¹These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. ²The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, ³and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. ⁴The word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁵“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, ⁶“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” ⁷But the LORD told me: ⁸Do not be afraid of them, ⁹Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: ¹⁰See, I have appointed you today ¹¹And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” ¹²“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.” ¹³Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” ¹⁴Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land. ¹⁵For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. ¹⁶I will pronounce My judgments against them ¹⁷Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. ¹⁹They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.