Jeremiah 1

The Call of Jeremiah

1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. ‡ 1Ch 6:602Ch 36:21Ezk 1:3Jer 11:21Jer 32:7-9Amo 1:1Amo 7:10Isa 1:1 +2

2 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, ‡ 1Ki 13:20Hos 1:1Jer 1:11Jer 1:4Jon 1:1Mic 1:12Ch 34:1-332Ki 21:24 +23 and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. ‡ 2Ch 36:5-82Ki 23:34Jer 39:2Zec 7:51Ch 3:152Ch 36:11-212Ki 24:1-92Ki 24:17 +8

4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying: ‡ Ezk 3:16Ezk 1:3Jer 1:2

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, ‡ Psa 139:16Isa 49:1Gal 1:15-16Psa 71:5-6Rom 8:29Isa 49:5Isa 44:22Ti 2:19-21 +11

and before you were born I set you apart

and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” ‡ Exo 4:10-16Exo 6:121Ki 3:7-9Jer 32:17Exo 4:1Exo 6:30Jer 14:13Jer 4:10 +1

7 But the LORD told me: ‡ Ezk 3:27Mrk 16:15-16Num 22:202Ch 18:13Ezk 3:17-21Ezk 2:3-5Jer 1:17-18Mat 28:20 +4

“Do not say,

‘I am only a child.’

For to everyone I send you,

you must go,

and all that I command you,

you must speak.

8 Do not be afraid of them, ‡ Jos 1:5Jos 1:9Isa 51:7Deu 31:6Luk 12:4-5Heb 13:5-6Jer 15:20-21Deu 31:8 +17

for I am with you to deliver you,”

declares the LORD.

9 Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: ‡ Luk 21:15Exo 4:11-12Luk 12:12Isa 51:16Isa 50:4Mat 10:19Jer 5:14Ezk 3:10 +3

“Behold, I have put My words

in your mouth.

10 See, I have appointed you today ‡ Jer 31:282Co 10:4-5Isa 44:26-28Jer 31:4-5Jer 24:6Amo 9:11Ezk 36:36Rev 11:3-6 +11

over nations and kingdoms

to uproot and tear down,

to destroy and overthrow,

to build and plant.”

11 And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” ‡ Amo 7:8Amo 8:2Zec 5:2Jer 24:3Zec 4:2Num 17:8Ezk 7:10

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

12 “You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching ¹over My word to accomplish it.” ‡ Ezk 12:28Ezk 12:25Ezk 12:22-23Luk 10:28Amo 8:2Deu 5:28Deu 18:17Deu 32:35 +3

13 Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” ‡ Ezk 11:3Ezk 11:72Co 13:1-2Ezk 24:3-14Gen 41:32Zec 4:2

“I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”

14 Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land. ‡ Isa 41:25Jer 10:22Jer 4:6Jer 6:1Ezk 1:4Jer 31:8Jer 46:20Jer 50:41 +215 For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. ‡ Jer 25:9Jer 4:16Jer 43:10Jer 9:11Isa 22:7Jer 10:25Jer 39:3Deu 28:49-53 +9

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones

at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem.

They will attack all her surrounding walls

and all the other cities of Judah.

16 I will pronounce My judgments against them ‡ Jer 19:4Jer 7:9Act 7:41Deu 28:20Isa 2:82Ki 22:17Deu 31:16Hos 11:2 +27

for all their wickedness,

because they have forsaken Me

to burn incense to other gods

and to worship the works of their own hands.

17 Get yourself ready. ² Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them. ‡ 1Ki 18:46Jer 1:7-81Pe 1:13Luk 12:35Ezk 3:14-18Exo 7:2Jer 23:28Ezk 3:10-11 +1218 Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. ‡ Isa 50:7Ezk 3:8-9Jer 15:20Jer 6:27Mic 3:8-9Jer 34:20-22Jer 36:27-32Jer 37:7 +719 They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. ‡ Jos 1:9Jer 1:8Jer 20:11Psa 129:2Jer 29:25-32Jer 11:19Jer 15:10-21Jer 26:11-24 +3