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The Superscription
The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied. He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin.
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Jeremiah’s Call and Commission
The Lord’s message came to me,
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Visions Confirming Jeremiah’s Call and Commission
Later the Lord’s message came to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
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“But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them.
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When Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, you have no doubt seen what wayward Israel has done. You have seen how she went up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a prostitute to other gods.
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“So then, Jeremiah, when your people ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ tell them, ‘It is because you rejected me and served foreign gods in your own land. So you must serve foreigners in a land that does not belong to you.’
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Faulty Religion and Unethical Behavior Will Lead to Judgment
The Lord said to Jeremiah:
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“But as for you, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not raise a cry of prayer for them! Do not plead with me to save them, because I will not listen to you.
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Jeremiah Laments over the Coming Destruction
The people say, “Why are we just sitting here? Let us gather together inside the fortified cities. Let us at least die there fighting, since the Lord our God has condemned us to die. He has condemned us to drink the poison waters of judgment because we have sinned against him.
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Jeremiah Laments for and Prays for the People Soon to be Judged
“Gather your belongings together and prepare to leave the land, you people of Jerusalem who are being besieged.
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The People Have Violated Their Covenant with God
The Lord said to Jeremiah:
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But as for you, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not raise a cry of prayer for them. For I will not listen to them when they call out to me for help when disaster strikes them.”
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A Plot Against Jeremiah is Revealed and He Complains of Injustice
The Lord gave me knowledge, that I might have understanding. Then he showed me what the people were doing.
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Before this I had been like a docile lamb ready to be led to the slaughter. I did not know they were making plans to kill me. I did not know they were saying, “Let’s destroy the tree along with its fruit! Let’s remove Jeremiah from the world of the living so people will not even be reminded of him anymore.”
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Jeremiah Appeals to God
Lord, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?
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God Answers Jeremiah
The Lord answered, “If you have raced on foot against men and they have worn you out, how will you be able to compete with horses? And if you feel secure only in safe and open country, how will you manage in the thick undergrowth along the Jordan River?
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A Lament over the Ravages of Drought
This was the Lord’s message to Jeremiah about the drought.
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Lament over Present Destruction and Threat of More to Come
“Tell these people this, Jeremiah: ‘My eyes overflow with tears day and night without ceasing. For my people, my dear children, have suffered a crushing blow. They have suffered a serious wound.
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Jeremiah Complains about His Lot and The Lord Responds
I said, “Oh, mother, how I regret that you ever gave birth to me! I am always starting arguments and quarrels with the people of this land. I have not lent money to anyone and I have not borrowed from anyone. Yet all these people are treating me with contempt.”
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Jeremiah Forbidden to Marry, to Mourn, or to Feast
The Lord’s message came to me,
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Jeremiah Appeals to the Lord for Vindication
Then I said, “Lord, from the very beginning you have been seated on your glorious throne on high. You are the place where we can find refuge.
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An Object Lesson from the Making of Pottery
The Lord said to Jeremiah:
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There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom.
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Jeremiah Petitions the Lord to Punish Those Who Attack Him
Then some people said, “Come on! Let us consider how to deal with Jeremiah! There will still be priests to instruct us, wise men to give us advice, and prophets to declare God’s word. Come on! Let’s bring charges against him and get rid of him! Then we will not need to pay attention to anything he says.”
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An Object Lesson from a Broken Clay Jar
The Lord told Jeremiah, “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take with you some of the leaders of the people and some of the leaders of the priests.