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Home , Book of Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah

1108

The was among the last books of the Scriptures to be written. It was written during the last century before Christ, in one of the Jewish communities outside of Palestine. It includes several texts helpful to the dispersed : – a “ of the exiles” which intensifi ed their longing for the Holy Land; – a beautiful poem about (3:9–4:4); – several texts inspired by the of the exile; – a “letter from ” which is a controversial text against idols (Bar 6). Because it included some paragraphs written in Jeremiah’s style, it was attributed to Baruch, the ’s secretary (see Jer 36).

The prayer of exile day of the month of Sivan, the sacred ves- 1 These are the words of the book writ- sels which had been taken away from the 1 ten by Baruch, the son of Neriah, de - temple of the Lord. These were the silver scended from Massiah, from Sedekiah, vessels made by Zedekiah, son of Josiah, from Hasadiah, from Hilkiah. 2 They were king of Judah, 9 after Nebuchadnezzar, the written in the fi fth year, on the seventh day king of , had carried off Jeconiah, of the month, at the time when the Chal- the artisans, the nobles and the people of deans had taken and burned it. the land and had taken them captive to 3 2K Baruch read the words of this book to Babylon. 23:2; 10 24:8-17 Jeconiah, the son of Joachim, the king of The letter said: Look, we are send- Jer Judah, in the presence of all the people ing you money; buy with it victims for the 17:26 who had come together to hear it read. holocaust and for offerings and incense; 4 He read it in the hearing of the nobles and prepare oblations and offer them on the the king’s sons, of the elders and all the Altar of the Lord our . 11 Pray for the people, from the smallest to the greatest— life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, that is, all those who were living in Baby- and of Balthasar, his son, so that they may lon near the river Sudi. be successful in all that they do. 12 Thus 5 Then the people wept and fasted and the Lord will give strength and light to our prayed before the Lord. 6 They also col- eyes. We will live under the protection of lected money according to what each one Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and of could afford 7 and this, they sent to Jerusa- his son, Balthasar. We shall have a long lem, to the Jehoiakim, son of Hilki- life serving them and we shall fi nd favor ah, the son of Shallum, and to the other before them. and people who dwelt in Jerusalem 13 Pray to the Lord our God for us also, with him. 8 This same Baruch had under- for we have sinned against the Lord our taken to carry back to Judea, on the tenth God; even to this day the anger of the Lord 1109 BARUCH 2 and his fury have not been turned away cestors right down to this day. 7 All those from us. 14 Finally, read this book which we evils which the Lord prophesied concern- are sending to you, so that you can read it ing us have fallen upon us. 8 And we have publicly in the house of the Lord on the day not begged the Lord to make each of us of the Feast and on other suitable days. turn away from the thoughts of our evil 15 9 2:6; You will say: May everyone recog- hearts. Then the Lord kept watch over the Dn 9:7-8; Ezr 9:7 nize the justice of our God but, on this evils and allowed them to come upon us, day, shame and confusion befi t the men for the Lord is just in all that he has com- of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusa- manded us to do. 10 We have not listened lem—16 our kings and princes, our priests, to his voice nor followed the commands our prophets, and our fathers, 17 because which the Lord has ordered us to keep. 18 11 we have sinned before the Lord. We have And now, Lord God of Israel, you who Dn 9:15 disobeyed him and have not listened to brought your people out of Egypt with a the voice of the Lord our God, nor have strong hand, with miracles and wonders we followed the commandments which the and great power, you who stretched out Lord had put before us. 19 From the day your arm and made for yourself a name that the Lord brought our ancestors out of such as you have today, 12 we have sinned. the land of Egypt until this day, we have We have been godless and unjust, Lord, disobeyed the Lord our God and we have careless about all your commands. 13 May rebelled against him instead of listening to your fury be turned away from us, for there his voice. are very few of us left among the nations in 20 Lev 26: Because of this, from the day on which you have scattered us. 14-39 which the Lord brought our ancestors out 14 Hear our supplication and our prayer, of the land of Egypt, so as to give them a O Lord, deliver us, for your own honor and land fl owing with milk and honey, the evils let us fi nd favor with those who deported and the curse which the Lord pronounced us. 15 Let all the earth know that you are by , his servant, have dogged our the Lord our God, because Israel and its footsteps right down to the present day. people bear your name. 16 Lord, look down 21 We did not listen to the voice of the Lord from your holy dwelling place and think of 17

