2 Baruch

2 Baruch

THE BOOK OF THE APOCALYPSE OF BARUCH THE

SON OF NERIAH

1 — 4. Announcement of the coming Destruction of Jerusalem to Baruch

1 1 And it came to pass in the twenty-fifth year of Jeconiah, king of Judah, that the word of the Lord came to Baruch, the son of Neriah, and said to him: 2 'Have you seen all that this people are doing to Me, that the evils which these two tribes which remained have done are greater than (those of) the ten tribes which were carried away captive? 3 For the former tribes were forced by their kings to commit sin, but these two of themselves have been forcing and compelling their kings to commit sin. 4 For this reason, behold I bring evil upon this city, and upon its inhabitants, and it shall be removed from before Me for a time, and I will scatter this people among the Gentiles that they may do good to the Gentiles. And My people shall be chastened, and the time shall come when they will seek for the prosperity of their times.

2 1 For I have said these things to you that you may bid Jeremiah, and all those that are like you, to retire from this city.

2 For your works are to this city as a firm pillar,

And your prayers as a strong wall.'

3 1 And I said: 'O LORD, my Lord, have I come into the world for this purpose that I might see the evils of my mother? Not (so) my Lord. 2 If I have found grace in Your sight, first take my spirit that I may go to my fathers and not behold the destruction of my mother. For two things vehemently constrain me: for I cannot resist you, and my soul, moreover, cannot behold the evils of my mother. 4 But one thing I will say in Your presence, O Lord. 5 What, therefore, will there be after these things? for if you destroy Your city, and deliver up Your land to those that hate us, how shall the name of Israel be again remembered? 6 Or how shall one speak of Your praises? or to whom shall that which is in Your law be explained? Or shall the world return to its nature of aforetime), and the age revert to primeval silence? And shall the multitude of souls be taken away, and the nature of man not again be named? And where is all that which you did say regarding us?'

4 1 And the Lord said unto me:

'This city shall be delivered up for a time,

And the people shall be chastened during a time,

And the world will not be given over to oblivion.

4:2-7. The heavenly Jerusalem

2 [Dost you think that this is that city of which I said: "On the palms of My hands have I graven you"? 3 This building now built in your midst is not that which is revealed with Me, that which prepared beforehand here from the time when I took counsel to make Paradise, and showed Adam before he sinned, but when he transgressed the commandment it was removed from him, as also Paradise. 4 And after these things I showed it to My servant Abraham by night among the portions of the victims. 5 And again also I showed it to Moses on Mount Sinai when I showed to the likeness of the tabernacle and all its vessels. 6 And now, behold, it is preserved with Me, as Paradise. 7 Go, therefore, and do as I command you.']

5. Baruch's Complaint and God's Reassurance

5 1 And I answered and said:

'So then I am destined to grieve for Zion,

For your enemies will come to this place and pollute Your sanctuary,

And lead your inheritance into captivity,

And make themselves masters of those whom you have loved,

And they will depart again to the place of their idols,

And will boast before them:

And what will you do for Your great name?'

2 And the Lord said unto me:

'My name and My glory are unto all eternity;

And My judgment shall maintain its right in its own time.

3 And you shall see with your eyes

That the enemy will not overthrow Zion,

Nor shall they burn Jerusalem,

But be the ministers of the Judge for the time.

4 But do you go and do whatsoever I have said unto you.

5 And I went and took Jeremiah, and Adu, and Seriah, and Jabish, and Gedaliah, and all the honorable men of the people, and I led them to the valley of Kidron, and I narrated to them all that had been said to me. 6 And they lifted up their voice, and they all wept. 7 And we sat there and fasted until the evening.

6 — 8. Invasion of the Chaldeans and their Entrance into the City after the Sacred Vessels were hidden and the City's Walls overthrown by Angels

6 1 And it came to pass on the morrow that, lo! the army of the Chaldees surrounded the city, and at the time of the evening, I, Baruch, left the people, and I went forth and stood by the oak. 2 And I was grieving over Zion, and lamenting over the captivity which had come upon the people. 3 And lo! suddenly a strong spirit raised me, and bore me aloft over the wall of Jerusalem. 4 And I beheld, and lo! four angels standing at the four corners of the city, each of them holding a torch of fire in his hands. 5 And another angel began to descend from heaven. and said unto them: 'Hold your lamps, and do not light them till I tell you. 6 For I am first sent to speak a word to the earth, and to place in it what the Lord the Most High has commanded me.' 7 And I saw him descend into the Holy of Holies, and take from there the veil, and holy ark, and the mercy-seat, and the two tables, and the holy raiment of the priests, and the altar of incense, and the forty-eight precious stones, wherewith the priest was adorned and all the holy vessels of the tabernacle. 8 And he spoke to the earth with a loud voice:

'Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the mighty God,

And receive what I commit to you,

And guard them until the last times,

So that, when you are ordered, you may restore them,

So that strangers may not get possession of them.

9 For the time comes when Jerusalem also will be delivered for a time,

Until it is said, that it is again restored for ever.'

10 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up.

7 1 And after these things I heard that angel saying unto those angels who held the lamps: 'Destroy, therefore, and overthrow its wall to its foundations, lest the enemy should boast and say:

" We have overthrown the wall of Zion,

And we have burnt the place of the mighty God."'

2 And they have seized the place where I had been standing before.

8 1 Now the angels did as he had commanded them, and when they had broken up the corners of the walls, a voice was heard from the interior of the temple, after the wall had fall saying:

2 'Enter, you enemies,

And come, you adversaries;

For he who kept the house has forsaken (it).'

3 And I, Baruch, departed. 4 And it came to pass after these things that the army of the Chaldees entered and seized the house, and all that was around it. And they led the people away captive and slew some of them, and bound Zedekiah the king, and sent him to the king of Babylon.

9 — 12. First Fast of seven Days: Baruch to remain amid the Ruins of Jerusalem and Jeremiah to accompany the Exiles to Babylon. Baruch's Dirge over Jerusalem

9 1 And I, Baruch, came, and Jeremiah, whose heart was found pure from sins, who had not been captured in the seizure of the City. 2 And we rent our garments, we wept, and mourned, and fasted seven days.

10 1 And it came to pass after seven days, that the word of God carne to me, and said unto me: 2 'Tell Jeremiah to go and support the captivity of the people unto Babylon. But do you remain here amid the desolation of Zion, and I will show to you after these days 'what will befall at the end of days.' And I said to Jeremiah as the Lord commanded me. And he, indeed, departed with the people, but I, Baruch, returned and sat before the gates of the temple, and I lamented with the following lamentation over Zion and said:

6 'Blessed is he who was not born,

Or he, who having been born, has died.

7 But as for us who live, woe unto us,

Because we see the afflictions of Zion,

And what has befallen Jerusalem.

8 I will call the Sirens from the sea,

And you Lilin, come you from the desert,

And you Shedim and dragons from the forests:

Awake and gird up your loins unto mourning,

And take up with me the dirges,

And make lamentation with me.

9 Ye husbandmen, sow not again;

And, O earth, wherefore give you your harvest fruits?

Keep within you the sweets of your sustenance.

10 And thou, vine, why further do you give your wine;

For an offering will not again be made from there in Zion,

Nor will first-fruits again be offered.

11 And do ye, O heavens, 'withhold your dew,

And open not the treasuries of rain:

12 And do thou, O sun withhold the light of your rays.

And do thou, O moon, extinguish the multitude of your light;

For why should light rise again

Where the light of Zion is darkened?

13 And you, you bridegrooms, enter not in,

And let not the brides adorn themselves with garlands;

And, you women, pray not that you may bear.

14 For the barren shall above all rejoice,

And those who have no sons shall be glad,

And those who have sons shall have anguish.

15 For why should they bear in pain,

Only to bury in grief?

16 Or why, again, should mankind have sons?

Or why should the seed of their kind again be named,

Where this mother is desolate,

And her sons are led into captivity?

17 From this time forward speak not of beauty,

And discourse not of gracefulness.

18 Moreover, you priests) take you the keys of the sanctuary,

And cast them into the height of heaven,

And give them to the Lord and say:

"Guard Your house Thyself,

For lo! we are found false stewards."

19 And you, you virgins; who weave fine linen

And silk with gold of Ophir,

Take with haste all (these) things

And cast (them) into the fire,

That it may bear them to Him who made them,

And the flame send them to Him who created them,

Lest the enemy get possession of them.'

11 1 Moreover, I, Baruch, say this against you, Babylon:

'If you had prospered,

And Zion had dwelt in her glory,

Yet the grief to us had been great

That you should be equal to Zion.

2 But now, lo! the grief is infinite,

And the lamentation measureless,

For lo! you are prospered

And Zion desolate.

3 Who will be judge regarding these things?

Or to whom shall we complain regarding that which has befallen us?

O Lord, how have you borne (it)?

4 Our fathers went to rest without grief,

And lo! the righteous sleep in the earth in tranquility;

5 For they knew not this anguish,

Nor yet had they heard of that which had befallen us.

6 Would that you had ears, O earth,

And that you had a heart, O dust:

That you might go and announce in Sheol,

And say to the dead:

7 "Blessed are you more than we who live."'

OXYRHYNCHUS GREEK FRAGMENT, from Grenfell and Hunt's

Oxyrhynchus Papyri, vol. iii. 3-7, 1903.

Verso.

12 1 But I will say this as I think.

And I will speak against you, O land, which alt prospering.

2 The noonday does not always burn.

Nor do the rays of the sun constantly give light.

3 Do not expect Land hope] that you will always he prosperous and rejoicing.

And be not greatly up lifted and boastful.

4 For assuredly in its own season shall the (divine) wrath awake against you.

Which now in long-suffering is held in as it were by reins.

(2-5) 12 1 But I will say this as 1 think,

And speak against you, the land that is prospering.

2 Not always does the noonday burn,

Nor do the rays of the sun constantly give light.

(6-8) 3 And do not you expect to

rejoice,

Nor condemn greatly.

(8-10) 4 For assuredly in its season shall the (divine) wrath be awakened against you,

Which is now restrained by long-suffering as it were by a rein.

12:5 — 13. Second Fast. Revelation as to the coming judgment on the Heathen.

5 And when I had said these things, I fasted seven days.

13 1 And it came to pass after these things, that I, Baruch, was standing upon Mount Zion, and lo! a voice came from the height and said unto me: 2 'Stand upon your feet, Baruch, and hear the word of the mighty God.'

(10-16) 5 And having said these things I fasted seven days.

13 1 And it came to pass after these things that I, Baruch, was standing upon Mount Zion, and lo a voice came forth from the height and said unto me:

2 'Stand upon your feet, Baruch, and hear the word of the mighty God.'

