Jeremiah 1:11-2:3

New International Version

¹¹The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”^(A)

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

¹²The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching^[a]^(B) to see that my word is fulfilled.”

¹³The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”^(C)

“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

¹⁴The Lord said to me, “From the north^(D) disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. ¹⁵I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
    in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
    and against all the towns of Judah.^(E)
¹⁶I will pronounce my judgments^(F) on my people
    because of their wickedness^(G) in forsaking me,^(H)
in burning incense to other gods^(I)
    and in worshiping^(J) what their hands have made.^(K)

¹⁷“Get yourself ready! Stand up and say^(L) to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified^(M) by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸Today I have made you^(N) a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ¹⁹They will fight against you but will not overcome^(O) you, for I am with you^(P) and will rescue^(Q) you,” declares the Lord.

Israel Forsakes God

2 The word^(R) of the Lord came to me: ²“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

“‘I remember the devotion of your youth,^(S)
    how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the wilderness,^(T)
    through a land not sown.
³Israel was holy^(U) to the Lord,^(V)
    the firstfruits^(W) of his harvest;
all who devoured^(X) her were held guilty,^(Y)
    and disaster overtook them,’”
declares the Lord.