Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹¹ Gemariah's son Micaiah was there and heard Baruch read what the Lord had said. ¹² When Baruch finished reading, Micaiah went down to the palace. His father Gemariah was in the officials' room, meeting with the rest of the king's officials, including Elishama, Delaiah, Elnathan, and Zedekiah.^{[a] 13} Micaiah told them what he had heard Baruch read to the people. ¹⁴ Then the officials sent Jehudi and Shelemiah^[b] to tell Baruch, “Bring us that scroll.”

When Baruch arrived with the scroll, ¹⁵ the officials said, “Please sit down and read it to us,” which he did. ¹⁶ After they heard what was written on the scroll, they were worried and said to each other, “The king needs to hear this!” Turning to Baruch, they asked, ¹⁷ “Did someone tell you what to write on this scroll?”

¹⁸ “Yes, Jeremiah did,” Baruch replied. “I wrote down just what he told me.”

¹⁹ The officials said, “You and Jeremiah must go into hiding, and don't tell anyone where you are going.”

^20-22 The officials put the scroll in Elishama's room and went to see the king, who was in one of the rooms where he lived and worked during the winter. It was the ninth month^[c] of the year, so there was a fire burning in the fireplace,^[d] and the king was sitting nearby. After the officials told the king about the scroll, he sent Jehudi to get it. Then Jehudi started reading the scroll to the king and his officials. ^23-25 But every time Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king would tell him to cut them off with his penknife and throw them in the fire. Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, but he ignored them, and soon there was nothing left of it.

The king and his servants listened to what was written on the scroll, but they were not the least bit afraid, and they did not tear their clothes in sorrow.^[e]

²⁶ The king told his son Jerahmeel to take Seraiah and Shelemiah^[f] and to go arrest Baruch and me.^[g] But the Lord kept them from finding us.

The Church Makes Paul Happy

² Make a place for us in your hearts! We haven't mistreated or hurt anyone. We haven't cheated anyone. ³ I am not saying this to be hard on you. But, as I have said before, you will always be in our thoughts, whether we live or die. ⁴ I trust you completely.^[a] I am always proud of you, and I am greatly encouraged. In all my trouble I am still very happy.

^5 (A) After we came to Macedonia, we didn't have any chance to rest. We were faced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and troubled by fears. ⁶ But God cheers up people in need, and this is what he did when he sent Titus to us. ⁷ Of course, we were glad to see Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this made me even happier.

⁸ I don't feel bad anymore, even though my letter^[b] hurt your feelings. I did feel bad at first, but I don't now. I know that the letter hurt you for a while. ⁹ Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. ¹⁰ When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death.

¹¹ Just look what God has done by making you feel sorry! You sincerely want to prove you are innocent. You are angry. You are shocked. You are eager to see that justice is done. You have proved that you were completely right in this matter. ¹² When I wrote you, it wasn't to accuse the one who was wrong or to take up for the one who was hurt. I wrote, so God would show you how much you do care for us.