Second Baruch

And it came to pass after seven days,

the word of God came to me and said to me:

"Say to Jeremiah

that he should go and sustain the captivity of the people as far as Babylon.

But you, remain here in the desolation of Zion,

and I will show you after these days

what will happen at the end of days."

And I spoke to Jeremiah as the Lord had commanded me.

And he went with the people,

Now I, Baruch, returned and came,

and sat before the gates of the temple,

and I lamented

this lamentation over Zion, and I said:

“Blessed is he who was not born,

or he who was born and died.

But for us who live, woe to us,

who have seen the afflictions of Zion,

and what has happened to Jerusalem.

I will call the sirens from the sea, and you,

Liliths, come from the desert,

and demons and jackals from the forests!

Awake and gird

your loins

for mourning,

and take up lamentations with me, and mourn with me.

You husbandmen, do not sow again!

And you, earth, why do you give the fruit of your produce?

Keep within yourself the sweetness of your nourishment.

And you, vine, why do you continue to give your wine?

For no more will it be offered

from it

in Zion,

nor will firstfruits be offered any more.

And you, heavens, withhold your dew,

and do not open the storehouses of rain!

And you, sun, withhold the light of your rays,

and you, moon,

extinguish

the abundance of your light!

For why should light shine again

where the light of Zion is darkened?

And you, bridegrooms, do not enter,

and let not brides adorn themselves with crowns,

and you, women, do not pray to bear children.

For let the barren rejoice all the more,

and let those who have no children be glad,

and let those who have children be distressed.

For why do they bear in pain and bury in groans?

Or why should human beings have children any more?

Or why should the seed of their nature be named any more,

where this mother is desolate,

and her children have been taken captive?

From now on, do not speak of beauty any more,

and do not mention comeliness.

And you, priests, take

the keys

of the sanctuary,

and cast them into the height of heaven,

and give them to the Lord,

and say: 'Guard your house yourself,

for behold, we

have been found

to be false stewards.'

And you virgins who spin fine linen

and silk with the gold of Ophir,

make haste and take everything and cast (it) into the fire,

that it may carry them to him who made them,

and the flame send

them

to him who created them,

lest the enemies gain control over them.