to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.”

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord.

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

The Almond Branch and Boiling Pot

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”

And the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.”

Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north the evil will be unleashed on all the inhabitants of the land.

For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares the Lord; “and they will come and place, each one of them, his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls around, and against all the cities of Judah.

And they will fight against you but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord.

Judah’s Apostasy

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I remember regarding you the devotion of your youth, Your love when you were a bride, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

Israel was holy to the Lord, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares the Lord.’”

Hear the word of the Lord, house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.

This is what the Lord says: “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me, And walked after emptiness and became empty?

They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no person lived?’

The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the Law did not know Me; The rulers also revolted against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that were of no benefit.

“Therefore I will still contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And I will contend with your sons’ sons.

Be appalled at this, you heavens, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.

Have you not done this to yourself By your abandoning the Lord your God When He led you in the way?

Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to abandon the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord God of armies.

Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your guilt is before Me,” declares the Lord God.

“Why do you contend with Me? You have all revolted against Me,” declares the Lord.