Jeremiah 1

1 The word of God came to Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who lived in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2 The word of God came to him in the days of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It also came in the days of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah son of Josiah of Judah, when Jerusalem went into captivity in the fifth month. 4 The word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you came from the womb, I made you holy. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 I said, “Master and Lord, look, I do not know how to speak, because I am a child.” 7 The Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a child.’ You will go to everyone I send you to, and you will speak everything I command you.” 8 “Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you to rescue you, says the Lord.” 9 The Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth. Then he said to me, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth.” 10 “Look, today I have appointed you over nations and kingdoms — to uproot and to tear down and to destroy and to rebuild and to plant.”

11 The word of the Lord came to me and asked, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “A staff of nut wood.” [a] 12 The Lord said to me: “You have seen well, because I am watching over my words to carry them out.” 13 The word of the Lord came to me a second time and asked, “What do you see?” I answered, “A cauldron over the fire, facing north.” 14 The Lord said to me: “Disaster will flare up from the north against everyone who lives in the land.” 15 “For, look, I am calling together all the kingdoms from the north of the earth, says the Lord. And they will come, and each will set his throne at the entrance of Jerusalem’s gates, and against all the walls around her, and against all the cities of Judah.”

16 “And I will speak to them in judgment over all their evil — how they abandoned me and sacrificed to foreign gods and bowed down to the works of their own hands.” 17 “And you, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything I command you. Do not be afraid of them, and do not be terrified before them, for I am with you to rescue you, says the Lord.” 18 “Look, today I have made you like a fortified city and a strong bronze wall against all the kings of Judah, its rulers, and the people of the land.” 19 “They will fight against you but will not prevail, because I am with you to rescue you, says the Lord.”