CHAPTER1
1Andthesearethewordsofthebook,whichBaruch thesonofNerias,thesonofMaasias,thesonof Sedecias,thesonofAsadias,thesonofChelcias, wroteinBabylon,
2Inthefifthyear,andintheseventhdayofthemonth, whattimeastheChaldeanstookJerusalem,andburnt itwithfire.
3AndBaruchdidreadthewordsofthisbookinthe hearingofJechoniasthesonofJoachimkingofJuda, andintheearsofallthepeoplethatcametohearthe book,
4Andinthehearingofthenobles,andoftheking's sons,andinthehearingoftheelders,andofallthe people,fromthelowestuntothehighest,evenofall themthatdweltatBabylonbytheriverSud
5Whereupontheywept,fasted,andprayedbeforethe Lord.
6Theymadealsoacollectionofmoneyaccordingto everyman'spower:
7AndtheysentittoJerusalemuntoJoachimthehigh priest,thesonofChelcias,sonofSalom,andtothe priests,andtoallthepeoplewhichwerefoundwith himatJerusalem,
8Atthesametimewhenhereceivedthevesselsof thehouseoftheLord,thatwerecarriedoutofthe temple,toreturnthemintothelandofJuda,thetenth dayofthemonthSivan,namely,silvervessels,which SedeciasthesonofJosiaskingofJadahadmade,
9AfterthatNabuchodonosorkingofBabylonhad carriedawayJechonias,andtheprinces,andthe captives,andthemightymen,andthepeopleofthe land,fromJerusalem,andbroughtthemuntoBabylon
10Andtheysaid,Behold,wehavesentyoumoneyto buyyouburntofferings,andsinofferings,and incense,andprepareyemanna,andofferuponthe altaroftheLordourGod;
11AndprayforthelifeofNabuchodonosorkingof Babylon,andforthelifeofBalthasarhisson,that theirdaysmaybeuponearthasthedaysofheaven:
12AndtheLordwillgiveusstrength,andlightenour eyes,andweshallliveundertheshadowof NabuchodonosorkingofBabylon,andunderthe shadowofBalthasarhisson,andweshallservethem manydays,andfindfavourintheirsight.
13PrayforusalsountotheLordourGod,forwe havesinnedagainsttheLordourGod;anduntothis daythefuryoftheLordandhiswrathisnotturned fromus.
14Andyeshallreadthisbookwhichwehavesent untoyou,tomakeconfessioninthehouseoftheLord, uponthefeastsandsolemndays.
15Andyeshallsay,TotheLordourGodbelongeth righteousness,butuntoustheconfusionoffaces,asit iscometopassthisday,untothemofJuda,andtothe inhabitantsofJerusalem,
16Andtoourkings,andtoourprinces,andtoour priests,andtoourprophets,andtoourfathers:
17ForwehavesinnedbeforetheLord, 18Anddisobeyedhim,andhavenothearkenedunto thevoiceoftheLordourGod,towalkinthe commandmentsthathegaveusopenly:
19SincethedaythattheLordbroughtourforefathers outofthelandofEgypt,untothispresentday,we havebeendisobedientuntotheLordourGod,andwe havebeennegligentinnothearinghisvoice 20Whereforetheevilscleaveduntous,andthecurse, whichtheLordappointedbyMoseshisservantatthe timethathebroughtourfathersoutofthelandof Egypt,togiveusalandthatflowethwithmilkand honey,likeasitistoseethisday.
21Neverthelesswehavenothearkeneduntothevoice oftheLordourGod,accordinguntoallthewordsof theprophets,whomhesentuntous:
22Buteverymanfollowedtheimaginationofhis ownwickedheart,toservestrangegods,andtodo evilinthesightoftheLordourGod
CHAPTER2
1ThereforetheLordhathmadegoodhisword,which hepronouncedagainstus,andagainstourjudgesthat judgedIsrael,andagainstourkings,andagainstour princes,andagainstthemenofIsraelandJuda,
2Tobringuponusgreatplagues,suchasnever happenedunderthewholeheaven,asitcametopass inJerusalem,accordingtothethingsthatwerewritten inthelawofMoses;
3Thatamanshouldeatthefleshofhisownson,and thefleshofhisowndaughter
4Moreoverhehathdeliveredthemtobeinsubjection toallthekingdomsthatareroundaboutus,tobeasa reproachanddesolationamongallthepeopleround about,wheretheLordhathscatteredthem
5Thuswewerecastdown,andnotexalted,because wehavesinnedagainsttheLordourGod,andhave notbeenobedientuntohisvoice
6TotheLordourGodappertainethrighteousness:but untousandtoourfathersopenshame,asappeareth thisday
7Foralltheseplaguesarecomeuponus,whichthe Lordhathpronouncedagainstus
8YethavewenotprayedbeforetheLord,thatwe mightturneveryonefromtheimaginationsofhis wickedheart.
