11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, ^qwhat 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 a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the ^rnorth disaster² shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling ^sall the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall ^tset 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 I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in ^uforsaking me. They have ^vmade offerings to other gods and worshiped the ^wworks of their own hands. 17 But you, ^xdress yourself for work;³ arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, ^yI make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and ^zbronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”