Yahweh’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Now Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.

Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.

Then Yahweh stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”

Yahweh’s word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north.”

Then Yahweh said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.

For, behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says Yahweh. “They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.

They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says Yahweh, “to rescue you.”

Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your weddings; how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says Yahweh.”

Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!

Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?

They didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh 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 the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’

The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.

“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.

“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.

“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?

“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.

For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord Yahweh.

“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says Yahweh.