11-12 God’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.”And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you.I’ll make every word I give you come true.”
13-15 God’s Message came again: “So what do you see now?”I said, “I see a boiling pot, tipped down toward us.”Then God told me, “Disaster will pour out of the northon everyone living in this land.Watch for this: I’m calling all the kings out of the north.”God’s Decree.
15-16 “They’ll come and set up headquartersfacing Jerusalem’s gates,Facing all the city walls,facing all the villages of Judah.I’ll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judahfor walking out on me—what a terrible thing to do!—And courting other gods with their offerings,worshiping as gods sticks they’d carved, stones they’d painted.
17 “But you—up on your feet and get dressed for work!Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say.Don’t pull your punchesor I’ll pull you out of the lineup.
18-19 “Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work.I’m making you as impregnable as a castle,Immovable as a steel post,solid as a concrete block wall.You’re a one-man defense systemagainst this culture,Against Judah’s kings and princes,against the priests and local leaders.They’ll fight you, but they won’teven scratch you.I’ll back you up every inch of the way.”God’s Decree.