Jeremiah 1:4-10

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Call of Jeremiah

⁴The word of the Lord came to me:

⁵I chose you before I formed you in the womb;
I set you apart before you were born.^(A)
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.^(B)

⁶But I protested, “Oh no, Lord, God! Look, I don’t know how to speak^(C) since I am only a youth.”^(D)

⁷Then the Lord said to me:

Do not say, “I am only a youth,”^(E)
for you will go to everyone I send you to
and speak whatever I tell you.^(F)
⁸Do not be afraid of anyone,^(G)
for I will be with you to deliver you.^(H)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

⁹Then the Lord reached out His hand, touched my mouth,^(I) and told me:

I have now filled your mouth with My words.^(J)
¹⁰See, I have appointed you today
over nations and kingdoms
to uproot and tear down,
to destroy and demolish,^(K)
to build and plant.^(L)