3 Because you have been astonished at what has befallen Zion, you shall therefore be assuredly preserved to the consummation of the times, that you may be for a testimony. 4 So that, if ever those prosperous cities say: 5 'Why hath the mighty God brought upon us this retribution?' Say you to them, you and those like you who shall have seen this evil: '(This is the evil) and retribution which is coming upon you and upon your people in its (destined) time that the nations may be thoroughly smitten. 6 And then they shall be in anguish. 7 And if they say at that time:

8 For how long? you will say to them:

"Ye who have drunk the strained wine,

Drink you also of its dregs,

The judgment of the Lofty One

Who has no respect of persons."'

9 On this account he had aforetime no mercy on His own sons,

But afflicted them as His enemies, because they sinned,

10 Then therefore were they chastened

That they might be sanctified.

OXYRHYNCHUS GREEK FRAGMENT Recto

11 But now, you peoples and nations, you are guilty

Because you have always trodden down the earth,

And used the creation unrighteously.

12 For I have always benefited you.

And you have always been ungrateful for the beneficence.

(19-20) 11 (Ye) peoples and . . .

(Ye) have trodden down the earth

And misused the created things

in it.

(21-22) 12 For you were always being benefited

But you were always ungrateful.

14 — 19. The Righteousness of the Righteous has profited neither them nor their City; God's Judgments are incomprehensible; the World was made for the Righteous, yet they pass and the World remains (14). Answer — Man knows God's Judgments and has sinned willingly. This World is a Weariness to the Righteous but the next is theirs (15), to be won through Character whether a Man's Time here be long or short (16 — 17). Final Weal or Woe — the supreme Question (18 — 19).

OXYRHYNCHUS GREEK FRAGMENT Recto

14 1 And I answered and said: 'Lo! you have shown me the method of the times, and that which shall be after these things, and you have said unto me, that the retribution, which has been spoken of by you, shall come upon the nations. 2 And now I know that those who have sinned are many, and they have lived in prosperity,' and departed from the world, but the few nations will be left in those times, to whom those words shall he said which you did say. 3 For what advantage is there in this, or what (evil), worse than what' we have seen befall us, are we to expect to see?

(23-25) 14 1 And I answered and said: 'Behold, you have shown me the methods of the times, and that which shall be.

(25-27) And you have said unto me that the retribution which was spoken of by you shall be endured by the nations.

(27-32) 2 And now I know that those who have sinned are many, and they have lived . . . , and departed from the world, but that few nations will be left in those times to whom . . . the words (which) you did say.

(32-33) 3 And what advantage (is there) in this or what worse than (these?)

4 But again I will speak in Your presence: 5 What have they profited who had knowledge before you and have not walked in vanity as the rest of the nations, and have not said to the dead: "Give us life," but always feared you, and have not left Your ways? 6 And lo! they have been carried off, nor on their account have you had mercy on Zion. 7 And if others did evil, it was due to Zion that on account of the works of those who wrought good works she should be forgiven, and should not be overwhelmed on account of the works of those who wrought unrighteousness. 8 But who, O LORD, my Lord, will comprehend Your judgment,

Or who will search out the profoundness of Your way?

Or who will think out the weight of Your path?

9 Or who will be able to think out Your incomprehensible counsel?

Or who of those that are born has ever found

The beginning or end of Your wisdom?

10 For we have all been made like a breath. 11 For as the breath ascends involuntarily, and again dies, so it is with the nature of men, who depart not according to their own will, and know not what will befall them in the end. 12 For the righteous justly hope for the end, and without fear depart from this habitation, because they have with you a store of works preserved in treasuries. 13 On this account also these without fear leave this world, and trusting with joy they hope to receive the world which you have promised them. 14 But as for us — woe to us, who also are now shamefully entreated, and at that time look forward (only) to evils. 15 But you know accurately what you have done by means of Your servants; for we are not able to understand that which is good as you art, our Creator. 16 But again I will speak in Your presence, O LORD, my Lord. 17 When of old there was no world with its inhabitants, you did devise and speak with a word, and forthwith the works of creation stood before you. 18 And you did say that you wouldst make for Your world man as the administrator of Your works, that it might be known that he was by no means made on account of the world, but the world on account of him. 19 And now I see that as for the world which was made on account of us, lo! it abides; but we, on account of whom it was made, depart.'

15 1 And the Lord answered and said unto me: 'You are rightly astonished regarding the departure of man, but you have not judged well regarding the evils which befall those who sin. 2 And as regards what you have said, that the righteous are carried off and the impious are prospered, 3 And as regards what you have said: "Man knows not Your judgment " — On this account hear, and I will speak to you, and hearken, and I will cause you to hear My words. 5 Man would not rightly have understood My judgment, unless he had accepted the law, and I had instructed him in understanding. 6 But now, because he transgressed wittingly, yea, just on this ground that he knows (about it), he shall be tormented.

7 And as regards what you did say touching the righteous, that on account of them has this world come, so also again shall that, which is to come, come on their account. 8 For this world is to them a strife and a labor with much trouble; and that accordingly which is to come, a crown with great glory.'

16 1 And I answered and said: '0 LORD, my Lord, lo! the years of this time are few and evil, and who is able in his little time to acquire that which is measureless?'

17 1 And the Lord answered and said unto me: 'With the Most High account is not taken of time nor of a few years. 2 For what did it profit Adam that he lived nine hundred and thirty years and transgressed that which he was commanded? Therefore the multitude of time that he lived did not profit him, but brought death and cut off the years of those who were born from him. wherein did Moses suffer loss in that he lived only one hundred and twenty years, and, inasmuch he was subject to Him who formed him, brought the law to the seed of Jacob, and lighted a lamp for the nation of Israel?'

18 1 And I answered and said: 'He that lighted has taken from the light, and there are but few that have imitated him. But those many whom he has lighted have taken from the darkness of Adam and have not rejoiced in the light of the lamp.'

19 And He answered and said unto me: 'Wherefore at that time he appointed for them a covenant and said:

"Behold I have placed before you life and death,"

And he called heaven and earth to witness against them.

2 For he knew that his time was but short,

But that heaven and earth endure always.

3 But after his death they sinned and transgressed,

Though they knew that they had the law reproving (them),

And the light in which nothing could err,

Also the spheres which testify, and Me.

4 Now regarding everything that is, it is I that judge, but do not you take counsel in your soul regarding these things, nor afflict thyself because of those which have been. 5 For now it is the consummation of time that should be considered, whether of business, or of prosperity, or of shame and not the beginning thereof. 6 Because if a man be prospered in his beginnings and shamefully entreated in his old age, he forgets all the prosperity that he had. 7 And again, if a man is shamefully entreated in his beginnings, and at his end is prospered, he remembers not again his evil entreatment. 8 And again hearken: though each one were prospered all that time — all the time from the day on which death was decreed against those who transgress — and in his end was destroyed, in vain would have been everything.'

20. Zion has been taken away to hasten the Advent of the Judgment

20 1 'Therefore, behold! the days come,

And the times shall hasten more than the former,

And the seasons shall speed on more than those that are past,

And the years shall pass more quickly than the present (years).

2 Therefore have I now taken away Zion,

That I may the more speedily visit the world in its season.

3 Now therefore hold fast in your heart everything that I command you,

And seal it in the recesses of your mind.

4 And then I will show you the judgment of My might,

And My ways which are unsearchable.

5 Go therefore and sanctify thyself seven days, and eat no bread, nor drink water, nor speak to anyone. 6 And afterwards come to that place and I will reveal Myself to you, and speak true things with you, and I will give you commandment regarding the method of the times; for they are coming and tarry not.'

21:1-11. Fast of seven Days: Baruch's Prayer: God's Answer

The Prayer of Baruch the Son of Neriah.

21 1 And I went there and sat in the valley of Kidron in a cave of the earth, and I sanctified my soul there, and I ate no bread, yet I was not hungry, and I drank no water, yet I thirsted not, and I was there till the seventh day, as He had commanded me. 2 And afterwards I came to that place where He had spoken with me. 3 And it came to pass at sunset that my soul took much thought, and I began to speak in the presence of the Mighty One, and said: 4 'O you that have made the earth, hear me, that have fixed the firmament by the word, and have made firm the height of the heaven by the spirit, that have called from the beginning of the world that which did not yet exist, and they obey you. 5 you that have commanded the air by Your nod, and have seen those things which are to be as those things which you are doing. 6 you that rule with great thought the hosts that stand before you: also the countless holy beings, which you did make from the beginning, of flame and fire, which stand around Your throne you rule with indignation. 7 To you only does this belong that you should do forthwith whatsoever you do wish. 8 Who causes the drops of rain to rain by number upon the earth, and alone knows the consummation of the times before they come; have respect unto my prayer. For 9 you alone are able to sustain all who are, and those who have passed away, and those who are to be, those who sin, and those who are to righteous [as living (and) being past finding out]. For you alone do live immortal and past finding out, and know the number of mankind. And if in time many have sinned, yet others not a few have been righteous.

21:12-18. Baruch's Depreciation of this Life.

12 you know where you preserve the end of those who have sinned, or the consummation of those who have been righteous. 2 For if there were this life only, which belongs to all men, nothing could be more bitter than this.

14 For of what profit is strength that turns to sickness,

Or fullness of food that turns to famine,

Or beauty that turns to ugliness.

15 For the nature of man is always changeable. 16 For what we were formerly now we no longer are and what we now are we shall not afterwards remain. 16 For if a consummation had not been prepared for all, in vain would have been their beginning. But regarding everything that comes from you do you inform me, and regarding everything about which I ask you, do you enlighten me.

21:19-25. Baruch prays to God to hasten the Judgment and fulfill His Promise

19 How long will that which is corruptible remain, and how long will the time of mortals be prospered, and until what time will those who transgress in the world be polluted with much wickedness? 20 Command therefore in mercy and accomplish all that you saidst you wouldst bring, that Your might may be made known to those who think that Your long-suffering is weakness. 21 And show to those who know not, that everything that has befallen us and our city until now has been according to the long-suffering of Your power, because on account of Your name you have called us a beloved people. 22 Bring to an end therefore henceforth mortality. 23 And reprove accordingly the angel of death, and let Your glory appear, and let the might of Your beauty be known, and let Sheol be sealed so that from this time forward it may not receive the dead, and let the treasuries of souls restore those which are enclosed in them. 24 For there have been many years like those that are desolate from the days of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and of all those who are like them, who sleep in the earth, on whose account you did say that you had created the world. 25 And now quickly show Your glory, and do not defer what has been promised by you.' 26 And (when) I had completed the words of this prayer I was greatly weakened.

