Baruch 4

1 This is the book of God’s decrees and the law that remains forever. All who hold fast to it will live, but those who abandon it will die.

2 Turn back, Jacob, and take hold of it. Walk toward its radiance in the presence of its light.

3 Do not give your glory to another or what benefits you to a foreign nation.

4 We are blessed, Israel, because the things pleasing to God are known to us.

5 Take courage, my people, the memorial of Israel.

6 You were sold to the nations, but not for destruction. You were handed over to your enemies because you provoked God to anger.

7 You provoked the one who made you by sacrificing to demons and not to God.

8 You forgot the everlasting God who raised you and grieved Jerusalem, who nursed you.

9 When she saw God’s anger coming upon you, she said, “Listen, neighbors of Zion: God has brought great mourning on me.

10 I saw the exile of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting One brought on them.

11 I raised them with joy but sent them away with weeping and mourning.

12 Let no one rejoice over me, a widow abandoned by many. I was left desolate because of my children’s sins, because they departed from the law of God.

13 They did not know his rules, walk in the ways of God’s commands, or set foot on the paths of discipline in his righteousness.

14 Let the neighbors of Zion come, and remember the exile of my sons and daughters that the Everlasting One brought on them.

15 He brought a nation against them from far away, a shameless people with a foreign language who showed no respect for the old and no mercy to children.

16 They carried away the widow’s beloved children and left her alone, desolate and without daughters.

17 But how can I help you?

18 The one who brought these disasters on you will rescue you from your enemies’ hands.

19 Go, my children, go, because I have been left desolate.

20 I took off the clothing of peace and put on the sackcloth of my prayer. I will cry to the Everlasting One all my days.

21 Take courage, my children. Cry to God, and he will rescue you from the power and hand of your enemies.

22 I have put my hope in the Everlasting One for your rescue. Joy has come to me from the Holy One because of the act of mercy that will soon come to you from the Everlasting One, the one who rescues you.

23 I sent you out with mourning and weeping, but God will return you to me with joy and gladness forever.

24 Just as Zion’s neighbors have seen your exile, they will soon see your rescue from God coming to you with great glory and the brightness of the Everlasting One.

25 My children, patiently endure the anger that came on you from God. Your enemy persecuted you, but soon you will see his destruction and tread on their necks.

26 My delicate children traveled rough roads and were carried off like a flock seized by enemies.

27 Take courage, my children, and cry to God, because the one who brought these things on you will remember you.

28 Just as you were determined to wander from God, return and seek him ten times more.

29 The one who brought these disasters on you will bring you everlasting joy along with your rescue.”

30 Take courage, Jerusalem. The one who named you will comfort you.

31 Miserable are those who harmed you and rejoiced at your fall.

32 Miserable are the cities your children served; miserable is the city that received your sons.

33 Just as she rejoiced at your fall and took delight in your ruin, she will grieve over her own desolation.

34 I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her pride will turn to mourning.

35 Fire from the Everlasting One will come on her for many days, and demons will live in her for a long time.

36 Look toward the east, Jerusalem, and see the joy coming to you from God.

37 Look, your sons whom you sent away are coming. They come gathered from east to west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.