Jeremiah · Chapter 1

[ edit] The wrdis of Jeremye, ſone of Elchie, of þe preſtus þat weren in Anaþot, in þe lond of Beniamyn. Þat maad is þe wrd of þe Lord to hym in þe daȝes of Joſie, ſone of Amon, king of Juda, in þe þrettenþe ȝer of his regne. And don it is in þe daȝes of Joachym, ſone of Joſie, king of Juda, vn to þe ful ending of þe elleuenþe ȝer of Sedechie, ſone of Joſie, king of Juda, vnto þe tranſmygracioun of Jeruſalem, in þe fifte monyþ. And don is þe wrd of þe Lord to me, ſeiende, Bifor þat I foormede þee in þe wombe, Y knew þee; and er þou wenteſt out of þe priue wombe, I halowede þee; and a profete in folkis of kinde I ȝaf þee. And I ſeide, A! A! A! Lord God, lo! I kan not ſpeke, for a child I am.

And þe Lord ſeyde to me, Wile þou not ſeyn, for a child I am; for to alle þingus þat I ſhal ſende þee, þou ſhalt go, and alle þingis, what euere I ſhal ſende to þee, þou ſhalt ſpeke. Ne drede þou fro þe face of þem, for I am wiþ þee, þat I delyuere þee, ſeiþ þe Lord. And þe Lord ſente his hond, and touchide my mouþ; and þe Lord ſeide to me, Lo! I haue ȝoue my wrdis in þi mouþ; lo! I haue ſet þee to dai vp on folkis of kinde, and vp on reumes, þat þou pulle vp, and deſtroȝe, and ſpringe abrod, and waſte, and bilde vp, and plaunte. And don is þe wrd of þe Lord to me, ſeiende, What ſeeſt þou, Jeremye? And Y ſeide, A wakende ȝerde I ſee.

And þe Lord ſeide to me, Wel þou haſt ſeen, for I ſhal waken vp on my wrd, þat I do it. And don is þe wrd of þe Lord þe ſecounde tyme to me, ſeiende, What ſeeſt þou? And I ſeide, A pot tend vp I ſee, and his face fro þe face of þe norþ. And þe Lord ſeide to me, Fro þe norþ ſhal be ſchewid euel vp on alle þe dwelleris of erþe. For lo! I ſhal clepe togidere alle þe kinredis of þe rewmes of þe norþ, ſeiþ þe Lord, and þei ſhul come, and ſetten eche his ſee in þe entre of þe ȝatis of Jeruſalem, and vp on alle his wallis in enuyroun, and vp on alle þe chef cites of Juda.

And I ſhal ſpeke my domes wiþ hem vp on al þe malice of hem, þat forſoke me, and offreden to aliene goddis, and honoureden þe werc of þer hondis. Þou þanne gird vp þi leendis, and ris, and ſpec to þem alle þingus þat I comaunde to þee; ne be þou aferd fro þe face of þem, ne forſoþe Y ſhal make þee to dreden þe chere of þem. Y forſoþe haue ȝoue þee to dai in to a ſtrengþid cite, and in to an irene pilere, and in to a braſen wal, vp on al erþe, to þe kingus of Juda, and to his princes, and to his preſtes, and to al þe puple of þe lond. And þei ſhul fiȝte aȝen þee, and not han þe maiſtri; for I wiþ þee am, ſeiþ þe Lord, þat I delyuere þee.