Second Baruch

And the ninth black waters that you saw,

this is all the wickedness that took place in the days of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah.

For he acted very wickedly,

and killed the righteous, and perverted justice,

and shed innocent blood,

and violently defiled married women,

and tore down altars and abolished their offerings,

and the priests

he expelled, that they might not minister in the sanctuary.

And he made an image with five faces:

four of them looking toward the four winds,

and the fifth on top of the image,

as if to confront the zeal of the Mighty One.

And then wrath went forth from the presence of the Mighty One

that Zion should be uprooted,

as also happened in your days.

Yet also upon the two tribes and a half

went forth a decree that they also should be taken captive, as you have now seen.

And to such a degree did the wickedness of Manasseh increase

that the glory of the Most High departed from the sanctuary.

On this account Manasseh was called at that time 'the wicked one,'

and in the end his dwelling was in fire.

For although his prayer was heard before the Most High,

finally, when he was cast into the bronze horse and the bronze horse was melted,

and it became a sign for him for the moment,

for he did not live completely,

nor

indeed

was he worthy,

but that from now on he might know

by whom he was to be tormented in the end.

For he

who is able

to do good is also able to torment.