9WhereforetheLordwatchedoverusforevil,and theLordhathbroughtituponus:fortheLordis righteousinallhisworkswhichhehathcommanded us.
10Yetwehavenothearkeneduntohisvoice,towalk inthecommandmentsoftheLord,thathehathset beforeus
11Andnow,OLordGodofIsrael,thathastbrought thypeopleoutofthelandofEgyptwithamighty
hand,andhigharm,andwithsigns,andwithwonders, andwithgreatpower,andhastgottenthyselfaname, asappeareththisday:
12OLordourGod,wehavesinned,wehavedone ungodly,wehavedealtunrighteouslyinallthine ordinances.
13Letthywrathturnfromus:forwearebutafew leftamongtheheathen,wherethouhastscatteredus 14Hearourprayers,OLord,andourpetitions,and deliverusforthineownsake,andgiveusfavourin thesightofthemwhichhaveledusaway:
15ThatalltheearthmayknowthatthouarttheLord ourGod,becauseIsraelandhisposterityiscalledby thyname
16OLord,lookdownfromthineholyhouse,and considerus:bowdownthineear,OLord,tohearus.
17Openthineeyes,andbehold;forthedeadthatare inthegraves,whosesoulsaretakenfromtheirbodies, willgiveuntotheLordneitherpraisenor righteousness:
18Butthesoulthatisgreatlyvexed,whichgoeth stoopingandfeeble,andtheeyesthatfail,andthe hungrysoul,willgivetheepraiseandrighteousness, OLord
19Thereforewedonotmakeourhumblesupplication beforethee,OLordourGod,fortherighteousnessof ourfathers,andofourkings
20Forthouhastsentoutthywrathandindignation uponus,asthouhastspokenbythyservantsthe prophets,saying,
21ThussaiththeLord,Bowdownyourshouldersto servethekingofBabylon:soshallyeremaininthe landthatIgaveuntoyourfathers.
22ButifyewillnothearthevoiceoftheLord,to servethekingofBabylon, 23IwillcausetoceaseoutofthecitesofJudah,and fromwithoutJerusalem,thevoiceofmirth,andthe voiceofjoy,thevoiceofthebridegroom,andthe voiceofthebride:andthewholelandshallbe desolateofinhabitants.
24Butwewouldnothearkenuntothyvoice,toserve thekingofBabylon:thereforehastthoumadegood thewordsthatthouspakestbythyservantsthe prophets,namely,thatthebonesofourkings,andthe bonesofourfathers,shouldbetakenoutoftheirplace 25And,lo,theyarecastouttotheheatoftheday, andtothefrostofthenight,andtheydiedingreat miseriesbyfamine,bysword,andbypestilence
26Andthehousewhichiscalledbythynamehast thoulaidwaste,asitistobeseenthisday,forthe wickednessofthehouseofIsraelandthehouseof Juda
27OLordourGod,thouhastdealtwithusafterall thygoodness,andaccordingtoallthatgreatmercyof thine,
28AsthouspakestbythyservantMosesintheday whenthoudidstcommandhimtowritethelawbefore thechildrenofIsrael,saying,
29Ifyewillnothearmyvoice,surelythisverygreat multitudeshallbeturnedintoasmallnumberamong thenations,whereIwillscatterthem
30ForIknewthattheywouldnothearme,becauseit isastiffneckedpeople:butinthelandoftheir captivitiestheyshallrememberthemselves.
31AndshallknowthatIamtheLordtheirGod:forI willgivethemanheart,andearstohear:
32Andtheyshallpraisemeinthelandoftheir captivity,andthinkuponmyname, 33Andreturnfromtheirstiffneck,andfromtheir wickeddeeds:fortheyshallrememberthewayof theirfathers,whichsinnedbeforetheLord.
34AndIwillbringthemagainintothelandwhichI promisedwithanoathuntotheirfathers,Abraham, Isaac,andJacob,andtheyshallbelordsofit:andI willincreasethem,andtheyshallnotbediminished 35AndIwillmakeaneverlastingcovenantwiththem tobetheirGod,andtheyshallbemypeople:andI willnomoredrivemypeopleofIsraeloutoftheland thatIhavegiventhem
CHAPTER3
1OLordAlmighty,GodofIsrael,thesoulinanguish thetroubledspirit,criethuntothee.
2Hear,OLord,andhavemercy;forthouartmerciful: andhavepityuponus,becausewehavesinnedbefore thee.
3Forthouendurestforever,andweperishutterly.
4OLordAlmighty,thouGodofIsrael,hearnowthe prayersofthedeadIsraelites,andoftheirchildren, whichhavesinnedbeforethee,andnothearkened untothevoiceoftheetheirGod:forthewhichcause theseplaguescleaveuntous
5Remembernottheiniquitiesofourforefathers:but thinkuponthypowerandthynamenowatthistime. 6ForthouarttheLordourGod,andthee,OLord, willwepraise.
