New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
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The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin.
2 The LORD first gave messages to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.
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God's Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah.
3 The LORD ’s messages continued throughout the reign of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah, another of Josiah’s sons. In August of that eleventh year the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives.
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It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile.
4 The LORD gave me this message:
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This is what God said:
5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
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"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that's what I had in mind for you."
6 “O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
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But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!"
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.
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God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it.
8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
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Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you." God's Decree.
9 Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!
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God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, "Look! I've just put my words in your mouth - hand-delivered!
10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
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See what I've done? I've given you a job to do among nations and governments - a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, And then start over, building and planting." Stand Up and Say Your Piece
11 Then the LORD said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”
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God's Message came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "A walking stick - that's all."
12 And the LORD said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
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And God said, "Good eyes! I'm sticking with you. I'll make every word I give you come true."
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.”
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God's Message came again: "So what do you see now?" I said, "I see a boiling pot, tipped down toward us."
14 “Yes,” the LORD said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.
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Then God told me, "Disaster will pour out of the north on everyone living in 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 thrones at the gates of the city. They will attack its walls and all the other towns of Judah.
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Watch for this: I'm calling all the kings out of the north." God's Decree. "They'll come and set up headquarters facing Jerusalem's gates, Facing all the city walls, facing all the villages of Judah.
16 I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil— for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands!
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I'll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah for walking out on me - what a terrible thing to do! - And courting other gods with their offerings, worshiping as gods sticks they'd carved, stones they'd painted.
17 “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.
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"But you - up on your feet and get dressed for work! Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say. Don't pull your punches or I'll pull you out of the lineup.
18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.
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"Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work. I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture, Against Judah's kings and princes, against the priests and local leaders.
19 They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
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They'll fight you, but they won't even scratch you. I'll back you up every inch of the way." God's Decree.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.