our God speaking through the words of the us; Lord, incline your ear and listen; Lord, T-J-B prophets whom he sent to us, 22 but each open your eyes and consider: it is not the one of us followed his perverted heart, dead, lying in the netherworld, who will serving false and doing what dis- praise your glory and justice, 18 since their pleases the Lord our God. spirit has been taken from their breast. Grieving under his burden, and walk- 1 That is why the Lord our God has car- ing bowed down and exhausted, the man 2 ried out the word which he spoke with eyes sore from weeping and who is against us, against the judges who have hungry—these are they, who can give you gov erned Israel, against our kings, our glory and justice, O Lord. 19 princes and the people of Israel and Ju - For it is not on account of the mer- Dn 9:18; dah. its of our ancestors and of our kings that Tit 3:5 2 No one under the sky has ever seen we pour out our cry for pity before you, the like of what happened in Jerusalem, O Lord our God. 20 You have sent down according to what is written in the Book of on us your fury and your anger as you Moses. 3 For people among us came to eat announced through your servants, the 4 21 Tb 3:4 their son’s and daughter’s fl esh. And he prophets, saying, “Thus says the Lord: Jer handed them over into the power of all the Bend your shoulders and serve the king 27:11 surrounding kingdoms, so that they were of Babylon and you will dwell in the land cursed and humiliated among the neigh- that I gave to your ancestors. 22 But if you boring peoples among whom the Lord had do not listen to the voice of the Lord your 5 23 Dt 28:13 scattered them. Submission and not com- God and serve the king of Babylon, I will Jer 7:34 mand has been our lot, because we have bring to an end in the towns of Judah and sinned against the Lord our God and have in Jerusalem the song of joy and gladness, not listened to his voice. the song of the bridegroom and the bride, 6 1:15 Just is the Lord our God, whereas and the whole country will become a desert 24 shame and confusion befi t us and our an - without inhabitants. We did not listen to Jer 8:1 BARUCH 2 1110 your invitation to serve the king of Babylon powerful God of Israel, listen, then, to the and so you carried out what you had fore- of the dead of Israel. We are the told by your servants, the prophets, that sons of those who sinned against you, who the bones of our kings and our ancestors did not listen to the voice of their God; and would be taken from their graves. 25 See, this is why disgrace has come upon us. they have been exposed to the heat of the 5 Do not remember any longer the wrong- day and the cold of the night; they died in doing of our fathers, but remember at this cruel sufferings, by famine, by the sword time your power and your name; 6 for you and by plagues. 26 And you have reduced are the Lord, our God and we will praise the nation which bears your name to the you, Lord. 7 That is why you have put your state in which it is today because of the fear into our hearts and we call upon your wickedness of the people of Judah. name. And we will praise you in our exile 27 However, you have acted towards us, for we have removed from our hearts all O Lord our God, indulgently and with great the wrong of our fathers who sinned against tenderness, 28 as you foretold by your ser- you. 8 We are here today, in our exile, vant Moses, the day you ordered him to where you have scattered us, to be insult- write down your law in the presence of the ed, cursed and condemned for the wrong- 29 Dt 4:27 children of Israel saying: If you do not lis- doing of our fathers, who separated them- ten to my voice, this great and vast mul- selves from the Lord our God. titude will be reduced to a small remnant among the nations where I shall scatter Who has found wisdom? 