Baruch 6

1For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.

2And 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.

3But 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.

4Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you.

5But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord.

6For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of your souls.

7For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot speak.

8And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they take gold and make them up.

9Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it on themselves.

10Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn their gods.

11And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the moth.

12But 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.

13This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but cannot put to death one that offendeth him.

14And 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.

15Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods:

16When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.

17And 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.

18They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house.

19And 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.

20Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house.

21Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and upon their heads, and cats in like manner.

22Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them not.

23The 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.

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

25And 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.

26Therefore 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.

27The 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.

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

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

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

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

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

33And 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:

34In 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.

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

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

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

38Their 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.

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

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

41As 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

50For 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.

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

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

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

54For 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.

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

56Neither 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,

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

58Therefore 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.

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

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

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

62The 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 like to any one of them.

63Wherefore 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

70They 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.

71By 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.

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

1Propter peccata quæ peccastis ante Deum, abducemini in Babyloniam captivi a Nabuchodonosor rege Babylonis.

2Ingressi itaque in Babylonem, eritis ibi annis plurimis, et temporibus longis, usque ad generationes septem: post hoc autem educam vos inde cum pace.

3Nunc autem videbitis in Babylonia deos aureos et argenteos, et lapideos et ligneos, in humeris portari, ostentantes metum gentibus.

4Videte ergo ne et vos similes efficiamini factis alienis, et metuatis, et metus vos capiat in ipsis.

5Visa itaque turba de retro et ab ante, adorantes dicite in cordibus vestris: Te oportet adorari, Domine.

6Angelus enim meus vobiscum est: ipse autem exquiram animas vestras.

7Nam lingua ipsorum polita a fabro; ipsa etiam inaurata et inargentata: falsa sunt, et non possunt loqui.

8Et sicut virgini amanti ornamenta, ita accepto auro fabricati sunt.

9Coronas certe aureas habent super capita sua dii illorum: unde subtrahunt sacerdotes ab eis aurum et argentum, et erogant illud in semetipsos.

10Dant autem et ex ipso prostitutis, et meretrices ornant: et iterum cum receperint illud a meretricibus, ornant deos suos.

11Hi autem non liberantur ab ærugine et tinea.

12Opertis autem illis veste purpurea, extergunt faciem ipsorum propter pulverem domus qui est plurimus inter eos.

13Sceptrum autem habet ut homo, sicut judex regionis, qui in se peccantem non interficit.

14Habet etiam in manu gladium et securim, se autem de bello et a latronibus non liberat. Unde vobis notum sit quia non sunt dii:

15non ergo timueritis eos. Sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile efficitur, tales sunt et dii illorum.

16Constitutis illis in domo, oculi eorum pleni sunt pulvere a pedibus introëuntium.

17Et sicut alicui qui regem offendit circumseptæ sunt januæ, aut sicut ad sepulchrum adductum mortuum: ita tutantur sacerdotes ostia clausuris et seris, ne a latronibus expolientur.

18Lucernas accendunt illis, et quidem multas, ex quibus nullam videre possunt: sunt autem sicut trabes in domo.

19Corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes qui de terra sunt, dum comedunt eos, et vestimentum ipsorum, et non sentiunt.

20Nigræ fiunt facies eorum a fumo qui in domo fit.

21Supra corpus eorum et supra caput eorum volant noctuæ, et hirundines, et aves etiam, similiter et cattæ.

22Unde sciatis quia non sunt dii: ne ergo timueritis eos.

23Aurum etiam quod habent ad speciem est: nisi aliquis exterserit æruginem, non fulgebunt: neque enim dum conflarentur, sentiebant.

24Ex omni pretio empta sunt, in quibus spiritus non inest ipsis.

25Sine pedibus, in humeris portantur, ostentantes ignobilitatem suam hominibus: confundantur etiam qui colunt ea.

26Propterea si ceciderint in terram, a semetipsis non consurgunt: neque si quis eum statuerit rectum, per semetipsum stabit: sed sicut mortuis munera eorum illis apponentur.

27Hostias illorum vendunt sacerdotes ipsorum, et abutuntur: similiter et mulieres eorum decerpentes, neque infirmo, neque mendicanti, aliquid impertiunt.

28De sacrificiis eorum fœtæ et menstruatæ contingunt. Sciens itaque ex his quia non sunt dii, ne timeatis eos.