22 — 23. God's Reply to Baruch's Prayer. He will fulfill His Promise: Time needed for its Accomplishment: Things must be judged in the Light of their Consummation (22). Till all Souls are born the End cannot come (23).

22 1 And it came to pass after these things that lo! the heavens were opened, and I saw, and power was given to me, and a voice was beard from on high, and it said unto me: 2 Baruch, Baruch, why are you troubled? 3 He who travels by a road but does not complete it, or who departs by sea but does not arrive at the port, can he be comforted? 4 Or he who promises to give a present to another, but does not fulfill it, is it not robbery? 5 Or he who sows the earth, but does not reap its fruit in its season, does he not lose everything? 6 Or he who plants a plant unless it grows till the time suitable to it, does he who planted it expect to receive fruit from it? 7 Or a woman who has conceived, if she bring forth untimely, does she not assuredly slay her infant? 8 Or he who builds a house, if he does not roof it and complete it, can it be called a house? Tell Me that first.'

23 1 And I answered and said: Not so, O LORD, my Lord.' 2 And He answered and said unto me: 'Why therefore are you troubled about that which you know not, and why are you ill at ease about things in which you are ignorant? 3 For as you have not forgotten the people who now are and those who have passed away, so I remember those who are appointed to come. 4 Because when Adam sinned and death was decreed against those who should be born, then the multitude of those who should be born was numbered, and for that number a place was prepared where the living might dwell and the dead might be guarded. Before therefore the number aforesaid is fulfilled, the creature will not live again [for My spirit is the creator of life], and Sheol will receive the dead. 6 And again it is given to you to hear what things are to come after these times. 7 For truly My redemption has drawn nigh, and is not far distant as aforetime.

24. The coming Judgment

24 1 'For behold! the days come and the books shall be opened in which are written the sins of all those who have sinned, and again also the treasuries in which the righteousness of all those who have been righteous in creation is gathered. 2 For it shall come to pass at that time that you shall see — and the many that are with you — the long-suffering of the Most High, which has been throughout all generations, who has been long-suffering towards all who are born, (alike) those who sin and (those who) are righteous.' 3 And I answered and said: 'But, behold! O Lord, no one knows the number of those things which have passed nor yet of those things which are to come. 4 For I know indeed that which has befallen us, but what will happen to our enemies I know not, and when you will visit Your works.'

25 — 26. Sign of the coming Judgment

25 1 And He answered and said unto me: 'You too shall be preserved till that time till that sign which the Most High will work for the inhabitants of the earth in the end of days. 2 This therefore shall be the sign. 3 When a stupor shall seize the inhabitants of the earth, and they shall fall into many tribulations, and again when they shall fall into great torments. And it will come to pass when they say in their thoughts by reason of their much tribulation: "The Mighty 'One doth no longer remember the earth" — yes, it will come to pass when they abandon hope, that the time will then awake.'

26 1 And I answered and said: 'Will that tribulation which is to be continue a long time, and will that necessity embrace many years?'

26-30. The Twelve Woes that are to Come upon the Earth: The Messiah and the temporary Messianic Kingdom

27 1 And He answered and said unto me: 'Into twelve parts is that time divided, and each one of them is reserved for that which is appointed for it. 2 In the first part there shall be the beginning of commotions. 3 And in the second part (there shall be) slayings of the great ones. 4 And in the third part the fall of many by death. 5 And in the fourth part the sending of the sword. 6 And in the fifth part famine and the withholding of rain. 7 And in the sixth part earthquakes and terrors. 8 [Wanting.] 9 And in the eighth part a multitude of specters and attacks of the Shedim. 10 And in the ninth part the fall of fire. 11 And in the tenth part rapine and much oppression. 12 And in the eleventh part wickedness and unchastity. 13 And in the twelfth part confusion from the mingling together of all those things aforesaid. 14 For these parts of that time are reserved, and shall be mingled one with another and minister one to another. 15 For some shall leave out some of their own, and receive (in its stead) from others, and some complete their own and that of others,so that those may not understand who are upon the earth in those days that this is the consummation of the times.

28 1 Nevertheless, whoever understands shall then be wise. 2 For the measure and reckoning of that time are two parts a week of seven weeks.' 3 And I answered and said: 'It is good for a man to come and behold, but it is better that he should not come lest he fall. 4 [But I will say this also: 5 Will he who is incorruptible despise those things which are corruptible, and whatever befalls in the case of those things which are corruptible, so that he might look only to those things which are not corruptible?] 6 But if; O Lord, those things shall assuredly come to pass which you have foretold to me, so do you show this also unto me if indeed I have found grace in Your sight. 7 Is it in one place or in one of the parts of the earth that those things are come to pass, or will the whole earth experience (them) ?'

29 1 And He answered and said unto me: 'Whatever will then befall (will befall) the whole earth; therefore all who live will experience (them). 2 For at that time I will protect only those who are found in those self-same days in this land. 3 And it shall come to pass when all is accomplished that was to come to pass in those parts, that the Messiah shall then begin to be revealed. 4 And Behemoth shall be revealed from his place and Leviathan shall ascend from the sea, those two great monsters which I created on the fifth day of creation, and shall have kept until that time; and then they shall be for food for all that are left. 5 The earth also shall yield its fruit ten-thousandfold and on each (?) vine there shall be a thousand branches, and each branch shall produce a thousand clusters, and each cluster produce a thousand grapes, and each grape produce a cor of wine. 6 And those who have hungered shall rejoice: moreover, also, they shall behold marvels every day. 7 For winds shall go forth from before Me to bring every morning the fragrance of aromatic fruits, and at the close of the day clouds distilling the dew of health. 8 And it shall come to pass at that self-same time that the treasury of manna shall again descend from on high, and they will eat of it in those years, because these are they who have come to the consummation of time.

30 1 And it shall come to pass after these things, when the time of the advent of the Messiah is fulfilled, that He shall return in glory.

30:2-5. The Resurrection

2 Then all who have fallen asleep in hope of Him shall rise again. And it shall come to pass at that time that the treasuries will be opened in which is preserved the number of the souls of the righteous, and they shall come forth, and a multitude of souls shall be seen together in one assemblage of one thought, and the first shall rejoice and the last shall not be grieved. 3 For they know that the time has come of which it is said, that it is the consummation of the times. 4 But the souls of the wicked, when they behold all these things, shall then waste away the more. 5 For they shall know that their torment has come and their perdition has arrived.'

31 — 33. Baruch exhorts the People to prepare themselves for worse Evils

31 1 And it came to pass after these things: that I went to the people and said unto them: 'Assemble unto me all your elders and I will speak words unto them.' 2 And they all assembled in the valley of the Kidron. 3 And I answered and said unto them:

Hear, O Israel, and I will speak to you,

And give ear, O seed of Jacob, and I will instruct you.

4 Forget not Zion,

But hold in remembrance the anguish of Jerusalem.

5 For lo! the days come,

When everything that is shall become the prey of corruption

And be as though it had not been.

32 1 'But as for you, if you prepare your hearts, so as to sow in them the fruits of the law, it shall protect you in that time in which the Mighty One is to shake the whole creation. 2 [Because after a little time the building of Zion will be shaken in order that it may be built again. But that building will not remain, but will again after a time be rooted out, and will remain desolate until the time. 4 And afterwards it must be renewed in glory, and perfected for evermore.] 5 Therefore we should not be distressed so much over the evil which has now come as over that which is still to be. 6 For there will be a greater trial than these two tribulations when the Mighty One will renew His creation. 7 And now do not draw near to me for a few days, nor seek me till I come to you.' 8 And it came to pass when I had spoken to them all these words, that I, Baruch, went my way, and when the people saw me setting out, they lifted up their voice and lamented and said : 9 To where are you departing from us, Baruch, and are you forsaking us as a father who forsakes his orphan children, and departs from them?

33 1 'Are these the commands which your companion, Jeremiah the prophet, commanded you, and said unto you: "Look to this people till I go and make ready the rest of the brethren in Babylon against whom has gone forth the sentence that they should be led into captivity"? And now if you also forsake us, it were good for us all to die before you, and then that you should withdraw from us.'

34 — 35. Lament of Baruch

34 And I answered and said unto the people: 'Far be it from me to forsake you or to withdraw from you, but I will only go unto the Holy of Holies to inquire of the Mighty One concerning you and concerning Zion, if in some respect I should receive more illumination: and after these things I will return to you.

35 1 And I, Baruch, went to the holy place, and sat down upon the ruins and wept, and said:

2 'O that mine eyes were springs,

And mine eyelids a fount of tears.

3 For how shall I lament for Zion,

And how shall I mourn for Jerusalem?

4 Because in that place where I am now prostrate,

Of old the high priest offered holy sacrifices,

And placed thereon an incense of fragrant odors.

5 But now our glorying has been made into dust,

And the desire of our soul into sand.'

36 — 37. The Vision of the Forest, the Vine, the Fountain and the Cedar

36 1 And when I had said these things I fell asleep there, and I saw a vision in the night. 2 And lo! a forest of trees planted on the plain, and lofty and rugged rocky mountains surrounded it, and that forest occupied much space. 3 And lo! over against it arose a vine, and from under it there went forth a fountain peacefully. 4 Now that fountain came to the forest and was (stirred) into great waves, and those waves submerged that forest, and suddenly they rooted out the greater part of that forest, and overthrew all the mountains which were round about it. 5 And the height of the forest began to be made low, and the top of the mountains was made low and that fountain prevailed greatly, so that it left nothing of that great forest save one cedar only. 6 Also when it had cast it down and had destroyed and rooted out the greater part of that forest, so that nothing was left of it, nor could its place be recognized, then that vine began to come with the fountain in peace and great tranquility, and it came to a place which was not far from that cedar, and they brought the cedar which had been cast down to it. 7 And I beheld and lo! that vine opened its mouth and spoke and said to that cedar: Art you not that cedar which was left of the forest of wickedness, and by whose means wickedness persisted, and was wrought all those years, and goodness never. 8 And you kept conquering that which was not yours, and to that which was your you did never show compassion, and you did keep extending your power over those who were far from you, and those who drew near you, you did hold fast in the toils of your wickedness, and you did uplift thyself always as one that could not be rooted out! 9 But now your time has sped and your hour is come. 10 Do you also therefore depart, O cedar, after the forest, which departed before you, and become dust with it, and let your ashes be mingled together. 11 And now recline in anguish and rest in torment till your last time come, in which you will come again, and be tormented still more.'

37 And after these things I saw that cedar burning, and the vine growing, itself and all around it, the plain full of unfading flowers. And I indeed awoke and arose.

