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 which Jeremiah the prophet spake, unto Baruch son of Neriah, —when he had written these words upon a book, from the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah saying—

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

Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Unto thee, O Baruch, —

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!’

Thou didst say, Surely woe to me! For Yahweh hath added sorrow unto my pain, —I am weary with my moaning, And rest, have I not found!

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 Yahweh, —Lo! what I had built, I am pulling down, And what I had planted, I am rooting up, —And that is, all the 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.’”

Wouldst, thou, then seek to secure for thyself great things? Do not seek! For behold me! bringing in calamity upon all flesh, Declareth Yahweh, Nevertheless I will give thee thine own life as a spoil, in all places whithersoever thou goest.