1This is the message that the prophet Jeremiah gave to Baruch, son of Neriah, when Baruch wrote these words in a book at Jeremiah’s dictation. This happened in the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah. Jeremiah said:
2“Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this to you, Baruch:
3‘You said, “Oh no, I’m miserable! Yahweh has added sadness to my pain! I’m tired of groaning, and I can’t find any rest.”’
4“Tell him that Yahweh says: ‘Look, I am going to tear down what I have built and pull up what I have planted, and this will happen throughout the entire land.
5Are you looking for great things for yourself? Don’t look for them, because I am bringing disaster on all humanity,’ says Yahweh, ‘but I will let you escape with your life wherever you go.’”