38 — 40. Interpretation of the Vision

38 1 And I prayed and said: 'O LORD, my Lord, you do always enlighten those who are led by understanding. 2 Your law is life, and Your wisdom is right guidance. 3 Make known to me therefore the interpretation of this vision. 4 For you know that my soul hath always walked in Your law, and from my (earliest) days I departed not from Your wisdom.'

39 1 And He answered and said unto me: 'Baruch, this is the interpretation of the vision which you have seen. 2 As you have seen the great forest which lofty and rugged mountains surrounded, this is the word. 3 Behold! the days come, and this kingdom will be destroyed which once destroyed Zion, and it will be subjected to that which comes after it. 4 Moreover, that also again after a time will be destroyed, and another, a third, will arise, and that also will have dominion for its time, and will be destroyed. 5 And after these things a fourth kingdom will arise, whose power will be harsh and evil far beyond those which were before it, and it will rule many times as the forests on the plain, and it will hold fast for times, and will exalt itself more than the cedars of Lebanon. 6 And by it the truth will be hidden, and all those who are polluted with iniquity will flee to it, as evil beasts flee and creep into the forest. 7 And it will come to pass when the time of its consummation that it should fall has approached, then the principate of My Messiah will be revealed, which is like the fountain and the vine, and when it is revealed it will root out the multitude of its host. 8 And as touching that which you have seen, the lofty cedar, which was left of that forest, and the fact, that the vine spoke those words with it which you did hear, this is the word.

40 1 The last leader of that time will be left alive, when the multitude of his hosts will be put to the sword, and he will be bound, and they will take him up to Mount Zion, and My Messiah will convict him of all his impieties, and will gather and set before him all the works of his hosts. 2 And afterwards he will put him to death, and protect the rest of My people which shall be found in the place which I have chosen. 3 And his principate will stand for ever, until the world of corruption is at an end, and until the times aforesaid are fulfilled. 4 This is your vision, and this is its interpretation.'

41 — 42. The Destiny of the Apostates and of the Proselytes

41 1 And I answered and said: 'For whom and for how many shall these things be? or who will be worthy to live at that time? 2 For I will speak before you everything that I think, and I will ask of you regarding those things which I meditate. 3 For lo! I see many of Your people who have withdrawn from Your covenant, and cast from them the yoke of Your law. 4 But others again I have seen who have forsaken their vanity, and fled for refuge beneath Your wings. 5 What therefore will be to them? or how will the last time receive them? 6 Or perhaps the time of these will assuredly be weighed, and as the beam inclines will they be judged accordingly?'

42 1 And He answered and said unto me: 'These things also will I show unto you. 2 As for what you did say — "To whom will these things be, and how many (will they be)? " — to those who have believed there shall be the good which was spoken of aforetime, and to those who despise there shall be the contrary of these things. 3 And as for what you did say regarding those who have drawn near and those who have withdrawn this in the word. 4 As for those who were before subject, and afterwards withdrew and mingled themselves with the seed of mingled peoples, the time of these was the former, and was accounted as something exalted. 5 And as for those who before knew not but afterwards knew life, and mingled (only) with the seed of the people which had separated itself, the time of these (is) the latter, and is accounted as something exalted. 6 And time shall succeed to time and season to season, and one shall receive from another, and then with a view to the consummation shall everything be compared according to the measure of the times and the hours of the seasons. 7 For corruption shall take those that belong to it, and life those that belong to it. 8 And the dust shall be called, and there shall be said to it: "Give back that which is not yours, and raise up all that you have kept until its time".'

43. Baruch told of his Death and bidden to give his last Commands to the People

43 1 But, do thou, Baruch, direct your heart to that which has been said to you,

And understand those things which have been shown to you;

For there are many eternal consolations for you.

2 For you shall depart from this place,

And you shall pass from the regions which are now seen by you,

And you shall forget whatever is corruptible,

And shall not again recall those things which happen among mortals.

3 Go therefore and command your people, and come to this place, and afterwards fast seven days, and then I will come to you and speak with you.'

44:1-8; 45 — 46. Baruch tells the Elders of his impending Death, but encourages them to expect the Consolation of Zion

44 1 And I, Baruch, went from thence, and came to my people, and I called my first-born son and [the Gedaliahs] my friends, and seven of the elders of the people, and I said unto them:

Behold, I go unto my fathers

According to the way of all the earth.

3 But withdraw you not from the way of the law,

But guard and admonish the people which remain,

Lest they withdraw from the commandments of the Mighty One.

4 For you see that He whom we serve is just,

And our Creator is no respecter of persons.

5 And see you what hath befallen Zion,

And what hath happened to Jerusalem.

6 For the judgment of the Mighty One shall (thereby) be made known,

And His ways, which, though past finding out, are right.

7 For if you endure and persevere in His fear,

And do not forget His law,

The times shall change over you for good.

And you shall see the consolation of Zion.

8, 9 Because whatever is now is nothing,

But that which shall be is very great.

For everything that is corruptible shall pass away,

And everything that dies shall depart,

And all the present time shall be forgotten,

Nor shall there be any remembrance of the present time, which is defiled with evils.

10 For that which runs now runs unto vanity,

And that which prospers shall quickly fall and be humiliated.

11 For that which is to be shall be the object of desire,

And for that which comes afterwards shall we hope;

For it is a time that passes not away,

12 And the hour comes which abides for ever.

And the new world (comes) which does not turn to corruption those who depart to its blessedness,

And has no mercy on those who depart to torment,

And leads not to perdition those who live in it.

13 For these are they who shall inherit that time which has been spoken of,

And theirs is the inheritance of the promised time.

14 These are they who have acquired for themselves treasures of wisdom,

And with them are found stores of understanding,

And from mercy have they not withdrawn,

And the truth of the law I have they preserved.

15 For to them shall be given the world to come,

But the dwelling of the rest who are many shall be in the fire.'

45 2 'Do you therefore so far as you are able instruct the people, for that labor is ours. For if you teach them, you will quicken them.'

46 1 And my son and the elders of the people answered and said unto me:

'Has the Mighty One humiliated us to such a degree

As to take you from us quickly?

2 And truly we shall be in darkness,

And there shall be no light to the people who are left,

3 For where again shall we seek the law,

Or who will distinguish for us between death and life?'

4 And I said unto them: 'The throne of the Mighty One I cannot resist;

Nevertheless, there shall not be wanting to Israel a wise man

Nor a son of the law to the race of Jacob.

5 But only prepare you your hearts, that you may obey the law,

And be subject to those who in fear are wise and understanding;

And prepare your souls that you may not depart from them.

6 For if you do these things, Good tidings shall come unto you.

[Which I before told you of; nor shall you fall into the torment, of which I testified to you before.' 7 But with regard to the word that I was to be taken I did not make (it) known to them or to my son.]

47 1 And when I had gone forth and dismissed them, I went there and said unto them: 'Behold! I go to Hebron: for thither the Mighty One hath sent me.' 2 And I came to that place where the word had been spoken unto me, and I sat there, and fasted seven days.

48:1-47. PRAYER OF BARUCH

48 1 And it came to pass after the seventh day, that I prayed before the Mighty One and said

2 'O my Lord, you summon the advent of the times,

And they stand before you;

You cause the power of the ages to pass away,

And they do not resist you;

You arrange the method of the seasons,

And they obey you.

3 You alone know the duration of the generations,

And you reveal not Your mysteries to many.

4 You make known the multitude of the fire,

And you weigh the lightness of the wind.

5 You explore the limit of the heights,

And you scrutinize the depths of the darkness.

6 You care for the number which pass away that they may be preserved, And you prepare an abode for those that are to be.

7 You remember the beginning which you have made,

And the destruction that is to be You forget not.

8 With nods of fear and indignation You command the flames,

And they change into spirits,

And with a word you quicken that which was not,

And with mighty power you hold that which has not yet come.

9 You instruct created things in the understanding of you,

And you make wise the spheres so as to minister in their orders.

10 Armies innumerable stand before you

And minister in their orders quietly at Your nod.

11 Hear Your servant

And give ear to my petition.

12 For in a little time are we born,

And in a little time do we return.

13 But with you hours are as a time,

And days as generations.

14 Be not therefore wroth with man; for he is nothing

15 And take not account of our works; For what are we?

For lo! by Your gift do we come into the world,

And we depart not of our own will.

16 For we said not to our parents, "Beget us,

Nor did we send to Sheol and say, "Receive us."

17 What therefore is our strength that we should bear Your wrath,

Or what are we that we should endure Your judgment?

18 Protect us in Your compassions,

And in Your mercy help us.

19 Behold the little ones that are subject unto you,

And save all that draw near unto you:

And destroy not the hope of our people,

And cut not short the times of our aid.

20 For this is the nation which you have chosen,

And these are the people, to whom you find no equal.

21 But I will speak now before you,

And I will say as my heart thinks.

22 In you do we trust, for lo! Your law is with us,

And we know that we shall not fall so long as we keep Your statutes.

23 [To all time are we blessed at all events in this that we have not mingled with the Gentiles.]

24 For we are all one celebrated people,

Who have received one law from One:

And the law which is amongst us will aid us,

And the surpassing wisdom which is in us will help us.'

25 And when I had prayed and said these things, I was greatly weakened. 26 And He answered and said unto me:

'You have prayed simply, O Baruch,

And all your words have been heard.

27 But My judgment exacts its own

And My law exacts its rights.

28 For from your words I will answer you,

And from your prayer I will speak to you.

29 For this is as follows: he that is corrupted is not at all; he has both wrought iniquity so far as lie could do anything, and has not remembered My goodness, nor accepted My long-suffering. 30 Therefore you shall surely be taken up, as I before told you. 31 For that time shall arise which brings affliction; for it shall come and pass by with quick vehemence, and it shall be turbulent coming in the heat of indignation. 32 And it shall come to pass in those days that all the inhabitants of the earth shall be moved one against another, because they know not that My judgment has drawn nigh.

33 For there shall not be found many wise at that time,

And the intelligent shall be but a few:

Moreover, even those who know shall most of all be silent.

34 And there shall be many rumors and tidings not a few,

And the doing of phantasms shall be manifest,

And promises not a few be recounted,

Some of them (shall prove) idle,

And some of them shall be confirmed.

35 And honor shall be turned into shame,

And strength humiliated into contempt,

And probity destroyed,

And beauty shall become ugliness.

36 And many shall say to many at that time:

"Where hath the multitude of intelligence hidden itself,

And whither hath the multitude of wisdom removed itself?"

37 And whilst they are meditating these things,

Then envy shall arise in those who had not thought aught of themselves (?)

