1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth  in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came  to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah  son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim  son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah  son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.  
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 
 
5 “Before I formed you in the womb  I knew   you,
    before you were born  I set you apart; 
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. ” 
6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak;  I am too young.”  
7 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. 8 Do not be afraid  of them, for I am with you  and will rescue  you,” declares the Lord.  
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched  my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.  10 See, today I appoint you over nations  and kingdoms to uproot  and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”  
11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”  
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. 
12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching   to see that my word is fulfilled.” 
13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”  
“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  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. 
 16 I will pronounce my judgments  on my people
    because of their wickedness  in forsaking me, 
in burning incense to other gods 
    and in worshiping  what their hands have made.  17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say  to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified  by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you  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  you, for I am with you  and will rescue  you,” declares the Lord.