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. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,declares the Lord.”
9. Then the Lord put out 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 an almond branch.”
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 disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land.
15. For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares 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 all around and against all the cities of Judah.
16. And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.