1. This book is the account of what was said by Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests of the town of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
2. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah,
3. and he spoke to him again when Josiah's son Jehoiakim was king. After that, the Lord spoke to him many times, until the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah. In the fifth month of that year the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile.
4. The Lord said to me,
5. “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”
6. I answered, “Sovereign Lord, I don't know how to speak; I am too young.”
7. But the Lord said to me, “Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say.
8. Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”