Jeremiah 1
1
1My name is Jeremiah. I am a priest, and my father Hilkiah and everyone else in my family are from Anathoth in the territory of the Benjamin tribe. This book contains the things that the Lord told me to say. 2#2 K 22.3—23.27; 2 Ch 34.8—35.19. The Lord first spoke to me in the thirteenth year that Josiah#1.2 Josiah: Ruled 640–609 b.c. was king of Judah, 3#2 K 23.36—24.7; 2 Ch 36.5-8; 2 K 24.18—25.21; 2 Ch 36.11-21. and he continued to speak to me during the rule of Josiah's son Jehoiakim.#1.3 Jehoiakim: Ruled 609–598 b.c. The last time the Lord spoke to me was in the fifth month#1.3 fifth month: Ab, the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-July to mid-August. of the eleventh year that Josiah's son Zedekiah#1.3 Zedekiah: Ruled 598–586 b.c. was king. That was also when the people of Jerusalem were taken away as prisoners.
The Lord Chooses Jeremiah
4The Lord said:
5“Jeremiah, I am your Creator,
and before you were born,
I chose you to speak for me
to the nations.”
6I replied, “I'm not a good speaker, Lord, and I'm too young.”
7“Don't say you're too young,” the Lord answered. “If I tell you to go and speak to someone, then go! And when I tell you what to say, don't leave out a word! 8I promise to be with you and keep you safe, so don't be afraid.”
9The Lord reached out his hand, then he touched my mouth and said, “I am giving you the words to say, 10and I am sending you with authority to speak to the nations for me. You will tell them of doom and destruction, and of rising and rebuilding again.”
11The Lord showed me something in a vision. Then he asked, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
I answered, “A branch of almonds that ripen early.”
12“That's right,” the Lord replied, “and I always rise early#1.11,12 almonds … rise early: In Hebrew “almonds that ripen early” sounds like “always rise early.” to keep a promise.”
13Then the Lord showed me something else and asked, “What do you see now?”
I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water in the north, and it's about to spill out toward us.”
14The Lord said:
I will pour out destruction
all over the land.
15Just watch while I send
for the kings of the north.
They will attack and capture
Jerusalem and other towns,
then set up their thrones
at the gates of Jerusalem.
16I will punish my people,
because they are guilty
of turning from me
to worship idols.
17Jeremiah, get ready!
Go and tell the people
what I command you to say.
Don't be frightened by them,
or I will make you terrified
while they watch.
18My power will make you strong
like a fortress
or a column of iron
or a wall of bronze.
You will oppose all of Judah,
including its kings and leaders,
its priests and people.
19They will fight back,
but they won't win.
I, the Lord, give my word—
I won't let them harm you.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Jeremiah 1
1
1The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were #Josh. 21:18; 1 Kin. 2:26; 1 Chr. 6:60; Is. 10:30; Jer. 29:27in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of #1 Kin. 13:2; 2 Kin. 21:24; 2 Chr. 34:1; Jer. 3:6; 36:2Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, #Jer. 25:3in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3It came also in the days of #2 Kin. 23:34; 1 Chr. 3:15; 2 Chr. 36:5–8; Jer. 25:1Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, #2 Kin. 24:17; 1 Chr. 3:15; 2 Chr. 36:11–13; Jer. 39:2until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, #Jer. 52:12until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive #2 Kin. 25:8in the fifth month.
The Prophet Is Called
4Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5“Before I #Is. 49:1, 5formed you in the womb #Ex. 33:12I knew you;
Before you were born I #(Luke 1:15); Gal. 1:15sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6Then said I:
#Ex. 4:10; 6:12, 30“Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7But the Lord said to me:
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And #Num. 22:20, 38; Jer. 1:17; Matt. 28:20whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8#Ezek. 2:6; 3:9Do not be afraid of their faces,
For #Ex. 3:12; Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:5; Jer. 15:20; Heb. 13:6I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
9Then the Lord put forth His hand and #Is. 6:7; Mark 7:33–35touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me:
“Behold, I have #Ex. 4:11–16; Deut. 18:18; Is. 51:16put My words in your mouth.
10#1 Kin. 19:17See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To #Jer. 18:7–10; Ezek. 22:18; (2 Cor. 10:4, 5)root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.”
11Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”
13And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?”
And I said, “I see #Ezek. 11:3; 24:3a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.”
14Then the Lord said to me:
“Out of the #Jer. 6:1north calamity shall break forth
On all the inhabitants of the land.
15For behold, I am #Jer. 6:22; 25:9calling
All the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the Lord;
“They shall come and #Is. 22:7; Jer. 39:3each one set his throne
At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
Against all its walls all around,
And against all the cities of Judah.
16I will utter My judgments
Against them concerning all their wickedness,
Because #Deut. 28:20; Jer. 17:13they have forsaken Me,
Burned #Is. 65:3, 4; Jer. 7:9incense to other gods,
And worshiped the works of their own #Is. 37:19; Jer. 2:28hands.
17“Therefore #1 Kin. 18:46; 2 Kin. 4:29; Job 38:3; Luke 12:35; (1 Pet. 1:13)prepare yourself and arise,
And speak to them all that I command you.
#Ezek. 2:6Do not be dismayed before their faces,
Lest I dismay you before them.
18For behold, I have made you this day
#Is. 50:7; Jer. 6:27; 15:20A fortified city and an iron pillar,
And bronze walls against the whole land—
Against the kings of Judah,
Against its princes,
Against its priests,
And against the people of the land.
19They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.