2. The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. This happened during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah.
3. The Lord also spoke to Jeremiah while Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah. And the Lord spoke to Jeremiah during the 11 years and 5 months Zedekiah son of Josiah was king of Judah. After that, the people who lived in Jerusalem were taken away as captives out of their country.
4. The Lord spoke these words to me:
5. “Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you.Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work.I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6. Then I said, “But Lord God, I don’t know how to speak. I am only a boy.”
7. But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am only a boy.’ You must go everywhere that I send you. You must say everything I tell you to say.
8. Don’t be afraid of anyone, because I am with you. I will protect you,” says the Lord.
9. Then the Lord reached out with his hand and touched my mouth. He said to me, “See, I am putting my words in your mouth.
10. Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will pull up and tear down, destroy and overthrow. You will build up and plant.”
11. The Lord spoke this word to me: “Jeremiah, what do you see?”I answered the Lord and said, “I see a stick of almond wood.”