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Jeremiah’s Prayer

16 Then after I had given the papers to Baruch, I prayed to the Lord:

17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! 18 You show unfailing love to thousands, but you also bring the consequences of one generation’s sin upon the next. You are the great and powerful God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve. 20 You performed miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt—things still remembered to this day! And you have continued to do great miracles in Israel and all around the world. You have made your name famous to this day.

21 “You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, with a strong hand and powerful arm, and with overwhelming terror. 22 You gave the people of Israel this land that you had promised their ancestors long before—a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 Our ancestors came and conquered it and lived in it, but they refused to obey you or follow your word. They have not done anything you commanded. That is why you have sent this terrible disaster upon them.

24 “See how the siege ramps have been built against the city walls! Through war, famine, and disease, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, who will conquer it. Everything has happened just as you said. 25 And yet, O Sovereign Lord, you have told me to buy the field—paying good money for it before these witnesses—even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians.”

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16 Then after I had given the papers to Baruch I prayed: 17 “O Lord God! You have made the heavens and earth by your great power; nothing is too hard for you! 18 You are loving and kind to thousands, yet children suffer for their fathers’ sins; you are the great and mighty God, the Lord Almighty. 19 You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles; for your eyes are open to all the ways of men, and you reward everyone according to his life and deeds. 20 You have done incredible things in the land of Egypt—things still remembered to this day. And you have continued to do great miracles in Israel and all around the world. You have made your name very great, as it is today.

21 “You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty miracles and great power and terror. 22 You gave Israel this land that you promised their fathers long ago—a wonderful land that ‘flows with milk and honey.’ 23 Our fathers came and conquered it and lived in it, but they refused to obey you or to follow your laws; they have hardly done one thing you told them to. That is why you have sent all this terrible evil upon them. 24 See how the siege mounds have been built against the city walls, and the Babylonians shall conquer the city by sword, famine, and disease. Everything has happened just as you said—as you determined it should! 25 And yet you say to buy the field—paying good money for it before these witnesses—even though the city will belong to our enemies.”

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16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch(A) son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord,(B) you have made the heavens and the earth(C) by your great power and outstretched arm.(D) Nothing is too hard(E) for you. 18 You show love(F) to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps(G) of their children(H) after them. Great and mighty God,(I) whose name is the Lord Almighty,(J) 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.(K) Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind;(L) you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.(M) 20 You performed signs and wonders(N) in Egypt(O) and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown(P) that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand(Q) and an outstretched arm(R) and with great terror.(S) 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.(T) 23 They came in and took possession(U) of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law;(V) they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster(W) on them.

24 “See how the siege ramps(X) are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague,(Y) the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said(Z) has happened,(AA) as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field(AB) with silver and have the transaction witnessed.(AC)’”

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