A Message to Baruch
45 It was the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah [C 605 bc]. Jeremiah the prophet told these things to Baruch son of Neriah [32:12–13; 36; 43:1–3], and Baruch wrote them on a scroll: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You have said, ‘·How terrible it is for [Woe is] me! The Lord has given me sorrow along with my pain. I am tired because of my ·suffering [groaning] and cannot rest.’”
4 The Lord said, “Say this to Baruch: ‘This is what the Lord says: I will soon ·tear [break] down what I have built, and I will ·pull [pluck] up what I have planted everywhere in all this land [C Judah]. 5 Baruch, you are ·looking [seeking] for great things for yourself. Don’t ·look for [seek] them, because I will bring ·disaster [evil; trouble] on all ·the people [L flesh], says the Lord. You will have to go many places, but I will ·let you escape alive [L give you your life as plunder] wherever you go.’”