Baruch 4

This is the book of the commandments of God, the law that endures forever. All who hold fast to it will attain life, but those who abandon it will die.

Turn back, O Jacob, and embrace her; walk toward her radiance, into her light.

Do not give your glory to another, nor your privileges to a foreign nation.

Happy are we, O Israel, for the things that are pleasing to God have been made known to us.

Take courage, O people of God, you who are remembered by name -- O Israel!

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

For you provoked the One who made you, the eternal God, by sacrificing to demons and not to God.

For you forgot the God who nurtured you, and you grieved your nurse, Jerusalem.

For she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, and she said: 'Listen, you neighbors of Zion, for God has brought great mourning upon me.'

'For I have seen the captivity of my people, of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal One brought upon them.'

'I nurtured them with joy, but I sent them away with weeping and mourning.'

'Let no one rejoice over me, a widow left desolate. I have been forsaken by many because of the sins of my children, for they turned aside from the law of God.'

'They did not know his righteous decrees, nor did they walk in the ways of God's commandments, nor did they tread the paths of his truth with justice.'

'Let the neighbors of Zion come, and remember the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal One brought upon them.'

'For he brought against them a nation from far away, a ruthless nation speaking a foreign tongue.'

'They showed no respect to the aged and had no pity on children. They led away the widow's beloved ones, and left the childless woman utterly alone.'

'But I -- how can I help you?'

'For the One who brought these evils upon you -- he himself will deliver you from the hands of your enemies.'

'Go on your way, my children, go. For I have been left alone.'

'I have taken off the garment of peace and put on the sackcloth of supplication; I will cry out to the Most High all my days.'

'Take courage, my children! Cry out to God, and he will deliver you from the power of your hostile rulers.'

'For I have placed my hope in the Eternal One for your salvation, and joy has come to me from the Holy One concerning the mercy that will come to you from the Everlasting, our Savior.'

'For I sent you out with mourning and weeping, but the Lord will bring you back to me with joy and gladness forever.'

'For just as the neighbors of Zion saw your captivity from God, so too they will see your swift salvation from God, which will come to you with great honor and everlasting splendor.'

'My children, endure with patience the wrath that has come upon you. Your enemy has pursued you, but soon you will see his destruction, and you will tread upon his neck.'

'My tender ones have walked rough roads; they were carried off like a flock seized by enemies.'

'Take courage, my children, and cry out to God! For the One who led you away will remember you.'

'For just as your mind was set on straying from God, so return and seek him with tenfold devotion.'

'For the One who brought these evils upon you will bring you everlasting joy together with your salvation.'

Take courage, O Jerusalem! The One who named you offers you consolation.

Wretched will be those who harmed you and who rejoiced at your downfall.

Wretched will be the cities where your children served as slaves; wretched is the city that received your children.

For just as she rejoiced at your ruin and was glad at your fall, so she will grieve over her own desolation.

And I will cut off the rejoicing of her multitudes, and her boasting will be turned to mourning.

For fire will come upon her from the Eternal One for many days, and she will be inhabited by demons for a long time.

Look to the east, O Jerusalem, and see the joy that is coming to you from God.

For look, your children are coming -- those whom you sent away scattered. They are coming, gathered from east to west, by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.