1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth^(A) in the territory of Benjamin. ² The word of the Lord came^(B) to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah^(C) son of Amon king of Judah, ³ and through the reign of Jehoiakim^(D) son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah^(E) son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.^(F)

The Call of Jeremiah

⁴ The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak;^(L) I am too young.”^(M)

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid^(N) of them, for I am with you^(O) and will rescue^(P) you,” declares the Lord.^(Q)

⁹ Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched^(R) my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.^{(S) 10} See, today I appoint you over nations^(T) and kingdoms to uproot^(U) and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”^(V)

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke^(A) of the grace that was to come to you,^(B) searched intently and with the greatest care,^{(C) 11} trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ^(D) in them was pointing when he predicted^(E) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,^(F) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you^(G) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(H) Even angels long to look into these things.

⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,^(A) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.