And passion shall seize him that is peaceful,

And many shall be stirred up in anger to injure many,

And they shall rouse up armies in order to shed blood,

And in the end they shall perish together with them.

38 And it shall come to pass at the self-same time,

That a change of times shall manifestly appeal to every man,

Because in all those times they polluted themselves

And they practiced oppression,

And walked every man in his own works,

And remembered not the law of the Mighty One.

39 Therefore a fire shall consume their thoughts,

And in flame shall the meditations of their reins be tried;

For the Judge shall come and will not tarry.

40 Because each of the inhabitants of the earth knew when he was transgressing.

But My Law they knew not by reason of their pride.

41 But many shall then assuredly weep,

Yea, over the living more than over the dead.'

42 And I answered and said:

'O Adam, what have you done to all those who are born from you?

And what will be said to the first Eve who hearkened to the serpent?

43 For all this multitude are going to corruption,

Nor is there any numbering of those whom the fire devours.

44 But again I will speak in Your presence. 45 You, O LORD, my Lord, know what is in Your creature. 46 For you did of old command the dust to produce Adam, and you know the number of those who are born from him, and how far they have sinned before you, who have existed and not confessed you as their Creator. 47 And as regards all these their end shall convict them, and Your law which they have transgressed shall requite them on Your day.'

48:48-50. Fragment of an Address of Baruch to the People

48 ['But now let us dismiss the wicked and inquire about the righteous.

49 And I will recount their blessedness

And not be silent in celebrating their glory, which is reserved for them.

50 For assuredly as in a little time in this transitory world in which you live, you have endured much labor,

So in that world to which there is no end, you shall receive great light.']

49 — 52. The Nature of the Resurrection Body: the final Destinies of the Righteous

and the Wicked

49 1 'Nevertheless, I Will again ask from you, O Mighty One, yea, I will ask made all things.

2 "In what shape will those live who live in Your day?

Or how will the splendor of those who (are) after that time continue?

3 Will they then resume this form of the present,

And put on these entrammelling members,

Which are now involved in evils,

And in which evils are consummated,

Or will you perchance change these things which have been in the world

As also the world?"

50 1 And He answered and said unto me:

'Hear, Baruch, this word,

And write in the remembrance of your heart all that you shall learn.

2 For the earth shall then assuredly restore the dead,

[Which it now receives, in order to preserve them].

It shall make no change in their form,

But as it has received, so shall it restore them,

And as I delivered them unto it, so also shall it raise them.

3 For then it will be necessary to show the living that the dead have come to life again, and that those who had departed have returned (again). 4 And it shall come to pass, when they have severally recognized those whom they now know, then judgment shall grow strong, and those things which before were spoken of shall come.

51 1 And it shall come to pass, when that appointed day has gone by, that then shall the aspect of those who are condemned be afterwards changed, and the glory of those who are justified. 2 For the aspect of those who now act wickedly shall become worse than it is, as they shall suffer torment. 3 Also (as for) the glory of those who have now been justified in My law, who have had understanding in their life, and who have planted in their heart the root of wisdom, then their splendor shall be glorified in changes, and the form of their face shall be turned into the light of their beauty, that they may be able to acquire and receive the world which does not die, which is then promised to them. 4 For over this above all shall those who come then lament, that they rejected My law, and stopped their ears that they might not hear wisdom or receive understanding. 5 When therefore they see those, over whom they are now exalted, (but) who shall then be exalted and glorified more than they, they shall respectively be transformed, the latter into the splendor of angels, and the former shall yet more waste away in wonder at the visions and in the beholding of the forms. 6 For they shall first behold and afterwards depart to be tormented.

7 But those who have been saved by their works,

And to whom the law has been now a hope,

And understanding an expectation,

And wisdom a confidence,

Shall wonders appear in their time.

8 For they shall behold the world which is now invisible to them,

And they shall behold the time which is now hidden from them:

9 And time shall no longer age them.

10 For in the heights of that world shall they dwell,

And they shall be made like unto the angels,

And be made equal to the stars,

And they shall be changed into every form they desire,

From beauty into loveliness,

And from light into the splendor of glory.

11 For there shall be spread before them the extents of Paradise, and there shall be shown to them the beauty of the majesty of the living creatures which are beneath the throne, and all the armies of the angels, who are now held fast by My word, lest they should appear, and] are held fast by a command, that they may stand in their places till their advent comes. 12 Moreover, there shall then be excellency in the righteous surpassing that in the angels. 13 For the first shall receive the last, those whom they were expecting, and the last those of whom they used to hear that they had passed away.

14 For they have been delivered from this world of tribulation,

And laid down the burthen of anguish.

15 For what then have men lost their life,

And for what have those who were on the earth exchanged their soul?

16 For then they chose (not) for themselves this time,

Which, beyond the reach of anguish, could not pass away:

But they chose for themselves that time,

Whose issues are full of lamentations and evils,

And they denied the world which ages not those who come to it,

And they rejected the time of glory,

So that they shall not come to the honor of which I told you before.'

52 1 And I answered and said:

'How can we forget those for whom woe is then reserved?

2 And why therefore do we again mourn for those who die?

Or why do we weep for those who depart to Sheol?

3 Let lamentations be reserved for the beginning of that coming torment,

And let tears be laid up for the advent of the destruction of that time.

4 [But even in the face of these things will I speak.

5 And as for the righteous, what will they do now?

6 Rejoice you in the suffering which you now suffer:

For why do you look for the decline of your enemies?

7 Make ready your soul for that which is reserved for you,

And prepare your souls for the reward which is laid up for you.']

53 — 54. THE MESSIAH APOCALYPSE

53. The Vision of the Cloud with black and white Waters

53 1 And when I had said these things I fell asleep there, and I saw a vision, and lo! a cloud was ascending from a very great sea, and I kept gazing upon it) and lo! it was full of waters white and black, and there were many colors in those self-same waters, and as it were the likeness of great lightning was seen at its summit. 2 And I saw the cloud passing swiftly in quick courses, and it covered all the earth. 3 And it came to pass after these things that that cloud began to pour upon the earth the waters that were in it. 4 And I saw that there was not one and the same likeness in the waters which descended from it. 5 For in the first beginning they were black and many (Or a time, and afterwards I saw that the waters became bright, but they were not many, and after these things again I saw black (waters), and after these things again bright, and again black and again bright. 6 Now this was done twelve times, but the black were always more numerous than the bright. 7 And it came to pass at the end of the cloud, that lo! it rained black waters, and they were darker than had been all those waters that were before, and fire was mingled with them, and where those waters descended, they wrought devastation and destruction. 8 And after these things I saw how that lightning which I had seen on the summit of the cloud, seized hold of it and hurled it to the earth. 9 Now that lightning shone exceedingly, so as to illuminate the whole earth, and it healed those regions where the last waters had descended and wrought devastation. 10 And it took hold of the whole earth, and had dominion over it. 11 And I saw after these things, and lo! twelve rivers were ascending from the sea, and they began to surround that lightning and to become subject to it. 12 And by reason of my fear I awoke.

54 — 55. Baruch's Prayer for an Interpretation of the Vision: Ramiel's advent for

this Purpose

54 1 And I besought the Mighty One, and said:

'You alone, O Lord, know of aforetime the deep things of the world,

And the things which befall in their times You bring about by Your word, And against the works of the inhabitants of the earth you do hasten the beginnings of the times,

And the end of the seasons you alone know.

2 (You) for whom nothing is too hard,

But who do everything easily by a nod:

3 (You) to whom the depths come as the heights,

And whose word the beginnings of the ages serve:

4 (You) who reveal to those who fear you what is prepared for them,

That thenceforth they may be comforted.

5 You show great acts to those who know not;

You break up the enclosure of those who are ignorant,

And lightest up what is dark,

And reveal what is hidden to the pure,

[Who in faith have submitted themselves to you and Your law.]

6 You have shown to Your servant this vision;

Reveal to me also its interpretation.

7 For I know that as regards those things wherein I besought you, I have received a response,

And as regards what I besought, you did reveal to me with what voice I should praise you,

And from what members I should cause praises and hallelujahs to ascend to you.

8 For if my members were mouths,

And the hairs of my head voices,

Even so I could not give you the reward of praise,

Nor laud you as is befitting,

Nor could I recount Your praise,

Nor tell the glory of Your beauty.

9 For what am I amongst men,

Or why am I reckoned amongst those who are more excellent than I,

That I have heard all these marvelous things from the Most High,

And numberless promises from Him who created me?

10 Blessed be my mother among those that bear,

And praised among women be she that bare me.

11 For I will not be silent in praising the Mighty One,

And with the voice of praise I will recount His marvelous deeds.

12 For who doeth like unto Your marvelous deeds, O God,

Or who comprehend Your deep thought of life.

13 For with Your counsel you do govern all the creatures which Your right hand has created

And you have established every fountain of light beside you,

And the treasures of wisdom beneath Your throne have you prepared.

14 And justly do they perish who have not loved Your law,

And the torment of judgment shall await those who have not submitted themselves to Your power.

15 For though Adam first sinned

And brought untimely death upon all,

Yet of those who were born from him

Each one of them has prepared for his own soul torment to come,

And again each one of them has chosen for himself glories to come.

16 [For assuredly he who believeth will receive reward.

17 But now, as for you, you wicked that now are, turn you to destruction, because you shall speedily be visited, in that formerly you rejected the understanding of the Most High.

18 For His works have not taught you,

Nor has the skill of His creation which is at all times persuaded you.]

19 Adam is therefore not the cause, save only of his own soul,

But each of us has been the Adam of his own soul.

20 But do You, O Lord, expound to me regarding those things which you have revealed to me,

And inform me regarding that which I besought you.

21 For at the consummation of the world vengeance shall be taken upon those who have done wickedness according to their wickedness,

And you will glorify the faithful according to their faithfulness.

22 For those who are amongst your own you rule,

And those who sin you blot out from amongst your own.'

55 1 And it came to pass when I had finished speaking the words of this prayer, that I sat there under a tree, that I might rest in the shade of the branches. 2 And I wondered and was astonished, and pondered in my thoughts regarding the multitude of goodness which sinners who are upon the earth have rejected, and regarding the great torment which they have despised, though they knew that they should be tormented because of the sin they had committed. And when I was pondering on these things and the like, lo! the angel Ramiel who presides over true visions was sent to me, and he said unto me:

4 'Why does your heart trouble you, Baruch,

and why does your thought disturb you?

5 For if owing to the report which you have only heard of judgment you are so moved,

What (wilt you be) when you shall see it manifestly with your eyes?

