| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied. He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. | 1The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests living in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. |
| 2The LORD began to speak to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. | 2The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah. |
| 3The LORD also spoke to him when Jehoiakim son of Josiah ruled over Judah, and he continued to speak to him until the fifth month of the eleventh year that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile. | 3It also came throughout 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. |
| 4The LORD said to me, | 4The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 5"Before I formed you in your mother's womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations." | 5I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. |
| 6I answered, "Oh, Lord GOD, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young." | 6But I protested, "Oh no, Lord GOD! Look, I don't know how to speak since I am only a youth." |
| 7The LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. | 7Then the LORD said to me: Do not say, "I am only a youth," for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. |
| 8Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you," says the LORD. | 8Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you. This is the LORD's declaration. |
| 9Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me. | 9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with My words. |
| 10Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted." | 10See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant. |
| 11Later the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I answered, "I see a branch of an almond tree." | 11Then the word of the LORD came to me, asking, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I replied, "I see a branch of an almond tree." |
| 12Then the LORD said, "You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out." | 12The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I watch over My word to accomplish it." |
| 13The LORD again asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a pot of boiling water; it is tipped toward us from the north." | 13Again the word of the LORD came to me inquiring, "What do you see?" And I replied, "I see a boiling pot, its lip tilted from the north to the south." |
| 14Then the LORD said, "This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. | 14Then the LORD said to me, "Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land. |
| 15For I will soon summon all the peoples of the kingdoms of the north," says the LORD. "They will come and their kings will set up their thrones near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all the walls surrounding it, and all the towns in Judah. | 15Indeed, I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north." This is the LORD's declaration. They will come, and each king will set up his throne at the entrance to Jerusalem's gates. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah. |
| 16In this way I will pass sentence on the people of Jerusalem and Judah because of all their wickedness. For they rejected me and offered sacrifices to other gods, worshiping what they made with their own hands." | 16"I will pronounce My judgments against them for all the evil they did when they abandoned Me to burn incense to other gods and to worship the works of their own hands. |
| 17"But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them. | 17"Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them. |
| 18I, the LORD, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. | 18Today, I am the One who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population. |
| 19They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you," says the LORD. | 19They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you." This is the LORD's declaration. |
|