29Unde enim vocantur dii? quia mulieres apponunt diis argenteis, et aureis, et ligneis:

30et in domibus eorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas, et capita et barbam rasam, quorum capita nuda sunt.

31Rugiunt autem clamantes contra deos suos sicut in cœna mortui.

32Vestimenta eorum auferunt sacerdotes, et vestiunt uxores suas et filios suos.

33Neque si quid mali patiuntur ab aliquo, neque si quid boni, poterunt retribuere: neque regem constituere possunt, neque auferre.

34Similiter neque dare divitias possunt, neque malum retribuere. Si quis illis votum voverit et non reddiderit, neque hoc requirunt.

35Hominem a morte non liberant, neque infirmum a potentiori eripiunt.

36Hominem cæcum ad visum non restituunt; de necessitate hominem non liberabunt.

37Viduæ non miserebuntur, neque orphanis benefacient.

38Lapidibus de monte similes sunt dii illorum, lignei, et lapidei, et aurei, et argentei: qui autem colunt ea, confundentur.

39Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut dicendum illos esse deos?

40Adhuc enim ipsis Chaldæis non honorantibus ea: qui cum audierint mutum non posse loqui, offerunt illud ad Bel, postulantes ab eo loqui:

41quasi possint sentire qui non habent motum ! Et ipsi, cum intellexerint, relinquent ea: sensum enim non habent ipsi dii illorum.

42Mulieres autem circumdatæ funibus in viis sedent, succendentes ossa olivarum:

43cum autem aliqua ex ipsis, attracta ab aliquo transeunte, dormierit cum eo, proximæ suæ exprobrat quod ea non sit digna habita, sicut ipsa, neque funis ejus diruptus sit.

44Omnia autem quæ illi fiunt, falsa sunt: quomodo æstimandum aut dicendum est illos esse deos?

45A fabris autem et ab aurificibus facta sunt: nihil aliud erunt, nisi id quod volunt esse sacerdotes.

46Artifices etiam ipsi, qui ea faciunt, non sunt multi temporis: numquid ergo possunt ea, quæ fabricata sunt ab ipsis, esse dii?

47Reliquerunt autem falsa et opprobrium postea futuris.

48Nam cum supervenerit illis prælium et mala, cogitant sacerdotes apud se ubi se abscondant cum illis.

49Quomodo ergo sentiri debeant quoniam dii sunt, qui nec de bello se liberant, neque de malis se eripiunt?

50Nam cum sint lignea, inaurata et inargentata, scietur postea quia falsa sunt ab universis gentibus et regibus: quæ manifesta sunt quia non sunt dii, sed opera manuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus cum illis.

51Unde ergo notum est quia non sunt dii, sed opera manuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus in ipsis est.

52Regem regioni non suscitant, neque pluviam hominibus dabunt.

53Judicium quoque non discernent, neque regiones liberabunt ab injuria, quia nihil possunt, sicut corniculæ inter medium cæli et terræ.

54Etenim cum inciderit ignis in domum deorum ligneorum, argenteorum et aureorum, sacerdotes quidem ipsorum fugient, et liberabuntur: ipsi vero sicut trabes in medio comburentur.

55Regi autem et bello non resistent. Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut recipiendum quia dii sunt?

56Non a furibus, neque a latronibus se liberabunt dii lignei, et lapidei, et inaurati, et inargentati: quibus hi qui fortiores sunt,

57aurum et argentum, et vestimentum quo operti sunt, auferent illis, et abibunt, nec sibi auxilium ferent.

58Itaque melius est esse regem ostentantem virtutem suam, aut vas in domo utile, in quo gloriabitur qui possidet illud, vel ostium in domo, quod custodit quæ in ipsa sunt, quam falsi dii.

59Sol quidem et luna ac sidera, cum sint splendida et emissa ad utilitates, obaudiunt:

60similiter et fulgur cum apparuerit, perspicuum est: idipsum autem et spiritus in omni regione spirat:

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

62ignis etiam missus desuper, ut consumat montes et silvas, facit quod præceptum est ei: hæc autem neque speciebus, neque virtutibus, uni eorum similia sunt.

63Unde neque existimandum est, neque dicendum illos esse deos, quando non possunt neque judicium judicare, neque quidquam facere hominibus.

