Chapter 9
1 And I, Baruch, came, and Jeremiah, whose heart was found pure from sins, who had not been captured in the seizure of the city. 2 And we rent our garments, and wept, and mourned, and fasted seven days.
Chapter 10
1 And it came to pass after seven days, that the word of God came to me, and said unto me: 2 “Tell Jeremiah to go and support the captivity of the people unto Babylon. 3 But do thou remain here amid the desolation of Zion, and I will show to thee after these days what will befall at the end of days.” 4 And I said to Jeremiah as the Lord commanded me. 5 And he, indeed, departed with the people, but I, Baruch, returned and sat before the gates of the temple, and I lamented with the following lamentation over Zion and said:
6 “Blessed is he who was not born, Or being born hath died.
7 But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what hath befallen Jerusalem.
8 I will call the Sirens from the sea, And ye Lilin, come ye from the desert, And ye Shedim and dragons from the forests: Awake and gird your loins unto mourning, And take up with me the dirges, And mourn with me.
9 Ye husbandmen, sow not again; And thou, earth, wherefore givest thou the fruits of thy produce? Keep within thee the sweets of thy sustenance.
10 And thou, vine, why further dost thou give thy wine? For an offering shall not again be made therefrom in Zion, Nor shall first-fruits again be offered.
11 And do ye, O heavens, withhold your dew, And open not the treasuries of rain;
12 And do thou, O sun, withhold the light of thy rays; And do thou, O moon, extinguish the multitude of thy light; For why should light rise again Where the light of Zion is darkened?
13 And you, ye bridegrooms, enter not in, And let not the brides adorn themselves with garlands; And, ye women, pray not that ye may bear.
14 For the barren shall rejoice more, And those who have no sons shall be glad, And those who have sons shall have anguish
15 For why should they bear in pain Only to bury in grief?
16 Or wherefore, again, should mankind have sons; Or wherefore should the seed of their nature again be named, Where this mother is desolate, And her sons are led into captivity?
17 From this time forward speak not of beauty, And discourse not of gracefulness.
18 Moreover, ye priests, take ye the keys of the sanctuary, And cast them into the height of heaven, And give them to the Lord, and say: ‘Guard Thy house Thyself, For lo! we are found false stewards.’
19 And you, ye virgins, who spin fine linen And silk with gold of Ophir, Hasten and take all things And cast (them) into the fire, That it may bear them to Him Who made them, And the flame send them to Him Who created them, Lest the enemy get possession of them.”
Chapter 11
1 Moreover, I, Baruch, say this against thee, Babylon:
“If thou hadst prospered, And Zion had dwelt in her glory, It would have been a great grief to us That thou shouldst be equal to Zion.
2 But now, lo! the grief is infinite, And the lamentation measureless, For lo! thou art prospered And Zion desolate.
3 Who will be judge regarding these things? Or to whom shall we complain regarding that which hath befallen us? O Lord, how hast Thou borne (it)?
4 Our fathers went to rest without grief, And lo! the righteous sleep in the earth in tranquillity;
5 For they knew not this anguish, Nor yet had they heard of that which had befallen us.
6 Would that thou hadst ears, O earth, And that thou hadst a heart, O dust, That ye might go and announce in Sheol, And say to the dead:
7 ‘Blessed are ye more than we who live.’”
Chapter 12
1 But I will say this as I think; And I will speak against thee, O land, which art prospering.
2 The noonday doth not always burn; Nor do the constant rays of the sun always give light.
3 Do not expect [and hope] that thou wilt always be prosperous and rejoicing; And be not greatly uplifted and boastful;
4 For assuredly in its own season wrath will awake against thee. Which now in long-suffering is held in as it were by reins.
5 And when I had said these things, I fasted seven days.