[0] The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw
like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or
destroy in all my holy mountain, says the LORD." [1] The words of Jeremiah,
the son of Hilki'ah, of the priests who were in An'athoth in the land of
Benjamin, [2] 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. [3] It
came also in the days of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah, and
until the end of the eleventh year of Zedeki'ah, the son of Josi'ah, king
of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. [4] Now the
word of the LORD came to me saying, [5] "Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a
prophet to the nations." [6] Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not
know how to speak, for I am only a youth." [7] 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. [8] Be not afraid of them, 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 set you this day over nations and
over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant." [11] And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
"Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a rod of almond." [12] Then
the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to
perform it." [13] 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." [14] Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north evil shall break
forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. [15] 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. [16] And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their
wickedness in forsaking me; they have burned incense to other gods, and
worshiped the works of their own hands. [17] But you, gird up your loins;
arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by
them, lest I dismay you before them. [18] And I, behold, I make you this
day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole
land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people
of the land. [19] They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail
against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you."
