1:1 et haec verba libri quae scripsit Baruch filius Neeri filius Maasei filii Sedechiae filii Sedei filii Helchiae in Babylonia exemplum epistulae quam misit Hieremias ad abductos captivos in Babyloniam a rege Babyloniorum ut nuntiaret illis secundum quod praeceptum est illi a Deo propter peccata quae peccastis ante Deum abducemini in Babyloniam captivi a Nabuchodonosor rege Babylonum

1:1 And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Sedei, the son Helcias, wrote in Babylonia. For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.

1:2 in anno quinto in septima die mensis in tempore quo ceperunt Chaldei Hierusalem et succenderunt eam igni ingressi itaque in Babyloniam eritis illic annis plurimis et tempus longum usque ad generationes septem post hoc autem educam vos inde cum pace

1:2 In the fifth year, in the seventh day of the month, at the time that the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire. And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will bring you away from thence with peace.

1:3 et legit Baruch verba libri huius ad aures Iechoniae filii Ioachim regis Iuda et ad aures universi populi venientis ad librum nunc autem videbitis in Babylonia deos aureos et argenteos et lapideos et ligneos in umeros portari ostentantes metum gentibus

1:3 And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joakim king of Juda, and in the hearing of all the people that came to hear the book. But now, you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and of stone, and of wood borne upon shoulders, causing fear to the Gentiles.

1:4 et ad aures potentium filiorum regum et ad aures presbyterorum et ad aures populi a minimo usque ad magnum eorum omnium habitantium in Babylonia ad flumen Sudi videte ergo ne et vos similes efficiamini factis alienis et metuatis et metus vos capiat in ipsis

1:4 And in the hearing of the nobles, the sons of the kings, and in the hearing of the ancients, and in the hearing of the people, from the least even to the greatest of them that dwelt in Babylonia, by the river Sedi. Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you.

1:5 qui audientes plorabant et ieiunabant et orabant in conspectu Domini visa itaque turba de retro et ab ante adorantes dicite in cordibus vestris tibi oportet adorari Domine

1:5 And when they heard it they wept, and fasted, and prayed before the Lord. But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord.

1:6 et collegerunt pecuniam secundum quod potuit uniuscuiusque manus angelus autem meus vobiscum est ipse autem exquiram animas vestras

1:6 And they made a collection of money according to every man's power. For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of your souls.

1:7 et miserunt in Hierusalem ad Ioachim filium Helchiae filii Salom sacerdotem et ad sacerdotes et ad omnem populum qui inventi sunt cum eo in Hierusalem nam lingua ipsorum polita a fabro ipsa etiam inaurata et inargentata falsa sunt et non possunt loqui

1:7 And they sent it to Jerusalem to Joakim the priest, the son of Helcias, the son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people, that were found with him in Jerusalem: For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot speak.

1:8 cum acciperet vasa templi Domini quae ablata fuerant de templo revocare in terram Iuda decima die illius sivan vasa argentea quae fecit Sedechias filius Iosiae rex Iuda et sicut virgini amanti ornamenti ita accepto auro fabricati sunt

1:8 At the time when he received the vessels of the temple of the Lord, which had been taken away out of the temple, to return them into the land of Juda the tenth day of the month Sivan, the silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Juda had made, And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they take gold and make them up.

1:9 posteaquam cepisset Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonum Iechoniam et principes et vinctos et potentes et populum terrae ab Hierusalem et duxit eos in Babyloniam coronas certe habent aureas super capita sua dii illorum unde subtrahent sacerdotes ab eis aurum et argentum et erogant illud in semet ipsis

1:9 After that Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and all the powerful men, and the people of the land from Jerusalem, and brought them bound to Babylon. Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it on themselves.

1:10 et dixerunt ecce misimus ad vos pecunias de quibus emite holocaustomata et tus et facite manna et offerte pro peccato ad aram Domini Dei nostri dant autem et ex ipso prostitutis et meretrices ornant et iterum cum receperint illud a meretricibus ornant deos suos

1:10 And they said: Behold we have sent you money, buy with it holocausts, and frankincense, and make meat offerings, and offerings for sin at the altar of the Lord our God: Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn their gods.

1:11 et orate pro vita Nabuchodonosor regis Babyloniae et pro vita Balthasar filii eius ut sint dies ipsorum sicut dies caeli super terram hii autem non liberantur ab erugine et tinea

1:11 And pray ye for the life of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven: And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the moth.

