11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ^u“Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond¹ branch.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see ^va boiling pot, facing away ^wfrom the north.” 14 Then the Lord said to me, ^w“Out of the north disaster² shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, ^xI am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, ^yand they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And ^zI will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil ^ain forsaking me. ^bThey have made offerings to other gods and ^cworshiped the works of their own hands. 17 But you, ^ddress yourself for work;³ arise, and ^esay to them everything that I command you. ^fDo not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day ^ga fortified city, ^han iron pillar, and ⁱbronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 ⁱThey will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for ^jI am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”