64Scientes itaque quia non sunt dii, ne ergo timueritis eos.

65Neque enim regibus maledicent, neque benedicent.

66Signa etiam in cælo gentibus non ostendunt: neque ut sol lucebunt, neque illuminabunt ut luna.

67Bestiæ meliores sunt illis, quæ possunt fugere sub tectum ac prodesse sibi.

68Nullo itaque modo nobis est manifestum quia sunt dii: propter quod ne timeatis eos.

69Nam sicut in cucumerario formido nihil custodit, ita sunt dii illorum lignei, et argentei, et inaurati.

70Eodem modo et in horto spina alba, supra quam omnis avis sedet, similiter et mortuo projecto in tenebris, similes sunt dii illorum lignei, et inaurati, et inargentati.

71A purpura quoque et murice, quæ supra illos tineant, scietis itaque quia non sunt dii: ipsi etiam postremo comeduntur, et erunt opprobrium in regione.

72Melior est homo justus qui non habet simulacra, nam erit longe ab opprobriis.

1This is a copy of the letter that Jeremiah sent to those who would be taken captive into Babylon by the king of Babylon, so as to prophesy to them according to the warning he had received about them from God. “Because of the sins which you have sinned before God, you will be carried away into the captivity of Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.

2And so, having been taken into Babylon, you will be there many years and for a long time, even to seven generations, yet after this, I will lead you away from there with peace.

3But now, you will see in Babylon gods of gold and of silver, and of stone and of wood, carried upon shoulders, an awful display for the peoples.

4See to it, then, that you do not in effect become like these strangers and become afraid, so that in awe you would be carried away into their midst.

5And so, seeing the turmoil, behind you and in front of you, as they are worshiping, say in your hearts, ‘You ought to be adored, O Lord.’

6For my angel is with you. And I myself will examine your souls.

7For their tongue is polished by the craftsman, and they themselves are even inlaid with gold and silver, yet they are false and unable to speak.

8And, just like a virgin who loves to decorate herself, so do they take up gold and make designs with it.

9Their gods have crowns of certified gold upon their heads, from which the priests subtract gold and silver, and spend it on themselves.

10Moreover, they even give from it to prostitutes, and use it to adorn kept women, and when they receive it back from the kept women, they use it to adorn their gods.

11But these cannot be freed from rust and moths.

12Although they are covered with a purple garment, they must wipe off their face, because of the dust of the house, which is very great around them.

13Yet he who holds a scepter like a man, like the judge of the region, cannot put to death one who sins against him.

14And though he holds in his hand a sword and an axe, yet he cannot free himself from war and robbers. From this let it be known to you that they are not gods.

15Therefore, do not fear them. For just as the vessel a man uses becomes useless when broken, so also are their gods.

16When they are set up in a house, their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter.

17And like one who has offended the king and is surrounded at every door, or like a corpse about to be carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be plundered by robbers.

18They light candles to them, and in great number, and still they are unable to see, for they are like logs in the house.

19It is truly said that the creeping things, which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, and yet when these devour them and their garments, they do not feel it.

20Their faces are made black by the smoke that is made in the house.

21Over their bodies and over their heads fly owls and swallows and birds, and similarly, even cats.

22From this you should understand that they are not gods. Therefore, neither should you fear them.

23Furthermore, the gold which they have is shiny, but unless someone wipes off the rust, they will not shine. And even when they were molten, they did not feel it.

24They acquire all kinds of costly things, yet there is no breath in them.

25Without feet, they are carried upon shoulders, showing their unworthiness to all men. And so, may those who worship them be confounded.

26Because of this, if they fall to the ground, they do not get up by themselves; and if someone sets it upright, they will not stand firm on their own; yet, just like the dead, offerings are placed next to them.

27The priests themselves sell their sacrifices, and they spend it wastefully; and, in like manner, their wives take part of it, never sharing anything with the sick or the beggars.

28Fertile and menstruous women contaminate their sacrifices. And so, knowing from this that they are not gods, you should not fear them.

29For what reason are they called gods? It is because the women serve before the gods of silver and gold and wood,

30and the priests sit in their houses, with torn garments, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing on their heads.

31But they roar, shouting out to their gods, just as at a feast for the dead.

