<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> says to her,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Stop crying! Do not shed any more tears!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">For your heartfelt repentance<n id="3" /> will be rewarded.p> <p class="poetry">Your children will return from the land of the enemy.p> <p class="poetry">I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm it!<n id="4" />p>

However, listen to what I, the <sc>Lordsc>, promise you, King Zedekiah of Judah. I, the <sc>Lordsc>, promise that<n id="1" /> you will not die in battle or be executed.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">So Baruch son of Neriah did exactly what the prophet Jeremiah had told him to do. He read what the <sc>Lordsc> had said from the scroll in the temple of the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />

Now he has brought it about. The <sc>Lordsc> has done just as he threatened to do. This disaster has happened because you people sinned against the <sc>Lordsc> and did not obey him.<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">All who encountered them devoured them.p> <p class="poetry">Their enemies who did this said, &#8216;We are not liable for punishment!p> <p class="poetry">For those people have sinned against the <sc>Lordsc>, their true pasture.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They have sinned against the <sc>Lordsc> in whom their ancestors<n id="2" /> trusted.&#8217;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Why do you try to refute me?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">All of you have rebelled against me,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">These people make promises in the name of the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">But the fact is,<n id="2" /> what they swear to is really a lie.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">They are regarded as &#8216;rejected silver&#8217;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">because the <sc>Lordsc> rejects them.&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> said to Jeremiah:<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">I said,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;There is no one like you, <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">You are great.p> <p class="poetry">And you are renowned for your power.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Correct us, <sc>Lordsc>, but only in due measure.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Do not punish us in anger or you will reduce us to nothing.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> said to Jeremiah:<n id="1" />

So I bought the shorts as the <sc>Lordsc> had told me to do<n id="1" /> and put them on.<n id="2" />

So I went and buried them at Perath<n id="1" /> as the <sc>Lordsc> had ordered me to do.

<p class="bodytext">Then I said to the people of Judah,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant!p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> has spoken.p>

<p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, we confess that we have been wicked.p> <p class="poetry">We confess that our ancestors have done wrong.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">We have indeed<n id="2" /> sinned against you.p>

<p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, grant me relief from my sufferingp> <p class="poetry">so that I may have some relief.p> <p class="poetry">Rescue me from those who persecute mep> <p class="poetry">so that I may be rescued.<n id="1" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> said to Jeremiah:<n id="1" />

<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">Their peaceful dwelling places will be laid waste<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">by the fierce anger of the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" />p>