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Jeremiah

Warnings about Jerusalem's destruction due to unfaithfulness, with promises of a new covenant.

Chapter 1

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1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

*Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, a priest from Anathoth in Benjamin's land, spoke these words.

2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

*In King Josiah's time, when he was in his 13th year of ruling Judah, the LORD's message came to some people.

3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

*It happened during Jehoiakim's reign and continued until the end of Zedekiah's eleventh year as king. This event took place when Jerusalem was captured and its people were taken away in the fifth month.

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

*Then God spoke to me through his message, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

*Before you were born, I knew you. Even when you were still in your mother's womb, I made you holy and chose you to be a prophet for the people.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

*Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Look, I can't talk because I'm just a kid."

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

*But God told me, "Don't say you are a child. You will go wherever I send you, and you will speak whatever I tell you."

8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

*Don't be scared of what they look like; because I'm here to save you, says God.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

*Then God reached out and touched my mouth. He said to me, "I have given you my words to speak."

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

*I have now put you in charge of all the nations and kingdoms. Your job is to remove and destroy them, as well as knock them down. You will also need to build and plant new things.

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

*Additionally, the Lord's message came to me, asking, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I replied, "I see a branch from an almond tree."

12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

*Then God told me, "You're right! I will quickly fulfill my promise."

13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

*The Lord's message to me again was, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a boiling pot, with its front facing north."

14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

*Then God told me, A great harm will come from the north, affecting everyone living in the area.

15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

*"Indeed, I will summon all the family groups from the northern kingdoms," says the Lord. "They will come and each one will set up their throne at the entrance to Jerusalem's gates, around its walls, and against all the cities of Judah."

16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

*I will speak my judgments about their wrongdoings. They left me and worshipped other gods, praying to things they made themselves.

17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

*So, you should get ready and stand up to talk to them as I tell you. Don't be scared of how they look, or I'll confuse you in front of them.

18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

*"See, I have made you like a strong fortress, an iron pillar, and bronze walls to protect you from all the rulers in Judah, their leaders, priests, and the people living there."

19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

*They will try to fight you, but they won't win. Don't worry, because the Lord is with you and will save you.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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