to whom the word of Yahweh came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Now the word of Yahweh came to me saying,

Then I said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I do not know how to speak Because I am a youth.”

But Yahweh said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares Yahweh.

Then Yahweh sent forth His hand and touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

Now the word of Yahweh came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.”

Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to do it.”

The word of Yahweh came to me a second time saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.”

Then Yahweh said to me, “From the north the evil will break open on all the inhabitants of the land.

For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares Yahweh; “and they will come, and each one of them will put his throne at the opening of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah.

And they will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares Yahweh.

Now the word of Yahweh came to me saying,

“Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “I remember concerning you the lovingkindness of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your walking after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.

Israel was holy to Yahweh, The first of His produce. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares Yahweh.’”

Hear the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel.

Thus says Yahweh, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after vanity and became vain?

They did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man inhabited?’

The priests did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The shepherds also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.

“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares Yahweh, “And with your sons’ sons I will contend.

Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid, be very devastated,” declares Yahweh.

Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking Yahweh your God When He led you in the way?

Your own evil will chastise you, And your acts of faithlessness will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake Yahweh your God, And the dread of Me is not in you,” declares Lord Yahweh of hosts.

Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares Lord Yahweh.

“Why do you contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me,” declares Yahweh.

O generation, behold the word of Yahweh. Have I been a wilderness to Israel Or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You’?

From this place also you will go out With your hands on your head; For Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, And you will not succeed with them.”

God says, “If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,” declares Yahweh.

Then Yahweh said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there.

Yet in spite of all this, her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in lying,” declares Yahweh.

And Yahweh said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.