6 But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me.I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.Don’t be afraid of a soul.I’ll be right there, looking after you.”God’s Decree.
9-10 God reached out, touched my mouth, and said,“Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to doamong nations and governments—a red-letter day!Your job is to pull up and tear down,take apart and demolish,And then start over,building and planting.”
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.