7Andforthiscausethouhastputthyfearinour hearts,totheintentthatweshouldcalluponthyname, andpraisetheeinourcaptivity:forwehavecalledto mindalltheiniquityofourforefathers,thatsinned beforethee
8Behold,weareyetthisdayinourcaptivity,where thouhastscatteredus,forareproachandacurse,and tobesubjecttopayments,accordingtoallthe iniquitiesofourfathers,whichdepartedfromthe LordourGod.
9Hear,Israel,thecommandmentsoflife:giveearto understandwisdom
10HowhappenethitIsrael,thatthouartinthine enemies'land,thatthouartwaxenoldinastrange country,thatthouartdefiledwiththedead, 11Thatthouartcountedwiththemthatgodowninto thegrave?
12Thouhastforsakenthefountainofwisdom.
13ForifthouhadstwalkedinthewayofGod,thou shouldesthavedwelledinpeaceforever.
14Learnwhereiswisdom,whereisstrength,whereis understanding;thatthoumayestknowalsowhereis lengthofdays,andlife,whereisthelightoftheeyes, andpeace.
15Whohathfoundoutherplace?orwhohathcome intohertreasures?
16Wherearetheprincesoftheheathenbecome,and suchasruledthebeastsupontheearth;
17Theythathadtheirpastimewiththefowlsofthe air,andtheythathoardedupsilverandgold,wherein mentrust,andmadenoendoftheirgetting?
18Fortheythatwroughtinsilver,andweresocareful, andwhoseworksareunsearchable, 19Theyarevanishedandgonedowntothegrave, andothersarecomeupintheirsteads
20Youngmenhaveseenlight,anddweltuponthe earth:butthewayofknowledgehavetheynotknown, 21Norunderstoodthepathsthereof,norlaidholdof it:theirchildrenwerefarofffromthatway
22IthathnotbeenheardofinChanaan,neitherhath itbeenseeninTheman.
23TheAgarenesthatseekwisdomuponearth,the merchantsofMeranandofTheman,theauthorsof fables,andsearchersoutofunderstanding;noneof thesehaveknownthewayofwisdom,orremember herpaths
24OIsrael,howgreatisthehouseofGod!andhow largeistheplaceofhispossession!
25Great,andhathnoneend;high,andunmeasurable
26Therewerethegiantsfamousfromthebeginning, thatwereofsogreatstature,andsoexpertinwar.
27ThosedidnottheLordchoose,neithergavehethe wayofknowledgeuntothem:
28Buttheyweredestroyed,becausetheyhadno wisdom,andperishedthroughtheirownfoolishness.
29Whohathgoneupintoheaven,andtakenher,and broughtherdownfromtheclouds?
30Whohathgoneoverthesea,andfoundher,and willbringherforpuregold?
31Nomanknowethherway,northinkethofherpath
32Buthethatknowethallthingsknowethher,and hathfoundheroutwithhisunderstanding:hethat preparedtheearthforevermorehathfilleditwith fourfootedbeasts:
33Hethatsendethforthlight,anditgoeth,callethit again,anditobeyethhimwithfear
34Thestarsshinedintheirwatches,andrejoiced: whenhecalleththem,theysay,Herewebe;andso withcheerfulnesstheyshewedlightuntohimthat madethem
35ThisisourGod,andthereshallnoneotherbe accountedofincomparisonofhim
36Hehathfoundoutallthewayofknowledge,and hathgivenituntoJacobhisservant,andtoIsraelhis beloved.
37Afterwarddidheshewhimselfuponearth,and conversedwithmen.
CHAPTER4
1ThisisthebookofthecommandmentsofGod,and thelawthatendurethforever:alltheythatkeepit shallcometolife;butsuchasleaveitshalldie
2Turnthee,OJacob,andtakeholdofit:walkinthe presenceofthelightthereof,thatthoumayestbe illuminated
3Givenotthinehonourtoanother,northethingsthat areprofitableuntotheetoastrangenation.
4OIsrael,happyarewe:forthingsthatarepleasing toGodaremadeknownuntous.
5Beofgoodcheer,mypeople,thememorialofIsrael. 6Yeweresoldtothenations,notforyourdestruction: butbecauseyemovedGodtowrath,yewere delivereduntotheenemies.
7Foryeprovokedhimthatmadeyoubysacrificing untodevils,andnottoGod
8YehaveforgottentheeverlastingGod,thatbrought youup;andyehavegrievedJerusalem,thatnursed you
9ForwhenshesawthewrathofGodcomingupon you,shesaid,Hearken,OyethatdwellaboutSion: Godhathbroughtuponmegreatmourning;
10ForIsawthecaptivityofmysonsanddaughters, whichtheEverlastingbroughtuponthem.
