Jeremiah 45

1 The word that Jeremiah the prophet has spoken to Baruch son of Neriah, in his writing these words on a scroll from the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,

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 “Thus said YHWH, God of Israel, concerning you, O Baruch:

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

3 You have said, Woe to me, now, for YHWH has added sorrow to my pain, I have been wearied with my sighing, and I have not found 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 you say to him, Thus said YHWH: Behold, that which I have built I am throwing down, and that which I have planted I am plucking up, even the whole land itself.

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 And you seek for great things—do not seek, for behold, I am bringing calamity on all flesh—a declaration of YHWH—and I have given your life to you for a spoil, in all places to where you go.”

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.’”