Jeremiah 1:6

I answered, “Oh, Lord God, ¹  I really ²  do not know how to speak well enough for that, ³  for I am too young.” ⁴ 

"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth."

"O Sovereign LORD," I said, "I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!"

But I said, "Hold it, Master GOD! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!"

Then said I, O Lord God! see, I have no power of words, for I am a child.

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy."

Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."

I answered, “Oh, Lord God, ¹  I really ²  do not know how to speak well enough for that, ³  for I am too young.” ⁴ 

¹ tn Heb “Lord Yahweh.”

¹ sn The translation follows the ancient Jewish tradition of substituting the Hebrew word for “God” for the proper name Yahweh in this compound name. See the study note on v. 2 for the substitution of “Lord” in a similar kind of situation.

² tn Heb “Behold, I do not know how to speak.” The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, commonly rendered “behold”) often introduces a speech and calls special attention to a specific word or the statement as a whole (see IBHS 675-78 §40.2.1).

³ tn The words “well enough for that” are implicit and are supplied in the translation for clarity. Jeremiah is not claiming an absolute inability to speak.

⁴ tn Heb “I am a boy/youth.” The Hebrew word can refer to an infant (Exod 2:6), a young boy (1 Sam 2:11), a teenager (Gen 21:12), or a young man (2 Sam 18:5). The translation is deliberately ambiguous since it is unclear how old Jeremiah was when he was called to begin prophesying.