an iron pillar and bronze walls—
    against the whole land,
    against the kings of Judah, its princes
    against its kohanim,
    and against the people of the land.
19 Though they will fight against you,
    they will not win,
        for I am with you, to deliver you.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 1:12 The Heb. words for almond and watching over are similar.

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth(A) in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the Lord came(B) to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah(C) son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim(D) son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah(E) son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.(F)

The Call of Jeremiah

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb(G) I knew[a](H) you,
    before you were born(I) I set you apart;(J)
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.(K)

“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak;(L) I am too young.”(M)

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid(N) of them, for I am with you(O) and will rescue(P) you,” declares the Lord.(Q)

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched(R) my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.(S) 10 See, today I appoint you over nations(T) and kingdoms to uproot(U) and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”(V)

11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”(W)

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching[b](X) to see that my word is fulfilled.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”(Y)

“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

14 The Lord said to me, “From the north(Z) disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
    in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
    and against all the towns of Judah.(AA)
16 I will pronounce my judgments(AB) on my people
    because of their wickedness(AC) in forsaking me,(AD)
in burning incense to other gods(AE)
    and in worshiping(AF) what their hands have made.(AG)

17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say(AH) to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified(AI) by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you(AJ) a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome(AK) you, for I am with you(AL) and will rescue(AM) you,” declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 1:5 Or chose
  2. Jeremiah 1:12 The Hebrew for watching sounds like the Hebrew for almond tree.