32The priests take away the garments of their gods, and clothe their wives and their sons.

33And whether they endure evil from someone, or good, they are not able to repay it. They can neither establish a king, nor remove him.

34Similarly, they can neither give riches, nor avenge evil. If anyone makes a vow to them, and does not keep it, they cannot require it.

35They cannot free a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.

36They cannot restore sight to the blind, nor free a man from need.

37They will not have mercy on the widow, nor do good to orphans.

38Their gods of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like stones from the mountain; and those who worship them will be confounded.

39In what way, then, is it to be supposed or said that they are gods?

40For even the Chaldeans themselves do not honor these, who, when they hear about a mute, unable to speak, they offer him to Bel, asking from him that he may speak,

41as if these, who are unable to move, would be able to perceive. And even they themselves, when they shall understand this, will abandon them, for, having come to their senses, they do not consider them to be gods.

42Yet the women, wrapped in cords, sit by the roads, burning olive-stones.

43And when any one of them, having been attracted by someone passing by, would sleep with him, she reproaches her neighbor because she was not found worthy, as she was, nor was her cord broken.

44But all things that occur with them are false; in what way, then, is it to be considered or said that they are gods?

45Yet they have been made by the workmen and the goldsmiths. They will be nothing else but what the priests want them to be.

46For the artisans themselves, who make them, do not exist for a long time. So then, can these things, which have been made by them, be gods?

47Yet they have bequeathed falsehoods and disgrace after this to the future.

48For when they are overcome by battle or evil, the priests consider among themselves where they may hide themselves with them.

49Therefore, why would they be perceived to be gods, who can neither free themselves from war, nor rescue themselves from evils?

50For, in as much as they are only wood, inlaid with gold and silver, so let it be known henceforth, by all nations and kings, that they are false; because it has been revealed that they are not gods, but the work of men’s hands, and there is no work of God in them.

51For this reason, then, it has been accepted that they are not gods, but are works of the hands of men, and no work of God is in them.

52They have not raised up a king in the region, nor will they give rain to men.

53They will not discern a judgment for anyone, nor will they free a region from injury, because they can do nothing, like crows in the middle of heaven and earth.

54And, indeed, when there happens to be a fire in the house of these gods of wood, silver, and gold, the priests will certainly run away and save themselves, but these will truly be burned up like logs in the midst of it.

55Yet they cannot withstand a king and war. In what way, then, is it to be considered or accepted that they are gods?

56These gods of wood and stone, inlaid with gold and silver, can free themselves neither from thieves nor from robbers; whoever is stronger than they are,

57will take up these things, the gold and the silver, and the garments which cover them, and will get away; neither will they be able to help themselves.

58Therefore, it is better to be a king displaying his power, or a useful vessel in a house, about which he who owns it will boast, or a door in the house, which keeps safe what is inside, than to be these gods of falsehood.

59For the sun, and the moon, and the constellations, though they are brilliant and have been sent forth to be useful, are obedient.

60Similarly, the lightning, when it appears and is evident, and, in like manner, the wind blowing in every region,

61and the clouds, when God orders them to make their rounds over the whole world, each carries out what was commanded.

62Furthermore, the fire, having been sent from above so that it may consume mountains and woods, does what it has been instructed to do. Yet these are not similar, neither in splendor, nor in power, to any one of them.

63From this, it should neither be supposed, nor said, that they are gods; since they are neither able to give judgment, nor to accomplish anything for men.

64And so, knowing that they are not gods, therefore, have no fear of them.

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

66Besides, they show no signs in heaven to the nations; they neither shine like the sun, nor give light like the moon.

67Beasts are better than they are, for they can flee under a covering, and so protect themselves.

68Therefore, in no way is it clear to us that they are gods; because of this, you should not fear them.

69For just as a scarecrow in a cucumber field protects nothing, so are their gods of wood, and silver, and inlaid gold.

70They are just the same as a white thorn in a garden, on which all the birds sit; they are even like a corpse thrown out into the darkness, just so are these gods of wood, and inlaid gold, and inlaid silver.

71By the purple, and likewise the Royal purple, moth-eaten garments upon them, you will then know that they are not gods. And finally, they themselves are consumed and will be a disgrace in the region.

72Better is the just man who has no such images, for he will be far from disgrace.”