5 “Before I formed you in the womb,I knew you.Before you were born,I set you apart for my holy purpose.I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”
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.”