4 The Call of Jeremiah
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, 5 before you were born I set you apart; 5 I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
11 The word of the Lord came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"
11 "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied.
12 The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching[b] to see that my word is fulfilled."
