Jeremiah 1:4-19

4The word of the Lord came to me:

5I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

6But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”

7Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.

8Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s declaration.

9Then the Lord reached out his hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with my words.

10See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.

11Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

12The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over my word to accomplish it.”

13Again the word of the Lord came to me asking, “What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a boiling pot, its lip tilted from the north to the south.”

14Then the Lord said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land.

15Indeed, I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north.” This is the Lord’s declaration. They will come, and each king will set up his throne at the entrance to Jerusalem’s gates. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.

16“I will pronounce my judgments against them for all the evil they did when they abandoned me to burn incense to other gods and to worship the works of their own hands.

17“Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them.

18Today, I am the one who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land — against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.

19They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you.” This is the Lord’s declaration.