Dual Panel1The following is a record <01697> of what Jeremiah <03414> son <01121> of Hilkiah <02518> prophesied. He was one of <04480> the priests <03548> who <0834> lived at Anathoth <06068> in the territory <0776> of the tribe of Benjamin <01144>.
2The Lord <03068> began <01961> to speak <01697> to <0413> him in the thirteenth <06240> <07969> year <08141> that Josiah <02977> son <01121> of Amon <0526> ruled over <04427> Judah <03063>.
3The Lord also spoke <01961> to him when <03117> Jehoiakim <03079> son <01121> of Josiah <02977> ruled over <04428> Judah <03063>, and he continued to speak <08552> to him until <05704> the fifth <02549> month <02320> of the eleventh <06240> <06249> year <08141> that Zedekiah <06667> son <01121> of Josiah <02977> ruled over <04428> Judah <03063>. That was when <05704> the people of Jerusalem <03389> were taken into exile <01540>.
4The Lord <03068> said <0559> to <0413> me,
5“Before <02962> I formed <03335> you in your mother’s womb <0990> I chose <03045> you. Before <02962> you were born <07358> <03318> I set <06942> you apart <06942>. I appointed you to be a prophet <05030> to the nations <01471>.”
6I answered <0559>, “Oh <0162>, Lord <0136> God <03069>, I really do not <03808> know <03045> how to speak <01696> well enough for that, for <03588> I <0595> am too young <05288>.”
7The Lord <03068> said <0559> to <0413> me, “Do not <0408> say <0559>, ‘I <0595> am too young <05288>.’ But <03588> go <01980> to <05921> whomever <0834> <03605> I send <07971> you and say <01696> whatever <0834> <03605> I tell <06680> you.
8Do not <0408> be afraid <03372> of those to whom I send you, for <03588> I <0589> will be with <0854> you to protect <05337> you,” says <05002> the Lord <03069>.
9Then the Lord <03068> reached out <07971> his hand <03027> and touched <05060> my mouth <06310> and said <0559> to <0413> me, “I will most assuredly give <05414> you the words <01697> you are to speak <06310> for me.
10Know for <05921> certain that I hereby <02088> give you the authority to announce to nations <01471> and kingdoms <04467> that they will be uprooted <05428> and torn <02040> down, destroyed <06> and demolished <05422>, rebuilt <01129> and firmly planted <05193>.”
11Later the Lord <03068> asked <0559> me, “What <04100> do you <0859> see <07200>, Jeremiah <03414>?” I answered <0559>, “I <0589> see <07200> a branch <04731> of an almond tree <08247>.”
12Then the Lord <03068> said <0559>, “You have observed <07200> correctly <03190>. This means I <0589> am watching <08245> to <05921> make sure my threats <01697> are carried out <06213>.”
13The Lord <03068> again <08145> asked <0559> me, “What <04100> do you <0859> see <07200>?” I answered <0559>, “I <0589> see <07200> a pot <05518> of boiling <05301> water; it is tipped toward <06440> us from the north <06828>.”
14Then the Lord <03068> said <0559>, “This means destruction <07451> will break out <06605> from the north <06828> on <05921> all <03605> who live <03427> in the land <0776>.
15For <03588> I will soon summon <07121> all <03605> the peoples <04940> of the kingdoms <04467> of the north <06828>,” says <05002> the Lord <03068>. “They will come <0935> and their kings will set up <05414> their thrones <03678> near the entrances <06607> of the gates <08179> of Jerusalem <03389>. They will attack <05921> all <03605> the walls <02346> surrounding <05439> it, and all <03605> the towns <05892> in Judah <03063>.
16In this way I will pass <01696> sentence <04941> on <0854> the people of Jerusalem and Judah because of <05921> all <03605> their wickedness <07451>. For <0834> they rejected <05800> me and offered sacrifices <06999> to other <0312> gods <0430>, worshiping <07812> what they made <04639> with their own hands <03027>.”
17“But you <0859>, Jeremiah, get <04975> <0247> yourself ready <04975> <0247>! Go <06965> and tell <01696> these people everything <03605> I <0595> instruct <06680> you to <0413> say. Do not <0408> be terrified <02865> of them, or <06435> I will give you good reason to be terrified <02865> of them.
18I <0589>, the Lord, hereby <03117> promise to make <05414> you as strong as a fortified <04013> city <05892>, an iron <01270> pillar <05982>, and a bronze <05178> wall <02346>. You will be able to stand up against <05921> all <03605> who live in the land <0776>, including the kings <04428> of Judah <03063>, its officials <08269>, its priests <03548> and all the people <05971> of the land <0776>.
19They will attack <03898> you but they will not <03808> be able <03201> to overcome you, for <03588> I <0589> will be with <0854> you to rescue <05337> you,” says <05002> the Lord <03068>.