Jeremiah 45

1 This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet told Baruch son of Neriah. This happened when he wrote in a scroll these words at Jeremiah's dictation—this was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, and he said,

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 “Yahweh, God of Israel, says this to you, Baruch:

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

3 You have said, 'Woe is me, for Yahweh has added agony to my pain. My groaning has wearied me; I find 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 This is what you must say to him: 'Yahweh says this: See, what I built, I am now tearing down. What I planted, I am now pulling up—I will do this throughout all the earth.

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 are you hoping for great things for yourself? Do not hope for that. For see, disaster is coming on all humanity—this is Yahweh's declaration—but I am giving you your life as your plunder everywhere you will 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.’”