Jeremiah 45

1 This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:

After Jehoiakim the son of King Josiah had been ruling Judah for almost four years, [I, ] Baruch, wrote down [all] the messages that the prophet Jeremiah had dictated to me. Then Jeremiah gave me a message. He said,

2 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch:

“Baruch, Yahweh, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship], has a message for you.

3 You have said, ‘Woe is me because the LORD has added sorrow to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.’”

You have said, ‘Terrible things [are happening] to me! I have endured much pain already. And now Yahweh is causing me to be very sad, in addition to my having pain. I am exhausted from my (groaning/being sad), and I am unable to rest!’

4 Thus Jeremiah was to say to Baruch: “This is what the LORD says: Throughout the land I will demolish what I have built and uproot what I have planted.

But [Baruch], this is what Yahweh says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I established. [This nation is like a tree] [MET] that I planted and that I will now pull up with its roots.

5 But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

So, should you [RHQ] desire that people do things to honor you in a special way? Do not desire that. [It is true that] I will cause all these people to experience a great disaster, but wherever you go, I will protect you, and you will not be killed.’”