32:9 them; 30 for I know well that they will not lis- • 9 Listen, Israel, to the commands of ten to me because they are a stiff-necked life, give ear so as to learn prudence, people. But in the land of their exile their 10 Why, Israel! Why are you in the land hearts will be converted 31 and they will of your foes? Why are you growing old in a know that I am the Lord their God. 32 And foreign country, contaminated by pagans, 11 I will give them a heart and listening ears, counted among those who go to the pit? Hos 9:4 that they may praise me in the land of their 12 You have abandoned the source of exile and remember my name. 33 They will Wisdom. repent of their stiff-necked obstinacy and 13 If you had walked in the way of God, their evil deeds, because they will remem- peace would be your dwelling place for- ber what happened to their ancestors who ever. 34 14 Dt 30:5 had sinned before the Lord. And I will lead Learn where is Wisdom, where is Pro 2:1; Dt 4:6; them into the land which I have promised Strength and Understanding, Pro 3:2 by oath to their ancestors, to Abraham, that you may know, at the same time, Isaac and and they will take pos- where are length of days and life, session of it. I will increase their number light of the eyes and Peace. Job 35 15 Jer and it will no longer diminish. I will make Who will fi nd Wisdom’s dwelling? 28:12; 31:31 Sir 1:6; with them an everlasting Covenant; I will Who will enter her storage rooms? Job be their God and they shall be my people. 16 Where are the leaders of the nations, 28:20 I will no longer drive my people Israel from those who commanded the beasts of the Dn 2:38 the land which I have given them. earth, 17 who played with the birds of the heavens, 1 Almighty Lord, God of Israel, a soul in who piled up silver and gold—in which 3 anguish and a discouraged spirit cries people put their trust— out to you. 2 Listen, Lord, and have pity, for and who never tired of collecting it? we have sinned against you; 3 for you reign 18 Amassing money was their only concern, forever, while we perish forever. 4 Lord, all- their business beyond measure.

• 3.9 This poem is inspired by Chapter 28 sists in knowing what is God’s plan in creating of Job. this world. What does God ask of humankind? The author addresses believers who are very For Jewish believers, true wisdom was found impressed by the culture and material wealth of in God’s words, in their “law.” In their turn, the pagans among whom they live. He reminds Christians know that the wisdom ruling the uni- them that authentic human wisdom is not mere verse is none other than the one known in the technical knowledge, nor is it the art of making words and the person of Jesus. money or pure human refl ection. Wisdom con- 1111 BARUCH 4

19 1 But they have disappeared, She herself is the book of the com- Sir they have gone down to the dead 4 mands of God, the law which endures 24:23 and others have risen in their place. forever. 20 A younger generation is there All who hold fast to her will have life on the earth and enjoys the light, but those who abandon her will die. 2 but they have not known the ways of Come back, Jacob, and embrace her, Sir 45:5 knowledge; walk towards brightness under her light. they have not seen his tracks nor have 3 Do not give up what is your glory or they met him, sell your privileges to any strange nation. 21 and their children after them did not 4 We are fortunate, O Israel, for we know leave their paths. what pleases the Lord! 22 Jer 49:7 No one in Canaan has heard of Wis- dom, no one has seen her in Teman. Consolation for Jerusalem 23 The sons of Agar, who seek knowl- 5 Take courage, my people, you who edge of the earth, pre serve the memory of Israel. 6 You have the traders of Midian and Teman, been sold to the nations but not for your the tellers of fables and philosophers, destruction; because you had aroused the they have not known the path of Wisdom, anger of God, you were delivered to your 7 they have not discovered her ways. enemies. For you displeased your Creator Dt 32:17 24 O Israel, how great is the house of in sacrifi cing to demons and not to God. God, how vast his dominion! 8 You have forgotten the Eternal God, the 25 It is great and has no limits. one who nourished you. You have fi lled It is lofty, wide and immeasurable. Jerusalem with sadness, she who brought 26 There were born the ancient and you up. 9 For she saw the anger of God fall famous giants on you and she said, “Listen, you neigh- of high stature and skillful in war. boring cities of Zion, God has sent me a 27 God did not choose them, great sorrow. 10 I have seen the captivity of he did not teach them the ways of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal Wisdom, one brought on them. 11 I had nurtured them 28 and they perished because of their in joy; with tears and sadness I saw them folly, because they lacked knowledge. leave. 