The Lord’s Message to Baruch

45 This is the word that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah(A) when he wrote these words on a scroll at Jeremiah’s dictation[a](B) in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:(C) “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: ‘You have said, “Woe is me, because the Lord has added misery to my pain! I am worn out with[b] groaning and have found no rest.”’(D)

“This is what you are to say to him: ‘This is what the Lord says: “What I have built I am about to demolish, and what I have planted I am about to uproot(E)—the whole land! But as for you, do you pursue great things for yourself? Stop pursuing! For I am about to bring disaster on all humanity”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“but I will grant you your life like the spoils of war(F) wherever you go.”’”

Footnotes

  1. 45:1 Lit scroll from Jeremiah’s mouth
  2. 45:3 Lit I labored in my

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)

45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,

Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch:

Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.

Thus shalt thou say unto him, The Lord saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Assurance to Baruch

45 The (A)word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to (B)Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book [a]at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the (C)fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I (D)fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.” ’

“Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, (E)what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, (F)I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your (G)life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 45:1 Lit. from Jeremiah’s mouth