6 And if with the expectation wherewith you do expect the day of the Mighty One you are so overcome,

What (wilt you be) when you shall come to its advent?

7 And, if at the word of the announcement of the torment of those who have done foolishly you are so wholly distraught,

How much more when the event will reveal marvelous things?

8 And if you have heard tidings of the good and evil things which are then coming and are grieved,

What (wilt you be) when you shall behold what the majesty will reveal, Which shall convict these and cause those to rejoice.'

56 — 74. Interpretation of the Vision. The black and bright Waters symbolize the World's History from Adam to the Advent of the Messiah.

56 1 'Nevertheless, because you have besought the Most High to reveal to you the interpretation of the vision which you have seen, I have been sent to tell you. 2 And the Mighty One hath assuredly made known to you the methods of the times that have passed, and of those that are destined to pass in His world from the beginning of its creation even unto its consummation, of those things which (are) deceit and of those which (are) in truth. 3 For as you did see a great cloud which ascended from the sea, and went and covered the earth, this is the duration of the world (= αιων) which the Mighty One made when he took counsel to make the world. 4 And it came to pass when the word had gone forth from His presence, that the duration of the world had come into being in a small degree, and was established according to the multitude of the intelligence of Him who sent it. 5 And as you did previously see on the summit of the cloud black waters which descended previously on the earth, this is the transgression wherewith Adam the first man transgressed.

6 For [since] when he transgressed

Untimely death came into being,

Grief was named

And anguish was prepared,

And pain was created,

And trouble consummated,

And disease began to be established,

And Sheol kept demanding that it should be renewed in blood,

And the begetting of children was brought about,

And the passion of parents produced,

And the greatness of humanity was humiliated,

And goodness languished.

7 What therefore can be blacker or darker than these things? 8 This is the beginning of the black waters which you have seen. 9 And from these black (waters) again were black derived, and the darkness of darkness was produced. 10 For he became a danger to his own soul: even to the angels 11 For, moreover, at that time when he was created, they enjoyed liberty. 12 And became he a danger some of them descended, and mingled with the women. 13 And then those who did so were tormented in chains. 14 But the rest of the multitude of the angels, of which there is (no) number, restrained themselves. 15 And those who dwelt on the earth perished together (with them) through the waters of the deluge. 16 These are the black first waters.

57 1 And after these (waters) you did see bright waters: this is the fount of Abraham, also his generations and advent of his son, and of his son's son, and of those like them. 2 Because at that time the unwritten law was named amongst them,

And the works of the commandments were then fulfilled,

And belief in the coming judgment was then generated,

And hope of the world that was to be renewed was then built up,

And the promise of the life that should come hereafter was implanted.

3 These are the bright waters, which you have seen.

58 1 'And the black third waters which you have seen, these are the mingling of all sins, which the nations afterwards wrought after the death of those righteous men, and the wickedness of the land of Egypt, wherein they did wickedly in the service wherewith they made their sons to serve. 2 Nevertheless, these also perished at last.

59 1 'And the bright fourth waters which you have seen are the advent of Moses and Aaron and Miriam and Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb and of all those like them. 2 For at that time the lamp of the eternal law shone on all those who sat in darkness, which announced to them that believe the promise of their reward, and to them that deny, the torment of fire which is reserved for them. 3 But also the heavens at that time were shaken from their place, and those who were under the throne of the Mighty One were perturbed, when He was taking Moses unto Himself. 4 For He showed him many admonitions together with the principles of the law and the consummation of the times, as also to you, and likewise the pattern of Zion and its measures, in the pattern of which the sanctuary of the present time was to be made. 5 But then also He showed to him the measures of the fire, also the depths of the abyss, and the weight of the winds, and the number of the drops of rain: 6 And the suppression of anger, and the multitude of long-suffering, and the truth of judgment: 7 And the root of wisdom, and the riches of understanding, and the fount of knowledge: 8 And the height of the air, and the greatness of Paradise, and the consummation of the ages, and the beginning of the day of judgment: 9 And the number of the offerings, and the earths which have not yet come: 10 And the mouth of Gehenna, and the station of vengeance, and the place of faith, and the region of hope: And the likeness of future torment, and the multitude of innumerable angels, and the flaming hosts, and the splendor of the lightnings, and the voice of the thunders, and the orders of the chiefs of the angels, and the treasuries of light, and the changes of the times, and the investigations of the law. 12 These are the bright fourth waters which you have seen.

60 1 And the black fifth waters which you have seen raining are the works which the Amorites wrought, and the spells of their incantations which they wrought, and the wickedness of their mysteries, and the mingling of their pollution. 2 But even Israel was then polluted by sins in the days of the judges, though they saw many signs which were from Him who made them.

61 1 And the bright sixth waters which thru did see, this is the time in which David and Solomon were born.

2 And there was at that time the building of Zion,

And the dedication of the sanctuary,

And the shedding of much blood of the nations that sinned then,

And many offerings which were offered then in the dedication of the sanctuary.

3 And peace and tranquility existed at that time,

4 And wisdom was heard in the assembly:

And the riches of understanding were magnified in the congregations,

5 And the holy festivals were fulfilled in blessedness and in much joy.

6 And the judgment of the rulers was then seen to be without guile,

And the righteousness of the precepts of the Mighty One was accomplished with truth.

7 And the land [which] was then beloved by the Lord,

And because its inhabitants sinned not, it was glorified beyond all lands, And the city Zion ruled then over all lands and regions.

8 These are the bright waters which you have seen.

62 1 And the black seventh waters which you have seen, this is the perversion (brought about) by the counsel of Jeroboam, who took counsel to make two calves of gold: 2 And all the iniquities which kings who were after him iniquitously wrought. 3 And the curse of Jezebel and the worship of idols which Israel practiced at that time. 4 And the withholding of rain, and the famines which occurred until women eat the fruit of their wombs. 5 And the time of their captivity which came upon the nine tribes and a half, because they were in many sins. 6 And Shalmanezzar king of Assyria came and led them away captive. 7 But regarding the Gentiles it were tedious to tell how they always wrought impiety and wickedness, and never wrought righteousness. 8 These are the black seventh waters which you have seen.

63 1 'And the bright eighth waters which you have seen, this is the rectitude and uprightness of Hezekiah king of Judah and the grace (of God) which came upon him. 2 For when Sennacherib was stirred up in order that he might perish, and his wrath troubled him in order that he might thereby perish, for the multitude also of the nations which were with him. 3 When, moreover, Hezekiah the king heard those things which the king of Assyria was devising, (i.e.) to come and seize him and destroy his people, the two and a half tribes which remained: nay, more he wished to overthrow Zion also: then Hezekiah trusted in his works, and had hope in his righteousness, and spoke with the Mighty One and said: 4 "Behold, for lo! Sennacherib is prepared to destroy us, and he will be boastful and uplifted when he has destroyed Zion."

5 And the Mighty One heard him, for Hezekiah was wise,

And He had respect unto his prayer, because he was righteous.

6 And thereupon the Mighty One commanded Ramiel His angel who speaks with you. 7 And I went forth and destroyed their multitude, the number of whose chiefs only was a hundred and eighty-five thousand, and each one of them had an equal number (at his command). 8 And at that time I burned their bodies within, but their raiment and arms I preserved outwardly, in order that the still more wonderful deeds of the Mighty One might appear, and that thereby His name might be spoken of throughout the whole earth. 9 And Zion was saved and Jerusalem delivered: Israel also was freed from tribulation. 10 And all those who were in the holy land rejoiced, and the name of the Mighty One was glorified so that it was spoken of 11 These are the bright waters which you have seen.

64 1 'And the black ninth waters which you have seen, this is all the wickedness which was in the days of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah. 2 For he wrought much impiety, and he slew the righteous, and he wrested judgment, and he shed the blood of the innocent, and wedded women he violently polluted, and he overturned the altars, and destroyed their offerings, and drove forth their priests lest they should minister in the sanctuary. 3 And he made an image with five faces: four of them looked to the four winds, and the fifth on the summit of the image as ah adversary of the zeal of the Mighty One. 4 And then wrath went forth from the presence of the Mighty One to the intent that Zion should be rooted out, as also it befell in your days. But also against the two tribes and a half went forth a decree that they should also be led away captive, as you have now seen. 5 And to such a degree did the impiety of Manasseh increase, that it removed the praise of the Most High from the sanctuary. 7 On this account Manasseh was at that time named 'the impious," and finally his abode was in the fire. 8 For though his prayer was heard with the Most High, finally, when he was cast into the brazen horse and the brazen horse was melted, it served as a sign unto him for the hour. 9 For he had not lived perfectly, for he was not worthy — but that thenceforward he might know by whom finally he should be tormented. 10 For he who is able to benefit is also able to torment.

65 1 'Thus, moreover, did Manasseh act impiously, and thought that in his time the Mighty One would not inquire into these things. 2 These are the black ninth waters which you have seen.

66 1 'And the bright tenth waters which you have seen: this is the purity of the generations of Josiah king of Judah, who was the only one at the time who submitted himself to the Mighty One with all his heart and with all his soul. 2 And he cleansed the land from idols, and hallowed all the vessels which had been polluted, and restored the offerings to the altar, and raised the horn of the holy, and exalted the righteous, and honored all that were wise in understanding, and brought back the priests to their ministry, and destroyed and removed the magicians and enchanters and necromancers from the land. 3 And not only did he slay the impious that were living, but they also took from the sepulchers the bones of the dead and burned them with fire. 4 [And the festivals and the Sabbaths he established in their sanctity], and their polluted ones he burnt in the fire, and the lying prophets which deceived the people, these also he burnt in the fire, and the people who listened to them when they were living, he cast them into the brook Kidron, and heaped stones upon them. 5 And he was zealous with zeal for the Mighty One with all his soul, and he alone was firm in the law at that time, so that he left none that was uncircumcised, or that wrought impiety in all the land, all the days of his life. 6 Therefore he shall receive an eternal reward, and he shall be glorified with the Mighty One beyond many at a later time. 7 For on his account and on account of those who are like him were the honorable glories, of which you were told before, created and prepared. These arc the bright waters which you have seen.

67 1 'And the black eleventh waters which you have seen: this is the calamity which is now befalling "Zion.

2 Do you think that there is no anguish to the angels in the presence of the Mighty One,

That Zion was so delivered up,

And that lo! the Gentiles boast in their hearts,

And assemble before their idols and say,

"She is trodden down who oftentimes trod down,

And she has been reduced to servitude who reduced (others)"?

3 Dost you think that in these things the Most High rejoices,

Or that His name is glorified?

4 [But how will it serve towards His righteous judgment?]

