The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests living in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] spoke to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah. He also spoke to him throughout the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of the habitation of prosperity - Jerusalem - went into exile

A MESSAGE from the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] came to me,

 “I knew you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born - I appointed you a prophet to nations.”

But I protested, “Oh no, Sovereign God! I don’t know how to speak; I am only a youth.”

Then the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth,’ because you will go to whomever I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.

Do not be afraid of anyone; I, the Oracle of the Self-existent, am with you to deliver you.”

 Then the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me: “I have now filled your mouth with My words.

 I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms, to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.”

Following that, the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

The Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] said to me, “You have seen correctly, because I ensure that I fulfil whatever I say promptly.” 

Again, the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a pot of boiling water tilted towards the north.”

Then the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in this land. 

 I [the Self-existent - the Holy Spirit], the Oracle of the Self-existent, will summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north (this is a declaration of the Self-existent that must come true or cannot be countermanded), they will come, and each king will set up his throne at the entrance to the gate of the habitation of prosperity - Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the cities of Judah.

I will pronounce My judgments against them for all their wicked deeds – abandoning Me and burning incense to other gods, worshiping the works of their hands.

Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them. 

 I have today made you a fenced city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against this whole land – the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the rest of the citizens

 They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I [the Self-existent - the Holy Spirit], the Oracle of the Self-existent, am with you to rescue you.”