The Words of Jeremiah

(2 Kings 24:18-20; 2 Chronicles 36:11-14)

1Words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, of the priests who [are] in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin, 2unto whom the word of Jehovah hath been in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign, 3and it is in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, till the completion of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, till the removal of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

The Call of Jeremiah

4And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

5‘Before I form thee in the belly, I have known thee; and before thou comest forth from the womb I have separated thee, a prophet to nations I have made thee.’

6And I say, ‘Ah, Lord Jehovah! lo, I have not known — to speak, for I [am] a youth.’

7And Jehovah saith unto me, ‘Do not say, I [am] a youth, for to all to whom I send thee thou goest, and all that I command thee thou speakest.

8Be not afraid of their faces, for with thee [am] I to deliver thee, — an affirmation of Jehovah.’

9And Jehovah putteth forth His hand, and striketh against my mouth, and Jehovah saith unto me, ‘Lo, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10See, I have charged thee this day concerning the nations, and concerning the kingdoms, to pluck up, and to break down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.’

11And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying, ‘What art thou seeing, Jeremiah?’ And I say, ‘A rod of an almond tree I am seeing.’ 12And Jehovah saith unto me, ‘Thou hast well seen: for I am watching over My word to do it.’

13And there is a word of Jehovah unto me a second time, saying, ‘What art thou seeing?’ And I say, ‘A blown pot I am seeing, and its face [is] from the north.’ 14And Jehovah saith unto me, ‘From the north is the evil loosed against all inhabitants of the land. 15For, lo, I am calling for all families of the kingdoms of the north, — an affirmation of Jehovah — and they have come, and put each his throne at the opening of the gates of Jerusalem, and by its walls round about, and by all cities of Judah. 16And I have spoken My judgments with them concerning all their evil, in that they have forsaken Me, and make perfume to other gods, and bow themselves to the works of their own hands. 17‘And thou, thou dost gird up thy loins, and hast arisen, and spoken unto them all that I command thee: be not affrighted because of them, lest I affright thee before them. 18And I, lo, I have given thee this day for a fenced city, and for an iron pillar, and for brazen walls over all the land, to the kings of Judah, to its heads, to its priests, and to the people of the land; 19and they have fought against thee, and they prevail not against thee; for with thee [am] I, — an affirmation of Jehovah — to deliver thee.