12 Let no one rejoice on seeing me T-J-B Dt 30:11 29 Who has ascended to Heaven that he a widow and abandoned by all. Because Is 49:21 may lay hold of her of the of my children I am now alone, and bring her down from the clouds? because they have turned away from the 30 Sir 24:4 Who has crossed seas and found her, law of God. and bought her with the purest of gold? 13 They have not remembered its pre- 31 There is no one who knows her path, cepts; nor have they walked in the ways of no one who thinks of her way. his commandments, and followed the dis- 32 Job But he who knows everything recog- cipline which leads to uprightness. 28:23 nizes her. 14 Let them come, the neighbors of Zion, He has found her in his own intellect. and remember the captivity which the Eter- He who created the earth, for all time, nal One laid on my sons and daughters. 15 and has fi lled it with four-footed beings. For he caused a distant nation to Jer 5:15 33 He who sends the light, and it goes, come against them, a ruthless nation with who recalls it, and trembling, it obeys. an unknown language. 34 Sir 43:9; The stars shine, full of joy, to keep They had no respect for the old, and Ps 147:4 their night watches. no pity for the infant; 16 they took away He calls them and they answer, “Here the only son of the widow, as well as her we are.” daughter, and left her alone. They shine with joy for their Creator. 17 But as for myself, how can I help you? 35 It is he who is our God, no other can 18 He who caused these evils to come upon be compared with him. you will deliver you from the hands of your 36 He has found the way of understand- enemies. ing and has given her to Jacob his servant 19 Well, my children, go on your way; as and to Israel his well-beloved. for me, I am left alone. 37 20 Pro 8:31 Then Wisdom was seen on earth and I have taken off the garment of peace lived among humans. and put on again the sackcloth of penance BARUCH 4 1112 and prayer. I will cry out to the Eternal One 36 Jerusalem, look towards the East, all the rest of my days. and see the joy which is coming to you 21 Come, take courage, my children, cry from God. 37 out to God. He will deliver you from the Look, your children who were scat- Is 43:5 violence of the enemy. tered are returning. They are assembling, 22 Because I hoped for your salvation coming together, from the East and from from the Eternal One, joy has come to me the West, at the voice of the Holy One, from the Holy One, because of the mercy rejoicing in the glory of God. that will come to you soon from the Eter- 1 nal One, our Savior. Jerusalem, put off your garment of Is 52:1 23 In tears and mourning, I saw you 5 mourning and unhappiness, put on the leave, but in joy and gladness God will splendor and glory of God forever. bring you back to me forever. 2 Wrap yourself in the mantle of holiness 24 As the neighbors of Zion have seen that comes from God, put on your head your captivity so they will soon see your the crown of glory of the Eternal One. 3 salvation from God, when he manifests to For God will show your splendor to Is 62:1 you the great glory and the splendor of the every being under heaven. Eternal God. 4 He will call your name forever, “peace in 25 Ps 110:1 Children, bear patiently this punish- justice” and “glory in the fear of the Lord.” ment which came on you from God. The 5 Rise up, Jerusalem, stand on the enemy has persecuted you, but you will heights. Look towards the east and see soon see his downfall and you will trample your children gathered together from the him underfoot. setting of the sun to its rising, by the voice 26 My well-beloved children have walked of the Holy One, rejoicing because God by diffi cult paths, carried off like a herd has remembered them. stolen by enemies. 27 Take courage, my 6 They left you on foot, taken away by children, cry out to God, for he who sent the enemy. God will lead them back, car- you into exile will remember you. ried gloriously like royal princes. 28 7 Thus, as you distanced yourself from For God has resolved to bring low Is 40:4 God, return to him and seek him ten times every high mountain and the everlasting more earnestly. 29 For he who caused these hills, to fi ll up the valleys and level out the evils to fall on you will bring you salvation ground, in order that Israel may walk in and eternal joy. safety under the glory of God. 30 Is 40:1 Take courage, Jerusalem. He who has 8 Even the forests and the fragrant trees named you will console you. will give shade to Israel at God’s com- 31 Cursed be those who did evil to you mand. 9 For God will lead Israel with joy by and rejoiced in your downfall. 