1:12 et det Dominus virtutem nobis et inluminet oculos nostros ut vivamus sub umbra Nabuchodonosor regis Babyloniae et sub umbra Balthasar filii eius et serviamus eis multis diebus et inveniamus gratiam in conspectu eorum opertis autem illis veste purpurea extergent faciem ipsorum propter pulverem domus qui est plurimus inter eos

1:12 And that the Lord may give us strength, and enlighten our eyes, that we may live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and may serve them many days, and may find favour in their sight. But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among them.

1:13 et pro nobis ipsis orate ad Dominum Deum nostrum quia peccavimus Domino Deo nostro et non est aversus furor eius a nobis usque in hunc diem sceptrum autem habet ut homo sicut iudex regionis qui in se peccantem non interficit

1:13 And pray ye for us to the Lord our God: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, and his wrath is not turned away from us even to this day. This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but cannot put to death one that offendeth him.

1:14 et legite librum istum quem misimus ad vos recitari in templo Domini in die sollemni et in die oportuno habet etiam gladium in manu et securem se autem de bello et a latronibus non liberat unde vobis notum sit quia non sunt dii

1:14 And read ye this book, which we have sent to you to be read in the temple of the Lord, on feasts, and proper days. And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that they are not gods.

1:15 et dicetis Domino Deo nostro iustitia nobis autem confusio faciei nostrae sicut dies haec omni Iuda et habitantibus in Hierusalem ne ergo timueritis eos sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile efficitur tales sunt et dii illorum

1:15 And you shall say: To the Lord our God belongeth justice, but to us confusion of our face: as it is come to pass at this day to all Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods:

1:16 regibus nostris et principibus nostris sacerdotibus nostris et prophetis nostris et patribus nostris constitutis illis in domo oculi eorum pleni sunt pulvere a pedibus introeuntium

1:16 To our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers. When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.

1:17 peccavimus ante Dominum nostrum et non credidimus diffidentes in eum et sicut alicui qui regem offendit circumseptae sunt ianuae aut sicut ad sepulchrum adductum mortuum ita tutant sacerdotes ostia clusuris et seris ne a latronibus expolientur

1:17 We have sinned before the Lord our God, and have not believed him, nor put our trust in him: And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by thieves.

1:18 et non fuimus subiectibiles illi et non obaudivimus vocem Domini Dei nostri ut ambularemus in mandatis eius quibus dedit nobis lucernas accendunt illis et quidem multas ex quibus nullam videre possunt sunt autem sicut trabes in domo

1:18 And we were not obedient to him, and we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his commandments which he hath given us. They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house.

1:19 a die qua eduxit patres nostros de terra Aegypti usque in hunc diem eramus incredibiles ad Dominum Deum nostrum et dissipati recessimus ne audiremus vocem ipsius corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes qui de terra sunt dum comedent eos et vestimentum ipsorum et non sentiunt

1:19 From the day that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, we were disobedient to the Lord our God: and going astray we turned away from hearing his voice. And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they feel it not.

1:20 et adheserunt nobis mala multa et maledictiones quae constituit Dominus Moysi servo suo qui eduxit patres nostros de terra Aegypti dare nobis terram fluentem lac et mel sicut hodierna die nigrae fiunt facies eorum a fumo qui in domo fit

1:20 And many evils have cleaved to us, and the curses which the Lord foretold by Moses his servant: who brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house.

1:21 et non audivimus vocem Domini Dei nostri secundum omnia verba prophetarum quos misit ad nos supra corpus eorum et supra caput volant noctuae et hirundines et aves etiam similiter et cattae

1:21 And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God according to all the words of the prophets whom he sent to us: Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and upon their heads, and cats in like manner.

1:22 et abivimus unusquisque in sensum cordis nostri maligni operari diis alienis facientes mala ante oculos Domini Dei nostri unde scietis quia non sunt dii ne ergo timueritis eos

1:22 And we have gone away every man after the inclinations of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God. Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them not.

1:23 aurum etiam quod habent ad speciem est nisi aliquis exterserit eruginem non fulgebunt neque enim dum conflarentur sentiebant

1:23 The gold also which they have, is for shew, but except a man wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten, did they feel it.

1:24 ex omni pretio empta sunt in quibus spiritus non est in ipsis

1:24 Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them.

1:25 sine pedibus in umeris portantur ostentantes ignobilitatem suam hominibus confundantur etiam qui colunt ea

1:25 And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that worship them.

