Jeremiah 1 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth, in the territory of Benjamin.

Yahweh's word came to him during the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his rule.

It also came during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, and continued until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah — right up to the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

Yahweh's word came to me:

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I already knew you. Before you came out into the world, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

I said, "Oh no, my Lord Yahweh — look, I don't know how to speak! I'm just a kid!"

But Yahweh said to me, "Don't say 'I'm just a kid.' You'll go wherever I send you, and you'll say whatever I tell you to say.

Don't be afraid of them, because I am with you to rescue you" — this is Yahweh's declaration.

Then Yahweh reached out his hand and touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me, "Look — I've put my words in your mouth.

See — today I'm giving you authority over nations and kingdoms: to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and to plant."

Yahweh's word came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "I see the branch of an almond tree."

Yahweh said to me, "You've seen well. I am watching over my word to make sure it happens."

Yahweh's word came to me a second time: "What do you see?" I said, "I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north."

Yahweh said to me, "From the north, disaster will be poured out on everyone living in this land.

Because look — I'm summoning all the clans of the northern kingdoms" — this is Yahweh's declaration. "They'll come and each one will set up his throne at the entrance of Jerusalem's gates, against all her surrounding walls, and against every town in Judah.

I will pronounce my judgments against them for all their wickedness — because they abandoned me, burned incense to other gods, and bowed down to what their own hands had made.

"So get yourself ready! Stand up and tell them everything I command you. Don't fall apart in front of them, or I'll make you fall apart in front of them.

Look at what I've made you today: a fortified city, an iron pillar, bronze walls — standing against the whole land. Against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and all the people of the land.

They will fight against you, but they won't overcome you, because I am with you to rescue you" — this is Yahweh's declaration.