32 Cursed be the light of his glory, escorting them with those cities in which your children were his mercy and justice. slaves, cursed the nation in which they had to live. The 33 Just as that nation rejoiced in your • A copy of the letter, which Jeremiah downfall and took pleasure in your destruc- 6 sent to those who were to be taken tion so will she be affl icted and destroyed. captive to Babylon by the king of the Bab- 34 I will take from her the joy of being a ylonians, to let them know what God had numerous people; her pride will be turned ordered him. into mourning. 1 “Because of the sins you have commit- ted against God, you will be led captive to • 35 A fi re will descend on her from the Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Eternal One and burn for many days. She Babylonians. 2 After your arrival in Baby- will be inhabited by demons for a long time. lon you will remain there for a number of

• 4.35 Following the laments of verses 5-35, and too much interest in religious images. note the ending fi lled with hope and joy (4:36– In the midst of so many considerations which 5:9) which resembles Chapters 60–62 of . may seem tedious to us, note the judgment expressed in verses 27 and 37: a religion which • 6.1 This discourse also serves as a warning shows no concern for orphans and widows is a for us against exaggerated devotion to the saints false religion. 1113 BARUCH 6 years—a long time, for seven generations; them. 22 This tells you they are not gods, so but after that, I shall bring you home in have no fear of them. peace. 23 If the rust on the gold that adorns 3 In Babylon you will see gods of silver, them is not removed, they cannot shine. gold and wood, carried on men’s shoulders Yet what does it matter? Even when they and fi lling the people with fear. 4 Take care were cast they felt nothing. 24 They may be not to copy what foreigners do; and not to bought at a high price but there is not a let yourselves be terrifi ed by them 5 when breath of life in them. 25 As they are without you see the crowds pressing in front and feet, they are carried on men’s shoulders, 6 23:20 behind to adore them. Say rather to your- showing publicly their shame. What a con- selves: ‘Master, it is you we are to adore.’ fusion for their worshipers if the god falls! 26 My angel is with you to take care of your They must lift him up. Once he has been Sir lives. stood up, he does not move. If tilted, he 30:18 7 Is 40:19; Their tongues have been polished by is helpless to straighten up. So you make Jer 10:4 a craftsman and even if they are of gold offerings to these gods as you make to and silver, they are false and are unable dead people. to speak. 8 As for a maiden conscious of 27 The priests collect what has been her appearance, these pagans make gold- offered for sacrifi ce, selling it, while the en crowns for their gods. 9 Yet at times the wives salt some of it but give nothing to the priests steal the gold and silver from their poor and helpless. Do you think these are gods for their own use and for the prosti- true offerings? Even women giving birth or 28 tutes in their temples. who are ritually unclean touch them. See Lev 10 They give clothes to these gods as if that they are not gods and have no fear of 15:19 they were people, but they are only things them. of gold, silver and wood, which cannot 29 How can they be called gods? Women defend themselves from rust or wood- carry offerings to things made of silver, worm. 11 So, after clothing them in purple, wood and gold. 30 The priests remain seat- they wipe their faces because of the thick ed in the temple, their garments torn, head dust of the temple that covers them. and beard shaved, and no covering on their 12 31 The god has a scepter like a governor heads. They roar and cry in the presence T-J-B of a province, but he cannot destroy the of their gods as do certain people during person who has wronged him. 13 He carries funeral meals. 32 With the garments taken sword and ax in his right hand, but he is from the gods the priests clothe their wives helpless both in war and against thieves. and their children. 33 Whether they are treat- 14 This clearly proves they are not gods; ed well or shabbily, the gods can make no have no fear of them. return, neither can they make or unmake 15 A broken pot is useless for anyone. So a king. 34 They are incapable of bestowing are those gods enshrined in their temples. riches or money. If someone fails to keep 35 16 Their eyes are full of the dust raised by a vow, he is not called to account. They Wis 16:13 those who enter. 17 Just as doors are care- can neither save anyone from death nor fully closed on a man who has offended rescue a helpless person from the clutch of the king or on a convict sentenced to the powerful. 36 They cannot restore sight death, in the same way the priests lock to the blind or save someone in distress. and bolt the doors of the temple for fear 37 They will show no compassion to the Ps 146:7 of thieves. 