6. I, Jeremiah, said, “Almighty Lord, I do not know how to speak. I am only a boy!”
7. But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say.
8. Don’t be afraid of people. I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9. Then the Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. The Lord said to me,“Now I have put my words in your mouth.
10. Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms.You will uproot and tear down.You will destroy and overthrow.You will build and plant.”
11. Again the Lord spoke his word to me and asked, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12. Then the Lord said to me, “Right. I am watching to make sure that my words come true.”
13. Again the Lord spoke his word to me and asked, “What do you see?”I answered, “I see a boiling pot, and its top is tilted away from the north.”
14. Then the Lord said to me,“Disaster will be poured out from the northon all those who live in the land.
15. I am going to call every family and kingdom from the north,”declares the Lord.“They will come, and they will set up their thronesat the entrance of Jerusalem’s gates.They will attack all the walls around the cityand all the cities of Judah.
16. I will pass sentence on my people because of all their wickedness.They abandoned me,burned incense to other gods,and worshiped what their hands have made.