11WithjoydidInourishthem;butsentthemaway withweepingandmourning
12Letnomanrejoiceoverme,awidow,andforsaken ofmany,whoforthesinsofmychildrenamleft desolate;becausetheydepartedfromthelawofGod 13Theyknewnothisstatutes,norwalkedintheways ofhiscommandments,nortrodinthepathsof disciplineinhisrighteousness.
14LetthemthatdwellaboutSioncome,and rememberyethecaptivityofmysonsanddaughters, whichtheEverlastinghathbroughtuponthem.
15Forhehathbroughtanationuponthemfromfar,a shamelessnation,andofastrangelanguage,who neitherreverencedoldman,norpitiedchild.
16Thesehavecarriedawaythedearbelovedchildren ofthewidow,andleftherthatwasalonedesolate withoutdaughters.
17ButwhatcanIhelpyou?
18Forhethatbroughttheseplaguesuponyouwill deliveryoufromthehandsofyourenemies.
19Goyourway,Omychildren,goyourway:forI amleftdesolate
20Ihaveputofftheclothingofpeace,andputupon methesackclothofmyprayer:Iwillcryuntothe Everlastinginmydays.
21Beofgoodcheer,Omychildren,cryuntothe Lord,andhewilldeliveryoufromthepowerand handoftheenemies.
22FormyhopeisintheEverlasting,thathewillsave you;andjoyiscomeuntomefromtheHolyOne, becauseofthemercywhichshallsooncomeuntoyou fromtheEverlastingourSaviour
23ForIsentyououtwithmourningandweeping:but Godwillgiveyoutomeagainwithjoyandgladness forever
24LikeasnowtheneighboursofSionhaveseenyour captivity:soshalltheyseeshortlyyoursalvationfrom ourGodwhichshallcomeuponyouwithgreatglory, andbrightnessoftheEverlasting
25Mychildren,sufferpatientlythewraththatiscome uponyoufromGod:forthineenemyhathpersecuted thee;butshortlythoushaltseehisdestruction,and shalttreaduponhisneck.
26Mydelicateoneshavegoneroughways,andwere takenawayasaflockcaughtoftheenemies
27Beofgoodcomfort,Omychildren,andcryunto God:foryeshallberememberedofhimthatbrought thesethingsuponyou
28ForasitwasyourmindtogoastrayfromGod:so, beingreturned,seekhimtentimesmore.
29Forhethathathbroughttheseplaguesuponyou shallbringyoueverlastingjoywithyoursalvation
30Takeagoodheart,OJerusalem:forhethatgave theethatnamewillcomfortthee.
31Miserablearetheythatafflictedthee,andrejoiced atthyfall
32Miserablearethecitieswhichthychildrenserved: miserableisshethatreceivedthysons.
33Forassherejoicedatthyruin,andwasgladofthy fall:soshallshebegrievedforherowndesolation
34ForIwilltakeawaytherejoicingofhergreat multitude,andherprideshallbeturnedintomourning 35ForfireshallcomeuponherfromtheEverlasting, longtoendure;andsheshallbeinhabitedofdevilsfor agreattime.
36OJerusalem,lookabouttheetowardtheeast,and beholdthejoythatcomethuntotheefromGod.
37Lo,thysonscome,whomthousentestaway,they comegatheredtogetherfromtheeasttothewestby thewordoftheHolyOne,rejoicinginthegloryof God.
CHAPTER5
1Putoff,OJerusalem,thegarmentofmourningand affliction,andputonthecomelinessoftheglorythat comethfromGodforever.
2Castabouttheeadoublegarmentofthe righteousnesswhichcomethfromGod;andseta diademonthineheadofthegloryoftheEverlasting
3ForGodwillshewthybrightnessuntoevery countryunderheaven.
4ForthynameshallbecalledofGodforeverThe peaceofrighteousness,andThegloryofGod's worship.
5Arise,OJerusalem,andstandonhigh,andlook abouttowardtheeast,andbeholdthychildren gatheredfromthewestuntotheeastbythewordof theHolyOne,rejoicingintheremembranceofGod 6Fortheydepartedfromtheeonfoot,andwereled awayoftheirenemies:butGodbringeththemunto theeexaltedwithglory,aschildrenofthekingdom 7ForGodhathappointedthateveryhighhill,and banksoflongcontinuance,shouldbecastdown,and valleysfilledup,tomakeeventheground,thatIsrael maygosafelyinthegloryofGod,
8Moreovereventhewoodsandeverysweetsmelling treeshallovershadowIsraelbythecommandmentof God
9ForGodshallleadIsraelwithjoyinthelightofhis glorywiththemercyandrighteousnessthatcometh fromhim