1The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who lived in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.2The word of the LORD came to him in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.3It continued through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.4The word of the LORD came to me, saying:5Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came forth from the womb I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.6Then I said, Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.7But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to everyone I send you to, and you shall speak everything I command you."8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.9Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth."10See, I have set you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.11The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree."12Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to fulfill it."13The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a pot blown upon, and its face is turned toward the north."14Then the LORD said to me, From the north disaster will be unleashed upon all the inhabitants of the land.15For behold, I am summoning all the clans of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they will come and each will set up his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all her surrounding walls, and against all the cities of Judah.16I will pronounce my judgments against them because of all their wickedness, for they have forsaken me, burned incense to other gods, and bowed down to the work of their own hands.17But you, gird up your loins; arise and speak to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them.18And behold, I have made you today 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.19They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.