18 They light lamps, far more widow nor do good to the orphan. numerous than what they need for them- 38 These pieces of wood plated with gold selves, and yet the god sees no one. 19 He and silver are no more worthy than rocks is no more than any of the beams of the hewn out of a mountain and their worship- temple and some whisper that the inner ers shall be humiliated. 39 How then can part is gnawed by termites; worms out anyone believe they are gods? How can of the ground devour both the god and they be called gods? his clothes, but he feels nothing. 20 Their 40 The Chaldeans themselves have put faces have become black because of the them to shame. If they see someone who smoke of the temple. 21 Owls alight on their is dumb, unable to speak, they bring him heads and shoulders, swallows and other be fore Bel, entreating him to make him birds perch on them and cats prowl around speak, as if the god could hear them! BARUCH 6 1114 41 And yet these thinking people are unable 57 These gods cannot escape either to abandon gods that are completely de - from thieves or brigands. These are more void of sense. 42 Women with cord round powerful and despoil them of their gold, their waists sit in the street burning bran. their silver and their robes. Such gods are 43 When one of them has been picked up unable to defend themselves. by a passerby and has slept with him, she 58 Better to be a king with a show of taunts her companion for not having been power, or even a household pot that is of so highly regarded as herself and for fail- some use to its owner than to be a false ing to have her cord broken. 44 All that goes god; better even to be the door of a house on anywhere near these gods is false. How that guards what is within, or a wooden can they be considered or declared to be column in a royal palace than to be a false 59 gods? god. The sun, moon and stars that shine Gen 45 They have been fashioned by crafts- and serve us are obedient to God; 60 like- 1:14 men and goldsmiths; they are noth- wise the lightning that is beautiful to see, Sir ing more than what the artisans decided and the wind that blows over the country 43:17 they were to be. 46 Those who made them 61 and the clouds passing over the earth at haven’t long to live; so how could the work God’s command, fi re sent from on high of their hands be gods? 47 What they leave to consume mountain and forest—all do to their descendants is nothing more than what is commanded. 62 But these wooden illusion and shame. objects can in no way compare with them, 48 For when war or other disasters come 63 that is why it must not be either believed upon them, they discuss among them- or said that these are gods, since they are selves where they, with their gods, will powerless to administer justice or benefi t hide. 49 How could anyone fail to be con- anyone in any way. 64 Since you know they vinced that what cannot save from war are not gods, have no fear of them. and disaster is not a god? 50 Later on, these 65 They can neither curse 66 nor bless pieces of wood plated with silver and gold kings, nor bring about signs in the heav- will be known to be false. It will be plain ens for the nations to see. They can nei- to all kings and nations that they are not ther shine like the sun nor give light like gods, but merely the work of human hands the moon. 67 Animals are of more worth, and God does nothing through them. 51 Is since by taking cover they can look after there anyone unconvinced that these are themselves. 68 So in no way whatever is it not gods? evident to us that these are gods; for that 52 They are incapable of establishing reason have no fear of them. a king in a country or of sending rain to 69 For like a scarecrow in a fi eld of mel- people. 53 They are unable to discern what ons, these gods plated with silver and gold is just or to rescue a person who has been protect nothing. 70 Again these wooden wronged. They are as helpless as crows gods may be compared to a thorn bush in between the sky and the ground. 54 When a garden where any bird can perch, or to fi re breaks out in the temple of these a corpse thrown into a dark place. 71 You wooden gods plated with silver and gold, know by the purple and scarlet robes rot- the priests fl ee to safety but their gods are ting on them that they are not gods. They burnt with the beams in the midst of the end up by being eaten away and become fl ames. 55 They can neither resist a king nor a disgrace to the country. 72 Better then a a hostile army. 56 How can it be admitted or just man who has no idols, he will not be believed that they are gods? dishonored.