| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 1These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. |
| 2The LORD began to speak to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. | 2The LORD first gave messages to Jeremiah during 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. | 3The LORD’s messages continued throughout the reign of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah, another of Josiah’s sons. In August of that eleventh year the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives. Jeremiah’s Call and First Visions |
| 4The LORD said to me, | 4The LORD gave me this message: |
| 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." | 5“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my 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." | 6“O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” |
| 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. | 7The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say 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. | 8And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” |
| 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 and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! |
| 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." | 10Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” |
| 11Later the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I answered, "I see a branch of an almond tree." | 11Then the LORD said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.” |
| 12Then the LORD said, "You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out." | 12And the LORD said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.” |
| 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." | 13Then the LORD spoke to me again and asked, “What do you see now?” And I replied, “I see a pot of boiling water, spilling from the north.” |
| 14Then the LORD said, "This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. | 14“Yes,” the LORD said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this 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. | 15Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. I, the LORD, have spoken! “They will set their thrones at the gates of the city. They will attack its walls and all the other towns 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." | 16I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil— for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with 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“Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of 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. | 18For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. |
| 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 you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” |
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