The Prophet is Called

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

5 “Before I hformed you in the womb iI knew you;

Before you were born I jsanctified 1you;

I 2ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then said I:

k“Ah, Lord God!

Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

7 But the Lord said to me:

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’

For you shall go to all to whom I send you,

And lwhatever I command you, you shall speak.

8 mDo not be afraid of their faces,

For nI am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and otouched my mouth, and the Lord said to me:

“Behold, I have pput My words in your mouth.

10 qSee, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To rroot out and to pull down,

To destroy and to throw down,

To build and to plant.”

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

And I said, “I see a 3branch of an almond tree.”

12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am 4ready to perform My word.”