1:26 propterea si ceciderint in terram a semet ipsis non surgent neque si quis eum statuerit rectum per semet ipsum stabit sed sicut mortuis munera eorum illis adponentur

1:26 Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead.

1:27 hostias illorum sacerdotes ipsorum vendunt et abutuntur similiter et mulieres eorum decerpentes neque infirmo neque mendicanti aliquid inpertiunt

1:27 The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor.

1:28 de sacrificiis eorum fetae et menstruatae contingunt scientes itaque ex his quia non sunt dii ne timeatis eos

1:28 The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: knowing, therefore, by these things that they are not gods, fear them not.

1:29 unde enim vocantur dii quia mulieres adponunt diis argenteis et aureis et ligneis

1:29 For how can they be called gods? because women set offerings before the gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood:

1:30 et in domibus eorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas et capita et barbas rasa quorum capita nuda sunt

1:30 And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.

1:31 rugiunt autem clamantes contra deos suos sicut in cena mortui

1:31 And they roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.

1:32 a vestimento eorum auferent sacerdotes et vestiunt uxores suas et filios suos

1:32 The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and their children.

1:33 neque si quid mali patiantur ab aliquo neque si quid bonum poterunt retribuere neque regem constituere possunt neque auferre

1:33 And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king, nor put him down:

1:34 similiter neque divitias dare possunt neque malum retribuere si quis illis votum voverit et non reddiderit nec hoc requirent

1:34 In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If a man make a vow to them, and perform it not: they cannot require it.

1:35 hominem a morte non liberant neque infimum a potentiore eripient

1:35 They cannot deliver a man from death, nor save the weak from the mighty.

1:36 hominem caecum ad visum non restituent de necessitate hominem non liberabunt

1:36 They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man from distress.

1:37 viduae non miserebuntur neque orfanis benefacient

1:37 They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.

1:38 lapidibus de monte similes sunt dii illorum lignei et lapidei aurei et argentei qui autem colunt illa confundentur

1:38 Their gods, of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like the stones that are hewn out of the mountains: and they that worship them shall be confounded.

1:39 quomodo ergo aestimandum est aut dicendum illos esse deos

1:39 How then is it to be supposed, or to be said, that they are gods?

1:40 adhuc enim ipsis Chaldeis non honorantibus ea qui cum audierint mutum non posse loqui offerent illum ad Bel postulantes ab eo loqui

1:40 Even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them: who when they here of one dumb that cannot speak, they present him to Bel, entreating him, that he may speak.

1:41 quasi possint sentire qui non habent motum et ipsi cum intellexerint relinquent ea sensum enim non habent ipsi dii illorum

1:41 As though they could be sensible that have no motion themselves: and they, when they shall perceive this, will leave them: for their gods themselves have no sense.

1:42 mulieres autem circumdatis funibus in viis sedent succendentes ossa olivarum

1:42 The women also, with cords about them, sit in the ways, burning olive-stones.

1:43 cum autem aliqua ex ipsis adtracta ab aliquo transeunte dormierit proximae suae exprobrat quod ea non sit digna habita sicut ipsa neque funis eius disruptus sit

1:43 And when any one of them, drawn away by some passenger, lieth with him, she upbraideth her neighbor, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.

1:44 omnia autem quae illis fiunt falsa sunt quomodo ergo aestimandum aut dicendum est esse illos deos

1:44 But all things that are done about them, are false: how is it then to be thought, or to be said, that they are gods?

1:45 a fabris autem et ab aurificibus facta sunt nihil aliud erint nisi id quod volunt esse sacerdotes

1:45 And they are made by workmen, and by goldsmiths. They shall be nothing else but what the priests will have them to be.

1:46 aurifices ipsi etiam qui ea faciunt non sunt multi temporis numquid ergo possunt quae ab ipsis fabricata sunt esse dii

1:46 For the artificers themselves that make them, are of no long continuance. Can those things then that are made by them, be gods?

1:47 reliquerunt autem falsa et obprobrium postea futuris

1:47 But they have left false things and reproach to them that come after.

1:48 nam cum supervenerit illis proelium et mala cogitant post se sacerdotes ubi se abscondant cum illis

1:48 For when war cometh upon them, or evils: the priests consult with themselves, where they may hide themselves with them.

1:49 quomodo ergo sentiri debeant quoniam dii sunt qui nec de bello se liberant neque de malis se eripiunt

1:49 How then can they be thought to be gods, that can neither deliver themselves from war, nor save themselves from evils?

