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Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
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"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
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Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
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But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
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Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord.
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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.
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See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant."
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Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree."
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Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."
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And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north."
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Then the Lord said to me: "Out of the north calamity shall break forth On all the inhabitants of the land.
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For behold, I am calling All the families of the kingdoms of the north," says the Lord; "They shall come and each one set his throne At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, Against all its walls all around, And against all the cities of Judah.
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I will utter My judgments Against them concerning all their wickedness, Because they have forsaken Me, Burned incense to other gods, And worshiped the works of their own hands.
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"Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.
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For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land-- Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land.
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They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you," says the Lord, "to deliver you."