JER C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31 C32 C33 C34 C35 C36 C37 C38 C39 C40 C41 C42 C43 C44 C45 C46 C47 C48 C49 C50 C51 C52

OEB JER Chapter 1

◄ JER 1 ► ║ ©

1 The messages of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, a member of the priestly order resident in Anathoth in the district of Benjamin.

2 A message came to him from Jehovah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah; 3 and (such messages) continued to come to him in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and up to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, when in the fifth month the people of Jerusalem were swept into exile.

4 This is the message that came to me from Jehovah:

5 "My thoughts were upon thee before I created thee,

And before thou wast born I had set thee apart,

And appointed thee unto the nations a prophet."

6 And thus I made answer:

"Alas! O Lord Jehovah, Behold!

I have no skill of speech, I am only a child."

7 Then Jehovah made answer to me:

"Do not plead thou art still but a child,

Thou must go wheresoever I send thee,

And say whatsoever I bid thee.

8 Be not afraid at the sight of them,

2 For I will be with thee to save thee."

9 Thus spoke Jehovah; then with His outstretched hand

He touched my mouth and said to me:

"Herewith do I put My words in thy mouth,

10 Behold this day do I give thee authority

Over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To uproot and demolish, destroy and tear down,

To upbuild and to plant."

The Reassuring Vision of the Almond Tree

11 This further message came to me from Jehovah: "What seest thou there, Jeremiah?" (said the Voice). 12 "A branch of an almond tree," I answered. "Thou hast seen truly," said Jehovah," for I am watching over My purpose, to perform it."

The Vision of the Caldron of War

13 Then there came to me a second message from Jehovah. "What seest thou now?" (said the Voice). "A boiling pot," I answered, "facing the north." 14 Then Jehovah said to me:

From the north shall disaster break forth

Over all that inhabit the land.

15 For I, saith Jehovah, do summon

The northern kingdoms all;

Each king shall come and set his throne

At the gates that lead into Jerusalem,

And against her encircling walls,

And against all the cities of Judah.

16 I will utter My judgments against them

Because of their wickedness;

For Me they have forsaken,

And to to other gods offered sacrifice,

And bowed to the work of their hands.

The Divine Summons and the Divine Assurance

17 As for thee, gird up thy loins,

Arise and declare unto them

Whatsoever I command thee.

Let the sight of them not dismay thee,

Else I will dismay thee before them.

18 As for Me, behold! This day

As a fortified city I make thee,

A pillar of iron, a wall of bronze,

Against the whole of the land–

The kings and the courtiers of Judah,

The priests and the folk of the land.

19 They will fight thee, but thou shalt be victor:

For I – saith Jehovah most solemnly–

I will be with thee to save thee.

The Earlier Messages of Jeremiah

Israel’s Ancient Fidelity and Happiness