Old Testament

The Book of Jeremiah

The Book of Jeremiah is the twenty-eighth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 52 chapters and 1,363 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it Jeremias.

Start reading: Jeremiah 1

About Jeremiah · Prophetic oracles

Jeremiah preserves the preaching and the sufferings of the prophet who watched Jerusalem fall to Babylon after forty years of ignored warnings. His words were taken down with the help of his scribe Baruch, and the book's disordered arrangement reflects its stormy history. It was written to explain the exile as covenant justice — and, in its greatest pages, to promise a new covenant written on the heart. No prophet is more personally exposed: his laments over his own calling are the rawest prayers in Scripture.

Jeremiah in Bless
Testament	Old Testament — book 28 of 46, 28 of 73 in the Bible
Canon	Protocanonical (in every Christian canon)
Chapters	52
Verses	1,363, as Bless numbers them
In the Douay-Rheims	Jeremias
Latin	Clementine Vulgate, every chapter
Bp. Challoner	Summaries of all 52 chapters · 63 notes
Catechism	23 paragraphs cite it

Chapter by chapter

All 52 chapters, in brief.

Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.

Jeremiah 1
19 verses
The time, and the calling, of Jeremias: his prophetical visions. God encourages him.
Jeremiah 2
37 verses
God expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude and infidelity.
Jeremiah 3
25 verses
God invites the rebel Jews to return to him, with a promise to receive them: he foretells the conversion of the Gentiles.
Jeremiah 4
31 verses
And admonition to sincere repentance, and circumcision of the heart, with threats of grievous punishment to those that persist in sin.
Jeremiah 5
31 verses
The judgments of God shall fall upon the Jews for their manifold sins.
Jeremiah 6
30 verses
The evils that threaten Jerusalem. She is invited to return, and walk in the good way, and not to rely on sacrifices without obedience.
Jeremiah 7
34 verses
The temple of God shall not protect a sinful people, without a sincere conversion. The Lord will not receive the prayers of the prophet for them: because they are obstinate in their sins.
Jeremiah 8
22 verses
Other evils that shall fall upon the Jews for their impenitence.
Jeremiah 9
26 verses
The prophet laments the miseries of his people: and their sins, which are the cause of them. He exhorts them to repentance.
Jeremiah 10
25 verses
Neither stars nor idols are to be feared, but the great Creator of all things. The chastisement of Jerusalem for her sins.
Jeremiah 11
23 verses
The prophet proclaims the covenant of God: and denounces evils to the obstinate transgressors of it. The conspiracy of the Jews against him, a figure of their conspiracy against Christ.
Jeremiah 12
17 verses
The prosperity of the wicked shall be but for a short time. The desolation of the Jews for their sins. Their return from their captivity.
Jeremiah 13
27 verses
Under the figure of a linen girdle is foretold the destruction of the Jews. Their obstinacy in sin brings all miseries upon them.
Jeremiah 14
22 verses
A grievous famine: and the prophet's prayer on that occasion. Evils denounced to false prophets. The prophet mourns for his people.
Jeremiah 15
21 verses
God is determined to punish the Jews for their sins. The prophet's complaint, and God's promise to him.
Jeremiah 16
21 verses
The prophet is forbid to marry. The Jews shall be utterly ruined for their idolatry: but shall at length be released from their captivity, and the Gentiles shall be converted.
Jeremiah 17
27 verses
For their obstinacy in sin the Jews shall be led captive. He is cursed that trusteth in flesh. God alone searcheth the heart, giving to every one as he deserves. The prophet prayeth to be delivered from his enemies, and preacheth up the observance of the sabbath.
Jeremiah 18
23 verses
As the clay in the hand of the potter, so is Israel in God's hand. He pardoneth penitents, and punisheth the obstinate. They conspire against Jeremias, for which he denounceth to them the miseries that hang over them.
Jeremiah 19
15 verses
Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, the prophet foresheweth the desolation of the Jews for their sins.
Jeremiah 20
18 verses
The prophet is persecuted: he denounces captivity to his persecutors, and bemoans himself.
Jeremiah 21
14 verses
The prophet's answer to the messengers of Sedecias, when Jerusalem was besieged.
Jeremiah 22
30 verses
An exhortation both to king and people to return of God. The sentence of God upon Joachaz, Joakim, and Jechonias.
Jeremiah 23
40 verses
God reproves evil governors; and promises to send good pastors; and Christ himself the prince of the pastors. He inveighs against false prophets preaching without being sent.
Jeremiah 24
10 verses
Under the type of good and bad figs, he foretells the restoration of the Jews that had been carried away captive with Jechonias, and the desolation of those that were left behind.
Jeremiah 25
38 verses
The prophet foretells the seventy years captivity; after that the destruction of Babylon, and other nations.
Jeremiah 26
24 verses
The prophet is apprehended and accused by the priests: but discharged by the princes.
Jeremiah 27
22 verses
The prophet sends chains to divers kings, signifying that they must bend their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon. The vessels of the temple shall not be brought back till all the rest are carried away.
Jeremiah 28
17 verses
The false prophecy of Hananias: he dies that same year, as Jeremias foretold.
Jeremiah 29
32 verses
Jeremias writeth to the captives in Babylon, exhorting them to be easy there, and not to hearken to false prophets. That they shall be delivered after seventy years. But those that remain in Jerusalem shall perish by the sword, famine, and pestilence. And that Achab, Sedecias, and Semeias, false prophets, shall die miserably.
Jeremiah 30
24 verses
God will deliver his people from their captivity: Christ shall be their king: and his church shall be glorious for ever.
Jeremiah 31
40 verses
The restoration of Israel. Rachel shall cease from morning. The new covenant. The church shall never fail.
Jeremiah 32
44 verses
Jeremias by God's commandment purchases a field of his kinsman: and prophesies the return of the people out of captivity: and the everlasting covenant God will make with his church.
Jeremiah 33
26 verses
God promises reduction from captivity, and other blessings: especially the coming of Christ, whose reign in his church shall be glorious and perpetual.
Jeremiah 34
22 verses
The prophet foretells that Sedecias shall fall into the hands of Nabuchodonosor: God's sentence upon the princes and people that had broken his covenant.
Jeremiah 35
19 verses
The obedience of the Rechabites condemns the disobedience of the Jews. The reward of the Rechabites.
Jeremiah 36
32 verses
Jeremias sends Baruch to read his prophecies in the temple; the book is brought to king Joakim, who burns it. The prophet denounces his judgment, and causes Baruch to write a new copy.
Jeremiah 37
20 verses
Jeremias prophesies that the Chaldeans, who had departed from Jerusalem, would return and burn the city. He is cast into prison. His conference with Sedecias.
Jeremiah 38
28 verses
The prophet at the instance of the great men is cast into a filthy dungeon: he is drawn out by Abdemelech, and has another conference with the king.
Jeremiah 39
18 verses
After two years' siege Jerusalem is taken. Sedecias is carried before Nabuchodonosor, who kills his sons in his sight, and then puts out his eyes. Jeremias is set at liberty.
Jeremiah 40
16 verses
Jeremias remains with Godolias the governor; who receives all the Jews that resort to him.
Jeremiah 41
18 verses
Godolias is slain: the Jews that were with him are apprehensive of the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah 42
22 verses
Jeremias assures the remnant of the people, that if they will stay in Juda, they shall be safe; but if they go down into Egypt, they shall perish.
Jeremiah 43
13 verses
The Jews, contrary to the orders of God by the prophet, go into Egypt, carrying Jeremias with them. He foretells the devastation of that land by the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 44
30 verses
The prophet's admonition to the Jews in Egypt against idolatry is not regarded: he denounces to them their destruction.
Jeremiah 45
5 verses
The prophet comforts Baruch in his affliction.
Jeremiah 46
28 verses
A prophecy against Egypt. The Jews shall return from captivity.
Jeremiah 47
7 verses
A prophecy of the desolation of the Philistines, of Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, and Ascalon.
Jeremiah 48
47 verses
A prophecy of the desolation of Moab for their pride: but their captivity shall at last be released.
Jeremiah 49
39 verses
The like desolation of Ammon, of Idumea, of the Syrians, of the Agarenes, and of the Elamites.
Jeremiah 50
46 verses
Babylon, which hath afflicted the Israelites, after their restoration, shall be utterly destroyed.
Jeremiah 51
64 verses
The miseries that shall fall upon Babylon from the Medes: the destruction of her idols.
Jeremiah 52
34 verses
A recapitulation of the reign of Sedecias, and the destruction of Jerusalem. The number of the captives.

Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries

In the comments

What the saints said.

3 quotations from 3 saints linked to passages of Jeremiah in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.

St. Joan of Arc · on Jeremiah 1:5

On this theme

I am not afraid; I was born to do this.

Trial testimony, 1431, 1431

St. Gregory the Great · on Jeremiah 15:16

On this theme

Learn the heart of God in the words of God.

Letter to Theodore, c. 595

St. Anselm · on Jeremiah 29:13

On this theme

Let me seek You in desiring You; let me desire You in seeking You. Let me find You in loving You; let me love You in finding You.

Proslogion, ch. 26, 1078

Coming up

Read at Mass.

From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Jeremiah is read at the principal Mass on 10 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:

Date	Celebration	Reading	Citation
Fri, Dec 18, 2026	Friday of the Third Week of Advent	First Reading	Jeremiah 23:5-8
Wed, Feb 24, 2027	Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 18:18-20
Thu, Feb 25, 2027	Thursday of the Second Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 17:5-10
Thu, Mar 4, 2027	Thursday of the Third Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 7:23-28
Sat, Mar 13, 2027	Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 11:18-20
Sun, Mar 14, 2027	Fifth Sunday of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sat, Mar 20, 2027	Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent	Responsorial Psalm	Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13
Sun, Jul 18, 2027 computed	Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time	First Reading	Jeremiah 23:1-6
Sat, Sep 25, 2027 computed	Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time	Responsorial Psalm	Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13
Sun, Oct 24, 2027 computed	Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time	First Reading	Jeremiah 31:7-9
Sun, Nov 28, 2027 computed	First Sunday of Advent	First Reading	Jeremiah 33:14-16
Sat, Dec 18, 2027 computed	Saturday of the Third Week of Advent	First Reading	Jeremiah 23:5-8
Sun, Jan 30, 2028 computed	Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time	First Reading	Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Sun, Feb 13, 2028 computed	Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time	First Reading	Jeremiah 17:5-8
Wed, Mar 15, 2028 computed	Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 18:18-20
Thu, Mar 16, 2028 computed	Thursday of the Second Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 17:5-10
Thu, Mar 23, 2028 computed	Thursday of the Third Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 7:23-28
Sat, Apr 1, 2028 computed	Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 11:18-20
Fri, Apr 7, 2028 computed	Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent	First Reading	Jeremiah 20:10-13
Sat, Apr 8, 2028 computed	Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent	Responsorial Psalm	Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13
Wed, Jul 26, 2028 computed	Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary	First Reading	Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10
Thu, Jul 27, 2028 computed	Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time	First Reading	Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13
Fri, Jul 28, 2028 computed	Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time	First Reading	Jeremiah 3:14-17
Fri, Jul 28, 2028 computed	Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time	Responsorial Psalm	Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.