1:50 nam cum sint lignea et inaurata et inargentata scietur postea quia falsa sunt gentibus universis et regibus quae manifestata sunt quia non sunt dii sed opera manuum hominum et nullum opus Dei in illis

1:50 For seeing they are but of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false things, by all nations, and kings: and it shall be manifest that they are no gods, but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them.

1:51 unde ergo notum est quia non sunt dii sed opera manuum hominum et nullum Dei opus in ipsis est

1:51 Whence, therefore, is it known that they are not gods, but the work of men's hands, and no work of God is in them?

1:52 regem regioni non suscitant neque pluviam hominibus dabunt

1:52 They cannot set up a king over the land, nor give rain to men.

1:53 iudicium quoque non discernent neque regionem liberabunt ab iniuria quia nihil possunt sicut corniculae inter medium caeli et terrae

1:53 They determine no causes, nor deliver countries from oppression: because they can do nothing, and are as daws between heaven and earth.

1:54 etenim cum inciderit ignis in domum deorum ligneorum aureorum et argenteorum sacerdotes quidem ipsorum fugient et liberabuntur ipsi vero sicut trabes in medio conburentur

1:54 For when fire shall fall upon the house of these gods of wood, and of silver, and of gold, their priests indeed will flee away, and be saved: but they themselves shall be burnt in the midst like beams.

1:55 regi autem et bello non resistent quomodo ergo aestimandum est aut recipiendum quia dii sunt

1:55 And they cannot withstand a king and war. How then can it be supposed, or admitted, that they are gods?

1:56 non a furibus neque a latronibus se liberabunt dii lignei et lapidei et inaurati et argentati quibus hii qui fortiores sunt

1:56 Neither are these gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with gold, and with silver, able to deliver themselves from thieves or robbers: they that are stronger than them,

1:57 aurum et argentum et vestimentum quod operti sunt auferent illis et abibunt nec sibi auxilium ferunt

1:57 Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they help themselves.

1:58 itaque melius est esse regem ostentantem virtutem suam aut vas in domo utile in quo gloriabitur qui possidet illud quam falsi dii vel ostium in domo quod custodit quae in ipsa sunt quam falsi dii

1:58 Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power: or else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe that are therein, than such false gods.

1:59 sol quidem et luna sidera cum sint splendida et emissa ad utilitates obaudiunt

1:59 The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth for profitable uses, are obedient.

1:60 similiter et fulgur cum apparuerit perspicuum est id ipsum autem et spiritus in omni regione spirat

1:60 In like manner the lightning, when it breaketh forth, is easy to be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.

1:61 et nubes quibus cum imperatum fuerit a Deo perambulare universum orbem perficiunt quod imperatum est eis

1:61 And the clouds, when God commandeth them to go over the whole world, do that which is commanded them.

1:62 ignis etiam missus desuper ut consumat montes et silvas facit quod praeceptum est ei haec autem neque speciebus neque virtutibus uni eorum similia sunt

1:62 The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in shew, nor in power, are alike to any one of them.

1:63 unde neque aestimandum est neque dicendum esse illos deos quando non possint neque iudicium iudicare neque benefacere hominibus

1:63 Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any good to men.

1:64 scientes itaque quia non sunt dii ne ergo timueritis eos

1:64 Knowing, therefore, that they are not gods, fear them not.

1:65 neque enim regibus maledicent neque benedicent

1:65 For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them.

1:66 signa etiam in caelo gentibus non ostendunt neque ut sol lucebunt neque inluminabunt ut luna

1:66 Neither do they shew signs in the heaven to the nations, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

1:67 bestiae meliores sunt illis quae possunt fugere sub tectum ac prodesse sibi

1:67 Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and help themselves.

1:68 nullo itaque modo nobis est manifestum quia sunt dii propter quod ne timeatis eos

1:68 Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so fear them not.

1:69 nam sicut in cucumeraria formido nihil custodit ita sunt dii illorum lignei et argentei et inaurati

1:69 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold.

1:70 eodem modo et in horto spina alba supra quam omnis avis sedet similiter et mortuo proiecto in tenebris similes sunt dii illorum lignei et inaurati et inargentati

1:70 They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in the dark.

1:71 a purpura quoque et marmore quae supra illos tineant scietis itaque quia non sunt dii ipsi etiam postremo comeduntur et erit obprobrium in regione

1:71 By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country.

1:72 Better, therefore, is the just man that hath no idols: for he shall be far from reproach.