<p class="poetry">May those who persecute me be disgraced.p> <p class="poetry">Do not let me be disgraced.p> <p class="poetry">May they be dismayed.p> <p class="poetry">Do not let me be dismayed.p> <p class="poetry">Bring days of disaster on them.p> <p class="poetry">Bring on them the destruction they deserve.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">So I will pull your skirt up over your facep> <p class="poetry">and expose you to shame like a disgraced adulteress!<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Do you people think<n id="1" /> that I am some local deityp> <p class="poetry">and not the transcendent God?&#8221;<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc> asks.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Leave your orphans behind and I will keep them alive.p> <p class="poetry">Your widows too can depend on me.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you,<n id="1" /> for I will be with you to protect<n id="2" /> you,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>.

Then the <sc>Lordsc> said, &#8220;You have observed correctly. This means<n id="1" /> I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">No,<n id="1" /> a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding.p> <p class="poetry">Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I, the <sc>Lordsc>, probe into people&#8217;s minds.p> <p class="poetry">I examine people&#8217;s hearts.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I deal with each person according to how he has behaved.p> <p class="poetry">I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.p>

In anger, in fury, and in wrath I myself will fight against you with my mighty power and great strength!<n id="1" />

&#8220;I am the <sc>Lordsc>, the God of all humankind. There is, indeed, nothing too difficult for me.<n id="1" />

Then Jeremiah told Baruch, &#8220;I am no longer allowed to go<n id="1" /> into the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.

<p class="poetry">I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm that<n id="1" /> I know how arrogant they are.p> <p class="poetry">But their pride is ill-founded.p> <p class="poetry">Their boastings will prove to be false.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> told Jeremiah,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Tell Baruch,<n id="2" /> &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> says, &#8220;I am about to tear down what I have built and to uproot what I have planted. I will do this throughout the whole earth.<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Later the <sc>Lordsc> asked me, &#8220;What do you see, Jeremiah?&#8221; I answered, &#8220;I see a branch of an almond tree.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> again asked me, &#8220;What do you see?&#8221; I answered, &#8220;I see a pot of boiling water; it is tipped toward us from the north.&#8221;<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">I will make you as strong as a wall to these people,p> <p class="poetry">a fortified wall of bronze.p> <p class="poetry">They will attack you,p> <p class="poetry">but they will not be able to overcome you.p> <p class="poetry">For I will be with you to rescue you and deliver you,&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Do you really think anyone can hide himselfp> <p class="poetry">where I cannot see him?&#8221; the <sc>Lordsc> asks.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Do you not know that I am everywhere?&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc> asks.<n id="3" />p>

Then Jeremiah answered, &#8220;You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the <sc>Lordsc> by doing what I have been telling you.<n id="1" /> Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared.<n id="2" />

If they do this, tell<n id="1" /> them, &#8216;I was pleading with the king not to send me back to die in the dungeon of Jonathan&#8217;s house.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />