1And it came to pass after seven days, that the word of the Lord was upon me, and said unto me:
2"Tell Jeremiah to go and confirm the captivity of the people unto Babylon.
3But do thou remain here amid the desolation of Zion, and I will show to thee after these days what will befall at the end of days.'
4And I said to Jeremiah as the Lord commanded me.
5And he, indeed, departed with the people, but I, Baruch, returned and sat before the gates of the temple, and I lamented with that lamentation over Zion and said:
6'Blessed is he who was not born, or being born, has died.
7But as for us who live, woe unto us, because we see the afflictions of Zion, and what has befallen Jerusalem.
8I will call the Sirens from the sea, and ye Lilin, come ye from the desert, and ye Shedim and dragons from the forests: awake and bind your loins unto mourning, and take up with me lamentation, and mourn with me.
9Ye husbandmen, sow not again; and thou, earth, wherefore givest thou the fruits of thy produce? keep within thee the sweets of thy sustenance.
10And thou, vine, why further dost thou give thy wine? for an offering will not again be made therefrom in Zion, nor will the first-fruits again be offered.
11And do ye, O heavens, withhold your dew, and open not the treasuries of rain:
12And do thou, O sun, withhold the light of thy rays; and do thou, O moon, extinguish the multitude of thy light; for why should light rise again where the light of Zion is darkened?
13And you, ye bridegrooms, enter not in, and let not the brides adorn themselves with garlands; and, ye women, pray not that ye may bear.
14For the barren shall rejoice more, and those who have no sons shall be glad, and those who have sons shall have anguish.
15For why should they bear in pain and bury in grief?
16Or wherefore, again, should mankind have sons; or wherefore should the seed of their nature again be named, where that mother is desolate, and her sons are led into captivity?
17From this time forward speak not of beauty and discourse not of gracefulness.
18Moreover, ye priests, take ye the keys of the sanctuary and cast them into the height of heaven, and give them to the Lord and say: 'Guard Thy house Thyself, for lo! we are found false stewards.'
19And you, ye virgins; who spin fine linen and silk with gold of Ophir, hasten and take all 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.'