5 Yet after these things shall the dispersed among the Gentiles be taken hold of by tribulation,

And in shame shall they dwell in every place.

6 Because so far as Zion is delivered up

And Jerusalem laid waste,

Shall idols prosper in the cities of the Gentiles,

And the vapor of the smoke of the incense of the righteousness which is by the law is extinguished in Zion,

And in the region of Zion in every place lo! there is the smoke of impiety.

7 But the king of Babylon will arise who has now destroyed Zion,

And he will boast over the people,

And he will speak great things in his heart in the presence of the Most High.

8 But he also shall fall at last. These are the black waters.

68 1 'And the bright twelfth waters which you have seen: this is the word. For after these things time will come when your people shall fall into distress, so that they shall all run the risk of perishing together. 3 Nevertheless, they will be saved, and their enemies will fall in their presence. 4 And they will have in (due) time much joy. 5 And at that time after a little interval Zion will again be rebuilt, and its offerings will again be restored, and the priests will return to their ministry, and also the Gentiles will come to glorify it. 6 Nevertheless, not fully as in the beginning. 7 But it will come to pass after these things that there will be the fall of many nations. 8 These are the bright waters which you have seen.

69 1 'For the last waters which you have seen which were darker than all that were before them, those which were after the twelfth number, which were collected together, belong to the whole world. 2 For the Most High made division from the beginning, because He alone knows what will befall. 3 For as to the enormities and the impieties which should be wrought before Him, He foresaw six kinds of them. 4 And of the good works of the righteous which should be accomplished before Him, He foresaw six kinds of them, beyond those which He should work at the consummation of the age. 5 On his account there were not black waters with black, nor bright with bright; for it is the consummation.

70 1 'Hear therefore the interpretation of the last black waters which are to come [after the black]: this the word. 2 Behold! the days come, and it shall be when the time of the age has ripened,

And the harvest of its evil and good seeds has come,

That the Mighty One will bring upon the earth and its inhabitants and upon its rulers

Perturbation of spirit and stupor of heart.

3 And they shall hate one another,

And provoke one another to fight,

And the mean shall rule over the honorable,

And those of low degree shall be extolled above the famous.

4 And the many shall be delivered into the hands of the few,

And those who were nothing shall rule over the strong,

And the poor shall have abundance beyond the rich,

And the impious shall exalt themselves above the heroic.

5 And the wise shall be silent,

And the foolish shall speak,

Neither shall the thought of men be then confirmed,

Nor the counsel of the mighty,

Nor shall the hope of those who hope be confirmed.

6 And when those things which were predicted have come to pass,

Then shall confusion fall upon all men,

And some of them shall fall in battle,

And some of them shall perish in anguish,

7 And some of them shall be destroyed by their own. Then the Most High peoples whom He has prepared before,

And they shall come and make war with the leaders that shall then be left.

8 And it shall come to pass that whoever gets safe out of the war shall die in the earthquake,

And whoever gets safe out of the earthquake shall be burned by the fire,

And whoever gets safe out of the fire shall be destroyed by famine.

9 [And it shall come to pass that whoever of the victors and the vanquished gets safe out of and escapes all these things aforesaid will be delivered into the hands of My servant Messiah.] 10 For all the earth shall devour its inhabitants.

71 1 'And the holy land shall have mercy on its own, And it shall protect its inhabitants at that time. 2 This is the vision which you have seen, and this is the interpretation. 3 For I have come to tell you these things, because your prayer has been heard with the Most High.

72 'Hear now also regarding the bright lightning which is to come at the consummation after these black (waters): this is the word. 2 After the signs have come, of which you were told before, when the nations become turbulent, and the time of My Messiah is come, he shall both summon all the nations, and some of them he shall spare, and some of them he shall slay. 3 These things therefore shall come upon the nations which are to be spared by Him. 4 Every nation, which knows not Israel and has not trodden down the seed of Jacob, shall indeed be spared. 5 And this because some out of every nation shall be subjected to your people. 6 But all those who have ruled over you, or have known you, shall be given up to the sword.

73 1 'And it shall come to pass, when He has brought low everything that is in the world,

And has sat down in peace for the age on the throne of His kingdom,

That joy shall then be revealed,

And rest shall appear.

2 And then healing shall descend in dew,

And disease shall withdraw,

And anxiety and anguish and lamentation pass from amongst men,

And gladness proceed through the whole earth.

3 And no one shall again die untimely,

Nor shall any adversity suddenly befall.

4 And judgments, and abusive talk, and contentions, and revenges,

And blood, and passions, and envy, and hatred,

And whatsoever things are like these shall go into condemnation when they are removed.

5 For it is these very things which have filled this world with evils,

And on account of these the life of man has been greatly troubled.

6 And wild beasts shall come from the forest and minister unto men

And asps and dragons shall come forth from their holes to submit themselves to a little child.

7 And women shall no longer then have pain when they bear,

Nor shall they suffer torment when they yield the fruit of the womb.

74 1 'And it shall come to pass in those days that the reapers shall not grow weary,

Nor those that build be toil-worn;

For the works shall of themselves speedily advance

Together with those who do them in much tranquility.

2 For that time is the consummation of that which is corruptible,

And the beginning of that which is not corruptible.

3 Therefore those things which were predicted shall belong to it:

Therefore it is far away from evils, and near to those things which die not.

4 This is the bright lightning which came after the last dark waters.'

75. Baruch's Hymn on the Unsearchableness of God's Ways and on His Mercies through which the Faithful shall attain to a blessed Consummation

75 1 And I answered and said:

'Who can understand, O Lord, Your goodness?

For it is incomprehensible.

2 Or who can search into your compassions,

Which are infinite?

3 Or who can comprehend Your intelligence?

4 Or who is able to recount the thoughts of Your mind?

5 Or who of those who are born can hope to come to those things,

Unless he is one to whom you are merciful and gracious?

6 Because, if assuredly you did not have compassion on man,

Those who are under Your right hand,

They could not come to those things,

But those who are in the numbers named can be called.

7 But if, indeed, we who exist know wherefore we have come,

And submit ourselves to Him who brought us out of Egypt,

We shall come again and remember those things which have passed,

And shall rejoice regarding that which has been.

8 But if now we know not wherefore we have come,

And recognize not the principate of Him who brought us up out of Egypt, We shall come again and seek after those things which have been now,

And be grieved with pain because of those things which have befallen.'

76. Baruch bidden to instruct the People for forty days and then to hold himself ready for his Assumption on the Advent of the Messiah

76 1 And He answered and said unto me: ['Inasmuch as the revelation of this vision has been interpreted to you as you requested], hear the word of the Most High that you may know what is to befall you after these things. 2 For you shall surely depart from this earth, nevertheless not unto death, but you shall be preserved unto the consummation of the times. 3 Go up therefore to the top of that mountain, and there shall pass before you all the regions of that land, and the figure of the inhabited world, and the top(s) of the mountains, and the depth(s) of the valleys, and the depths of the seas, and the number of the rivers, that you may see what you are leaving, and whither you are going. 4 Now this shall befall after forty days. Go now therefore during these days and instruct the people so far as you are able, that they may learn so as not to die at the last time, but may learn in order that they may live at the last times.'

77. Baruch's Admonition to the People and his writing of two Letters — one to the nine and a half tribes in Assyria and the other to the two and a half in Babylon

77 1 And I, Baruch, went there and came to the people, and assembled them together from the greatest to the least, and said unto them: 2 'Hear, you children of Israel, behold how many you are who remain of the twelve tribes of Israel. 3 For to you and to your fathers the Lord gave a law more excellent than to all peoples. 4 And because your brethren transgressed the commandments of the Most High,

He brought vengeance upon you and upon them,

And He spared not the former,

And the latter also He gave into captivity:

And He left not a residue of them,

5 But behold! you are here with me.

6 If, therefore, you direct your ways aright,

Ye also shall not depart as your brethren departed,

But they shall come to you.

7 For He is merciful whom you worship,

And He is gracious in whom you hope,

And He is true, so that He shall do good and not evil.

8 Have you not seen here what has befallen Zion?

9 Or do you perchance think that the place had sinned,

And that on this account it was overthrown?

Or that the land had wrought foolishness,

And that therefore it was delivered up?

10 And know you not that on account of you who did sin,

That which sinned not was overthrown,

And, on account of those who wrought wickedly,

That which wrought not foolishness was delivered up to (its) enemies?'

11 And the whole people answered and said unto me: 'So far as we can recall the good things which the Mighty One has done unto us, we do recall them; and those things which we do not remember He in His mercy knows. 12 Nevertheless, do this for us your people: write also to our brethren in Babylon an epistle of doctrine and a scroll of hope, that you may confirm them also before you do depart from us.

13 For the shepherds of Israel have perished,

And the lamps which gave light are extinguished,

And the fountains have withheld their stream whence we used to drink.

14 And we are left in the darkness,

And amid the trees of the forest,

And the thirst of the wilderness.'

15 And I answered and said unto them

'Shepherds and lamps and fountains come from the law:

And though we depart, yet the law abides.

16 If therefore you have respect to the law,

And are intent upon wisdom,

A lamp will not be wanting,

And a shepherd will not fail,

And a fountain will not dry up.

17 Nevertheless, as you said unto me, I will write also unto your brethren in Babylon, and I will send by means of men, and I will write in like manner to the nine tribes and a half, and send by means of a bird.' 18 And it came to pass on the one and twentieth day in the eighth month that I, Baruch, came and sat down under the oak under the shadow of the branches, and no man was with me, but I was alone. 19 And I wrote these two epistles: one I sent by an eagle to the nine and a half tribes; and the other I sent to those that were at Babylon by means of three men. 20 And I called the eagle and spoke these words unto it: 21 'The Most High hath made you that you should be higher than all birds. 22 And now go and tarry not in (any) place, nor enter a nest, nor settle upon any tree, till you have passed over the breadth of the many waters of the river Euphrates, and have gone to the people that dwell there, and cast down to them this epistle. 23 Remember, moreover, that, at the time of the deluge, Noah received from a dove the fruit of the olive, when he sent it forth from the ark. 24 Yea, also the ravens ministered to Elijah, bearing him food, as they had been commanded. 25 Solomon also, in the time of his kingdom, whithersoever he wished to send or seek for anything, commanded a bird (to go thither), and it obeyed him as he commanded it. 26 And now let it not weary you, and turn not to the right hand nor the left, but fly and go by a direct way, that you may preserve the command of the Mighty One, according as I said unto you.'

78 — 86. THE EPISTLE OF BARUCH THE SON OF NERIAH WHICH HE

WROTE TO THE NINE AND A HALF TRIBES

78 1 These are the words of that epistle which Baruch the son of Neriah sent to the nine and a half tribes, which were across the river Euphrates, in which these things were written.

