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

Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

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

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak.

Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”

Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a rod of almond.”

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

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 evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

For lo, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says the Lord; and they shall come and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.”

God Pleads with Israel to Repent

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; evil came upon them, says the Lord.”

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

Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?’

The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Ba′al, and went after things that do not profit.

“Therefore I still contend with you, says the Lord, and with your children’s children I will contend.

Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the Lord,

Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, when he led you in the way?

Your wickedness will chasten you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God; the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord God of hosts.

Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord God.

“Why do you complain against me? You have all rebelled against me, says the Lord.