Jeremiah 1:11-16

11The Lord asked me, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ I replied, ‘I see the branch of an almond tree.’

12The Lord said, ‘Yes, that is correct. I am watching carefully to make sure that what I say will happen really happens.’

13The Lord asked me again. ‘What do you see?’ I replied, ‘I see in the north a pot with boiling water in it. It will pour its water in this direction.’ The Lord said,

14‘Yes, trouble like boiling water will come from the north. It will destroy all the people who live in this land.

15I will call all the nations that are in the north to come here. Their kings will come and they will sit on their thrones at the city gates of Jerusalem. Their armies will be all around the walls of Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah.

16I will punish my people for the wicked things that they have done. They have turned away from me. They have offered sacrifices to false gods. They have worshipped idols that they have made with their own hands.