1The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying:
2Thus said YHWH, God of Israel, concerning you, O Baruch:
3You said: Woe is me, please! for YHWH has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and rest I have not found.
4Thus you shall say to him: Thus said YHWH: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—and this is the whole land.
5And you—do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am bringing evil upon all flesh (basar)—declaration of YHWH—but I will give to you your soul (nephesh) as spoil in all the places where you go.