Jeremiah 1

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin.	1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
2 The word of the LORD first came to him in the days of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign,	2 The word of the Lord, which came to him in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign,
3 and continued through the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the downfall and exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, son of Josiah, king of Judah.	3 and which came to him in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, even until the completion of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, even until the transmigration of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
4 The word of the LORD came to me thus:	4 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.	5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. And before you went forth from the womb, I sanctified you. And I made you a prophet to the nations.”
6 "Ah, Lord GOD!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young."	6 And I said: “Alas, alas, alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am a boy.”
7 But the LORD answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.	7 And the Lord said to me: “Do not choose to say, ‘I am a boy.’ For you shall go forth to everyone to whom I will send you. And you shall speak all that I will command you.
8 Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.	8 You should not be afraid before their face. For I am with you, so that I may deliver you,” says the Lord.
9 Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth!	9 And the Lord put forth his hand, and he touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have placed my words in your mouth.
10 This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.	10 Behold, today I have appointed you over nations and over kingdoms, so that you may root up, and pull down, and destroy, and scatter, and so that you may build and plant.”
11 The word of the LORD came to me with the question: What do you see, Jeremiah? "I see a branch of the watching-tree," I replied.	11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a staff, keeping watch.”
12 Then the LORD said to me: Well have you seen, for I am watching to fulfill my word.	12 And the Lord said to me: “You have seen well. For I will keep watch over my word, so that I may accomplish it.”
13 A second time the word of the LORD came to me with the question: What do you see? "I see a boiling cauldron," I replied, "that appears from the north."	13 And the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a cooking pot upon a fire, and its face is before the face of the north.”
14 And from the north, said the LORD to me, evil will boil over upon all who dwell in the land.	14 And the Lord said to me: “From the north, an evil will spread over all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 Lo, I am summoning all the kingdoms of the north, says the LORD; Each king shall come and set up his throne at the gateways of Jerusalem, Opposite her walls all around and opposite all the cities of Judah.	15 For behold, I will call together all the close associates of the kingdoms of the north, says the Lord. And they will arrive, and each one of them will place his throne at the entrance to the gates of Jerusalem, and over all its surrounding walls, and over all the cities of Judah.
16 I will pronounce my sentence against them for all their wickedness in forsaking me, And in burning incense to strange gods and adoring their own handiwork.	16 And I will speak my judgments with them, concerning all the wickedness of those who have forsaken me, and who have offered libations to strange gods, and who have adored the work of their own hands.
17 But do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them;	17 Therefore, you should gird your waist, and rise up, and speak to them everything that I instruct you. You should not have dread before their face. For I will cause you to be unafraid of their countenance.
18 For it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, A pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: Against Judah's kings and princes, against its priests and people.	18 For certainly, this day, I have made you like a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and a brass wall, over all the land, to the kings of Judah, to its leaders, and to the priests, and to the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.	19 And they will make war against you, but they will not prevail. For I am with you, says the Lord, so that I may free you.”