The words of Jeremiah, a the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests living in Anathoth b in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah c son of Amon, king of Judah. 3 It also came throughout the days of Jehoiakim d son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah e son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

The Call of Jeremiah

4 The word of the Lord came to me:

5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb;

I set you apart before you were born. f

I appointed you a prophet to the nations. g

6 But I protested, “Oh no, Lord, God! Look, I don’t know how to speak h since I am only a youth.” i

7 Then the Lord said to me:

Do not say, “I am only a youth,” j

for you will go to everyone I send you to

and speak whatever I tell you. k

8 Do not be afraid of anyone, l

for I will be with you to deliver you. m

This is the Lord’s declaration.

9 Then the Lord reached out His hand, touched my mouth, n and told me:

I have now filled your mouth with My words. o

10 See, I have appointed you today

over nations and kingdoms

to uproot and tear down,

to destroy and demolish, p

to build and plant. q

Two Visions

11 Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” r

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

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over My word to accomplish it.” s