A Message to Baruch

45 When Baruch(A) son of Neriah(B) wrote on a scroll(C) the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim(D) son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You said, ‘Woe(E) to me! The Lord has added sorrow(F) to my pain;(G) I am worn out with groaning(H) and find no rest.’(I) But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot(J) what I have planted,(K) throughout the earth.(L) Should you then seek great(M) things for yourself? Do not seek them.(N) For I will bring disaster(O) on all people,(P) declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape(Q) with your life.’”(R)

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A final word for Baruch

45 In the fourth year of Judah’s King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, Baruch was writing in a scroll the words that Jeremiah was dictating to him. Jeremiah the prophet told Baruch, Neriah’s son: This is what the Lord the God of Israel proclaims about you, Baruch: You have said, “I can’t take it anymore! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I’m worn out from groaning and can find no rest.” This is what you should say to him: “The Lord proclaims: I’m breaking down everything I have built up. I’m digging up that which I have planted—the entire land. You seek great things for yourself, but don’t bother. I’m bringing disaster on all humanity, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.”

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