BARUCH

📖 CHAPTER 1

This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the captivity of Jerusalem.

And Jeremiah sat weeping for the city and saying:

“Woe is me, O Jerusalem, for the glory has departed from thee.”

And the Lord said unto him:
“Jeremiah, do not weep for this people, for their sins have brought this upon them.”

“And behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies, and they shall be carried away into captivity.”

📖 CHAPTER 2

And Jeremiah took the keys of the temple and cast them toward the sun, saying:

“O sun, receive the keys of the house of the Lord until the day that He shall remember His people.”

And the sun received the keys and kept them safe.

And Jeremiah hid the vessels of the temple and sealed them.

📖 CHAPTER 3

And Jeremiah prayed for the people, saying:

“O Lord, remember Thy covenant and do not utterly forsake Thy people.”

And the Lord said unto him:
“I will not utterly destroy them, but I will discipline them and bring them back in due time.”

📖 CHAPTER 4

And Jeremiah said to Abimelech the Ethiopian:

“Go to the field of Agrippa and gather figs, that thou mayest bring them to the people who remain.”

And Abimelech went as Jeremiah commanded him.

And he found figs in abundance, and he gathered them.

📖 CHAPTER 5

And while he was gathering the figs, the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon him.

And he slept for many years.

And when he awoke, he rose up and took the basket of figs, thinking that only a short time had passed.

And he returned toward Jerusalem.

📖 CHAPTER 6

And when he came near the city, he saw that it was desolate and ruined.

And he said:
“This is not the city which I left.”

And he wept greatly, and he said:
“Where are the people? Where is Jeremiah?”

And he marveled at what had happened.

📖 CHAPTER 7

And he met an old man and asked him concerning the city.

And the man said unto him:

“This is Jerusalem, which has been destroyed, and the people have been carried away into captivity in Babylon.”

And Abimelech was astonished, and he said:
“How can this be? I left but a short time ago.”

And the man said:
“Many years have passed since the destruction.”

📖 CHAPTER 8

And Abimelech said unto the old man:
“Tell me, I pray thee, what has come to pass, and how many years have gone by?”

And the old man said:
“Many years have passed, and the people have been carried away into Babylon.”

And Abimelech said:
“I slept, and when I awoke I thought that only a short time had passed.”

And he looked upon the figs which he carried, and behold, they were fresh and had not withered.

📖 CHAPTER 9

And Abimelech marveled greatly and said:
“Surely this is the work of the Lord.”

And he went into the city and sat down and wept.

And he prayed, saying:
“O Lord, show me what I should do.”

And the Lord heard his prayer.

📖 CHAPTER 10

And the Lord sent an angel to Abimelech, and the angel said unto him:

“Do not be afraid, Abimelech, for the Lord has preserved thee.”

“And the figs which thou hast brought are a sign, for they have not decayed, though many years have passed.”

“And thou shalt go to Babylon and deliver a message to the people.”

📖 CHAPTER 11

And Abimelech arose and set out toward Babylon, according to the word of the angel.

And he carried the figs with him as a sign.

And he came to the place where the people were in captivity.

And he declared to them all that had happened.

📖 CHAPTER 12

And when the people in Babylon saw Abimelech, they were astonished.

And they said:
“Art thou not Abimelech, the Ethiopian, who was with Jeremiah?”

And he answered and said:
“I am he.”

And they marveled greatly, for they saw that he had not aged.

📖 CHAPTER 13

And Abimelech told them all that had happened, and how he had slept many years and awakened as though it were but a moment.

And he showed them the figs which he had carried, and behold, they were fresh.

And the people were amazed and glorified God.

📖 CHAPTER 14

And the people said:
“Surely the Lord has remembered His people and has shown mercy unto us.”

And they took courage and were strengthened.

And they remembered the words of Jeremiah and the covenant of the Lord.

📖 CHAPTER 15

And Jeremiah sent word unto the people in Babylon, saying:

“Be steadfast and do not despair, for the Lord will bring you back in due time.”

“And He will restore Jerusalem and gather His people.”

And the people rejoiced at his words and gave thanks unto the Lord.

📖 CHAPTER 16

And it came to pass that the days of the captivity were fulfilled.

And the Lord remembered His people and stirred up the spirit of the king of Babylon.

And he commanded that the children of Israel should return to their land.

And they gathered together and prepared to depart.

📖 CHAPTER 17

And Jeremiah went forth with the people and led them on the way.

And he encouraged them, saying:
“Give thanks unto the Lord, for He has shown mercy unto you.”

“And He has brought you back from captivity.”

📖 CHAPTER 18

And as they journeyed, they came to a place of rest, and they rejoiced together.

And they offered praise unto the Lord, who had delivered them.

And they remembered all that had come upon them and how the Lord had preserved them.

📖 CHAPTER 19

And Jeremiah spoke unto the people, saying:

“Keep the commandments of the Lord, and do not turn aside again.”

“For if you remain faithful, you shall dwell in peace.”

But if you forsake Him, you shall again be scattered.

📖 CHAPTER 20

And the people answered and said:
“We will walk in the ways of the Lord and keep His commandments.”

And they entered into the land and dwelt therein.

And the Lord gave them rest on every side.

📖 CHAPTER 21

And it came to pass after these things that Jeremiah departed from the people.

And he blessed them and committed them unto the Lord.

And he said:
“The Lord watch over you and keep you in His ways.”

📖 CHAPTER 22

And the people continued in righteousness for a time, and the fear of the Lord was among them.

And they prospered and increased in the land.

And the Lord was with them.