Second Baruch

And I said, “O Lord, my Lord,

did I come into the world for this, that I should see

the evil

of my mother? No, my Lord!

If I have found mercy in your eyes,

take my spirit first, that I may go to my fathers

and not see the destruction of my mother.

For two things constrain me greatly:

for to stand against you

I am not able, but neither to see

the evil

of my mother is my soul able.

Yet one thing I will say before you, O Lord:

What, then, will happen after these things?

For if you destroy your city

and surrender your land to those who hate us,

how will the name of Israel be remembered any more?

Or how shall anyone speak of your praises?

Or to whom

will be explained

that which is in your law?

Or will creation return to its nature,

and the world will return to its former silence,

and the multitude

of souls will be taken away,

and the nature of humanity will no longer

be named.

And where is all that

which you said

to Moses concerning us?’