1Jeremiah talked to Baruch, the son of Neriah. It was in the fourth year that Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, was king of Judah. It was when Baruch had written down on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet told him to write. Jeremiah had said,2‘The LORD is the God of Israel. Baruch, he says to you,3“You have said, ‘How terrible it is for me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain. I’m worn out from all my groaning. I can’t find any rest.’ ”4But here is what the LORD has told me to say to you, Baruch. “The LORD says, ‘I will destroy what I have built up. I will pull up by the roots what I have planted. I will do this throughout the earth.5So should you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. I will bring trouble on everyone,’ announces the LORD. ‘But no matter where you go, I will let you escape with your life.’ ” ’
Jeremiah 45
English Standard Version
Message to Baruch
1The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: (Jer 32:12; Jer 36:1; Jer 36:4; Jer 36:18)2“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:3You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ (Ps 6:6; Jer 36:26; La 1:3; La 5:5)4Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. (Isa 5:5; Jer 31:28)5And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.” (Ps 131:1; Jer 21:9; Jer 25:26; Jer 25:29; Jer 39:18; Ro 12:16)