And I, Baruch, came, and Jeremiah, whose heart was found pure from sins, who had not been captured in the seizure of the City. And we rent our garments, we wept, and mourned, and fasted seven days.

Chapter 10

And it came to pass after seven days, that the word of God carne to me, and said unto me: 'Tell Jeremiah to go and support the captivity of the people unto Babylon. But do you remain here amid the desolation of Zion, and I will show to you after these days 'what will befall at the end of days.' And I said to Jeremiah as the Lord commanded me. 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: Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem. I will call the Sirens from the sea, And you Lilin, come you from the desert, And you Shedim and dragons from the forests: Awake and gird up your loins unto mourning, And take up with me the dirges, And make lamentation with me. Ye husbandmen, sow not again; And, O earth, wherefore give; you your harvest fruits? Keep within you the sweets of your sustenance. And thou, vine, why further do you give your wine; For an offering will not again be made from there in Zion, Nor will first-fruits again be offered. And do ye, O heavens, 'withhold your dew, And open not the treasuries of rain: And do thou, O sun withhold the light of your rays. And do thou, O moon, extinguish the multitude of your light; For why should light rise again Where the light of Zion is darkened? And you, you bridegrooms, enter not in, And let not the brides adorn themselves with garlands; And, you women, pray not that you may bear. For the barren shall above all rejoice, And those who have no sons shall be glad, And those who have sons shall have anguish. For why should they bear in pain, Only to bury in grief? Or why, again, should mankind have sons? Or why should the seed of their kind again be named, Where this mother is desolate, And her sons are led into captivity? From this time forward speak not of beauty, And discourse not of gracefulness. Moreover, (you priests) take you the keys of the sanctuary, And cast them into the height of heaven, And give them to the Lord and say: "Guard Your house Thyself, For lo! we are found false stewards. And you, you virgins; who weave fine linen And silk with gold of Ophir, Take with haste all (these) 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

Moreover, I, Baruch, say this against you, Babylon:

'If you had prospered, And Zion had dwelt in her glory, Yet the grief to us had been great That you should be equal to Zion. But now, lo! the grief is infinite, And the lamentation measureless, For lo! you are prospered And Zion desolate. Who will be judge regarding these things? Or to whom shall we complain regarding that which has befallen us? O Lord, how have you borne (it)? Our fathers went to rest without grief, And lo! the righteous sleep in the earth in tranquility; For they knew not this anguish,

<span Nor yet had they heard of that which had befallen us. Would that you had ears, O earth, And that you had a heart, O dust: That you might go and announce in Sheol, And say to the dead: "Blessed are you more than we who live."

Chapter 12

OXYRHYNCHUS GREEK FRAGMENT from Grenfell and Hunt's Oxyrhynchus Papyri vol. iii. 3-7, 1903. Verso. Chapter 12a

But I will say this as I think. And I will speak against you, O land, which art prospering.

1a But I will say this as 1 think, And speak against you, the land that is prospering. The noonday does not always burn. Nor do the rays of the sun constantly give light.

2a Not always does the noonday burn, Nor do the rays of the sun constantly give light. Do not expect [and hope] that you will always be prosperous and rejoicing. And be not greatly up lifted and boastful.

3a And do not you expect to rejoice, Nor condemn greatly. For assuredly in its own season shall the (divine) wrath awake against you. Which now in long-suffering is held in as it were by reins.

4a For assuredly in its season shall the (divine) wrath be awakened against you, Which is now restrained by long-suffering as it were by a rein.

12:5-13. Second Fast. Revelation as to the coming judgment on the Heathen.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13a