< Jeremiah 45 >
1 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,
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying:
2 “Baruch, Yahweh, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship], has a message for you.
'Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning thee, O Baruch: Thou didst say:
3 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!’
Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.
4 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.
Thus shalt thou say unto him: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; and this in the whole land.
5 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.’”
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.'