Jeremiah 1

¹ This book na account of wetin Jeremiah son of Hilkiah talk, one of the priest for town of Anathoth for territory of Benjamin.

² God talk to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year wey Josiah son of Amon be king for Judah,

³ and he follow him talk again when Josiah son of Jehoiakim be king. After that, God speak to him plenty time, until eleventh year wey Zedekiah son of Josiah reign. Dem carry people of Jerusalem go foreign county in the fifth month of that year.

⁴ God tell me say,

⁵ “I choose you before I give you life, and before dem born you I don select you to be prophet for nations.”

⁶ I answer say, “Almighty God, I too young, I no sabi talk.”

⁷ But God tell me say, no dey talk say you too young, but go meet people wey I send you to, and tell them everything wey I command you make you talk.

⁸ No dey fear them, because I go dey with you to protect you. I, the Almighty God don talk!”

⁹ Then God con stretch out him hand, touch my lip, and tell me say, “Listen I dey give you word wey you must speak.

¹⁰ I dey give you authority over nation and kingdom today to uproot and to pull go down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”

¹¹ God ask me say, “Jeremiah, wetin you see?” I answer am say, “Branch of Almond tree.”

¹² God say, “You dey right,” and I dey watch to see say my word come true.”

¹³ Then God speak to me again. He ask me say, “Wetin you see again? I answer him say, “I see pot of boiling water and the pot dey roll from north.”

¹⁴ He tell me say, “Destruction go boil on top everybody wey dey live for this land from north,

¹⁵ Because I dey call all the nation from north make dem come. Their kings go set up their throne for gate of Jerusalem and go round hin wall, and go round other city of Judah too.

¹⁶ I go punish my people because dem don sin, dem don abandon me, and don make sacrifice give other god, and don make idols and worship them.

¹⁷ Jeremiah, get ready: go tell them everything wey I command you make you say. No dey fear them now, or I go even make you fear them pass when you dey with them.

¹⁸ As for me, I go make you be like strong city, iron column, bronze wall. So you go fit stand against everybody for the land, against king of the land of Judah, leader of Judah, priest of Judah, and against people of wey dey the land of Judah.

¹⁹ All those people go fight against you, but dem no go defeat you, because I dey with you, and I go save you.” This message na from God.