Baruch

She herself is the book of God’s commands, the law that endures forever. 

All who hold fast to her will have life, 

but those who abandon her 

will perish.

Come back, Jacob, and embrace her, 

then walk toward brightness 

beneath her light.

Do not sacrifice your honor 

or sell your rights 

to any foreign nation.

We are blessed, O Israel, 

because we know 

what pleases the Lord!

Take courage, my people, 

you who keep alive 

the memory of Israel. 

You have been sold to the nations, 

but not to be destroyed; 

because you had upset 

the anger of God, 

you were handed over 

to your enemies. 

You displeased your Creator 

by sacrificing to demons 

instead of to God. 

You have forgotten the Eternal God, 

the one who nourished you. 

You have filled Jerusalem with sorrow, 

she who raised you. 

For she saw God’s anger fall upon you, 

and she said: 

“Listen, you neighboring cities of Zion, 

God has sent me great sorrow.

I have witnessed the captivity 

of my sons and daughters, 

which the Eternal brought upon them. 

I nurtured them with joy; 

with tears and sadness, 

I saw them depart. 

Let no one rejoice at seeing me 

a widow and abandoned by all. 

Due to my children’s sins, 

I am now alone 

because they have turned away 

from God’s law.

They have not remembered 

his precepts; 

nor have they walked 

in the ways of his commandments, 

nor followed the discipline 

that leads to uprightness.

Let them come, 

the neighbors of Zion, 

and remember the captivity 

that the Eternal One laid on 

my sons and daughters. 

For he caused a distant nation 

to come against them, 

a ruthless nation 

with an unknown language.

They showed no respect 

for the old or pity for the infant; 

they took away 

the widow’s only son 

as well as her daughter, 

leaving her alone.

But as for me, how can I help you? 

He who caused these evils 

to come upon you will deliver you 

from your enemies.

Well, my children, 

go on your way; 

as for me, I am left alone.

I have taken off 

the garment of peace 

and put on again the sackcloth 

of penance and prayer. 

I will cry out to the Eternal One 

for the rest of my days.

Come, gather your courage, 

my children, and cry out to God. 

He will rescue you 

from the enemy’s violence.

Because I hoped for your salvation 

from the Eternal One, 

joy has come to me 

from the Holy One 

because of the mercy 

that will soon come to you 

from the Eternal One, our Savior.

In tears and mourning, 

I saw you leave, 

but in joy and gladness, 

God will bring you back 

to me forever.

As the neighbors of Zion

have seen your captivity, 

they will soon witness your salvation 

from God when he reveals 

the great glory and splendor 

of the Eternal God.

Children, bear patiently 

this punishment from God. 

The enemy has persecuted you, 

but you will soon see 

his downfall and trample 

him underfoot.

My beloved children 

have walked difficult paths, 

taken away like a herd stolen 

by enemies. 

So, if you have distanced yourself 

from God, return to him 

and seek him ten times 

more earnestly.

For he who caused these evils 

to happen to you will bring you 

salvation and eternal joy.

Have courage, Jerusalem. 

The one who has named you 

will comfort you.

Cursed are those who did evil to you 

and rejoiced in your downfall. 

Cursed be the cities 

where your children were slaves, 

and cursed be the nation 

in which they lived. 

Just as that nation rejoiced

in your downfall and took pleasure 

in your destruction, 

so will she be afflicted

and destroyed.

I will take away from her 

the joy of being a large community; 

her pride will turn into grief.

A fire will come down on her 

from the Eternal One 

and burn for many days. 

She will be inhabited 

by demons for a long time.

Jerusalem, look towards the east 

and see the joy 

coming to you from God.

Look, your scattered children 

are returning. 

They are gathering 

from the East and the West 

at the voice of the Holy One, 

rejoicing in God’s glory.