3
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
4
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5
"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."
6
Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
7
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.
8
Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord.
9
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.
10
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."
11
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."
12
Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."
13
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."