6. “O Sovereign lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
7. The lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.
8. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the lord, have spoken!”
9. Then the lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,“Look, I have put my words in your mouth!
10. Today I appoint you to stand upagainst nations and kingdoms.Some you must uproot and tear down,destroy and overthrow.Others you must build upand plant.”
11. Then the lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”
12. And the lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
13. Then the lord spoke to me again and asked, “What do you see now?”And I replied, “I see a pot of boiling water, spilling from the north.”
14. “Yes,” the lord said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.
15. Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. I, the lord, have spoken!“They will set their thronesat the gates of the city.They will attack its wallsand all the other towns of Judah.