2 Thus says Baruch the son of Neriah to the brethren carried into captivity: 'Mercy and peace.' I bear in mind, my brethren, the love of Him who created us, who loved us from of old, and never hated us, but above all educated us. 3 And truly I know that behold all we the twelve tribes are bound by one bond, inasmuch as we are born from one father. 4 Wherefore I have been the more careful to leave you the words of this epistle before I die, that you may be comforted regarding the evils which have come upon you, and that you may be grieved also regarding the evil that has befallen your brethren; and again, also, that you may justify His judgment which 5 He has decreed against you that you should be carried away captive — for what you have suffered is disproportioned to what you have done — in order that, at the last times, you may be found worthy of your fathers. 6 Therefore, if you consider that ye have now suffered those things for your good, that you may not finally be condemned and tormented, then you will receive eternal hope; if above all you destroy from your heart vain error, on account of which you departed hence. 7 For if you so do these things, He will continually remember you, He who always promised on our behalf to those who were more excellent than we, that He will never forget or forsake us, but with much mercy will gather together again those who were dispersed.

79 1 Now, my brethren, learn first what befell Zion: how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against us. 2 For we have sinned against Him who made us, and we have not kept the commandments which he commanded us, yet he hath not chastened us as we deserved. 3 For what befell you we also suffer in a preeminent degree, for it befell us also.

80 1 And now, my brethren, I make known unto you that when the enemy had surrounded the city, the angels of the Most High were sent, and they overthrew the fortifications of the strong wall, and they destroyed the firm iron corners, which could not be rooted out. 2 Nevertheless, they hid all the vessels of the sanctuary, lest the enemy should get possession of them. 3 And when they had done these things, they delivered thereupon to the enemy the overthrown wall, and the plundered house, and the burnt temple, and the people who were overcome because they were delivered up, lest the enemy should boast and say: 'Thus by force have we been able to lay waste even the house of the Most High in war.' Your brethren also have they bound and led away to Babylon, and have caused them to dwell there. 5 But we have been left here, being very few. 6 This is the tribulation about which I wrote to you. 7 For assuredly I know that (the consolation of) the inhabitants of Zion consoles you : so far as you knew that it was prospered (your consolation) was greater than the tribulation which you endured in having to depart from it.

81 1 But regarding consolation, hear the word. 2 For I was mourning regarding Zion, and I prayed for mercy from the Most High, and I said:

3 'How long will these things endure for us?

And will these evils come upon us always?'

4 And the Mighty One did according to the multitude of His mercies,

And the Most High according to the greatness of His compassion,

And He revealed unto me the word, that I might receive consolation,

And He showed me visions that I should not again endure anguish,

And He made known to me the mystery of the times.

And the advent of the hours he showed me.

82 1 Therefore, my brethren, I have written to you, that you may comfort yourselves regarding the multitude of your tribulations. 2 For know you that our Maker will assuredly avenge us on all our enemies, according to all that they have done to us, also that the consummation which the Most High will make is very nigh, and His mercy that is coming, and the consummation of His judgment, is by no means far off.

3 For lo! we see now the multitude of the prosperity of the Gentiles,

Though they act impiously,

But they shall be like a vapor:

4 And we behold the multitude of their power,

Though they do wickedly,

But they shall be made like unto a drop:

5 And we see the firmness of their might.

Though they resist the Mighty One every hour,

But they shall be accounted as spittle.

6 And we consider the glory of their greatness,

Though they do not keep the statutes of the Most High,

But as smoke shall they pass away.

7 And we meditate on the beauty of their gracefulness,

Though they have to do with pollutions,

But as grass that withers shall they fade away.

8 And we consider the strength of their cruelty,

Though they remember not the end (thereof),

But as a wave that passes shall they be broken.

9 And we remark the boastfulness of their might,

Though they deny the beneficence of God, who gave (it) to them,

But they shall pass away as a passing cloud.

83 1 [For the Most High will assuredly hasten His times,

And He will assuredly bring on His hours.

2 And He will assuredly judge those who are in His world,

And will visit in truth all things by means of all their hidden works.

3 And He will assuredly examine the secret thoughts,

And that which is laid up in the secret chambers of all the members of mail. And will make (them) manifest in the presence of all with reproof.

4 Let none therefore of these present things ascend into your hearts, but above all let us be expectant, because that which is promised to us shall come. 5 And let us not now look unto the delights of the Gentiles in the present, but let us remember what has been promised to us in the end. 6 For the ends of the times and of the seasons and whatsoever is with them shall assuredly pass by together. 7 The consummation, moreover, of the age shall then show the great might of its ruler, when all things come to judgment. 8 Do you therefore prepare your hearts for that which before you believed, lest you come to be in bondage in both worlds, so that you be led away captive here and be tormented there. 9 For that which exists now or which has passed away, or which is to come, in all these things, neither is the evil fully evil, nor again the good fully good.

10 For all healthinesses of this time are turning into diseases,

11 And all might of this time is turning into weakness,

And all the force of this time is turning into impotence,

12 And every energy of youth is turning into old age and consummation.

And every beauty of gracefulness of this time is turning faded and hateful,

13 And every proud dominion of the present is turning into humiliation and shame,

14 And every praise of the glory of this time is turning into the shame of silence,

And every vain splendor and insolence of this time is turning into voiceless ruin.

15 And every delight and joy of this time is turning to worms and corruption,

16 And every clamor of the pride of this time is turning into dust and stillness.

17 And every possession of riches of this time is being turned into Sheol alone,

18 And all the rapine of passion of this time is turning into involuntary death,

And every passion of the lusts of this time is turning into a judgment of torment.

19 And every artifice and craftiness of this time is turning into a proof of the truth,

20 And every sweetness of unguents of this time is turning into judgment and condemnation,

21 And every love of lying is turning to contumely through truth.

22 [Since therefore all these things are done now, does anyone think that they will not be avenged? But the consummation of all things will come to the truth.]

84 Behold! I have therefore made known unto you (these things) whilst I live: for I have said (it) that you should learn the things that are excellent; for the Mighty One hath commanded me to instruct you: and I will set before you some of the commandments of His judgment before I die. 2 Remember that formerly Moses assuredly called heaven and earth to witness against you and said: 'If you transgress the law you shall be dispersed, but if you keep it you shall be kept.' 3 And other things also he used to say unto you when you the twelve tribes were together in the desert. 4 And after his death you cast them away from you: on this account there came upon you what had been predicted. 5 And now Moses used to tell you before they befell you, and lo! they have befallen you: for you have forsaken the law. 6 Lo! I also say unto you after you have suffered, that if you obey those things which have been said unto you, you will receive from the Mighty One whatever has been laid up and reserved for you. 7 Moreover, let this epistle be for a testimony between me and you, that you may remember the commandments of the Mighty One, and that also there may be to me a defense in the presence of Him who sent me. 8 And remember you the law and Zion, and the holy land and your brethren, and the covenant of your fathers, and forget not the festivals and the Sabbaths. And deliver this epistle and the traditions of the law to your sons after you, as also your fathers delivered (them) to you. 10 And at all times make request perseveringly and pray diligently with your whole heart that the Mighty One may be reconciled to you, and that He may not reckon the multitude of your sins, but remember the rectitude of your fathers. 11 For if He judge us not according to the multitude of His mercies, woe unto all us who are born.

85 1 [Know, moreover, that

In former times and in the generations of old our fathers had helpers,

Righteous men and holy prophets:

2 No more, we were in our own land

[And they helped us when we sinned],

finish

Translation from the Syriac by R. H. Charles

The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1913) 2: 481-524

Edited and adapted by George Lyons
for the
Wesley Center for Applied Theology
at Northwest Nazarene University

Text may be freely used for personal or scholarly purposes or mirrored on other web sites, provided the notice below the horizontal line is left intact. Any use of this material for commercial purposes of any kind is strictly forbidden without the express permission of the Wesley Center at Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID 83686. Contact webadmin@wesley.nnu.edu for permission or to report errors.

Headline 3

1
SECOND BARUCH
CHAPTER 1~5
And it came to pass in the twenty-fifth year of Jeconiah, the king of Judah, that
the word of the Lord came to Baruch son of Neriah, 2 and said to him:
“Have you seen everything which this people is doing to me? The evils done
by the remaining tribes are greater than those done by the ten tribes which were
carried away into exile. 3 For the former tribes were forced by their kings to sin,
but these two themselves have been forcing and compelling their kings to sin. 4
Therefore, behold, I shall bring evil upon this city and upon its inhabitants. And it
will be taken away from before my presence for a time. And I shall scatter this
people among the nations, so that they may do good to the nations. 5 And my
people will be chastened, but the time will come when they will search for what is
able to make their times prosperous.
2.1 “Therefore, I have told you these things so that you may tell Jeremiah,
along with all those who are like you, to retire from this city. For your works are
like a firm pillar to this city, and your prayers like a strong wall.”
3.1 And I said:
“O Lord, my Lord, have I come into the world in order to see the evils1 of my
mother? 2 No, my Lord. If I have found favor in your eyes, first take away my
spirit so that I may go to my fathers and not witness the destruction of my mother.
3 For I am hard pressed from two sides: for I cannot resist you, but my soul also
cannot witness the evil of my mother.
4 “But one thing I shall say in your presence, O Lord: What then will happen
after these things? 5 For if you destroy your city and deliver up your country to
those who hate us, how will the name of Israel be remembered again? 6 Or how
shall anyone ever again speak about your glories? Or to whom will the content of
your law be explained? 7 Or will the world2 return to its natural state, and the age
revert to its original silence? 8 And will the multitude of the souls be taken away?
And will the nature of man never be mentioned again? 9 And where is everything
which you spoke to Moses regarding us?”
4.1 And the Lord said to me:
“This city will be delivered up for a time,
and the people will be chastened for a time,
and the world will not be forgotten.
2 “Or do you think that this is the city of which I spoke about when I said, ‘I
have engraved you on the palms of my hands?’ 3 It is not this present building
which has been constructed in your midst; it is that which will be revealed with
me, and which was already prepared from the moment I decided to create the
Garden. And I showed it to Adam before he sinned. But when he transgressed the
commandment, it was taken away from him — as well as the Garden. 4 And after
these things, I showed it to my servant Abraham in the night between the portions
of the victims. 5 And again, I also showed it to Moses on Mount Sinai when I
showed to him the pattern of the Dwelling and all its vessels. 6 And now, behold,
it is preserved with me — as well as the Garden. 7 Now go, and do as I command
you.”
5.1 And I answered and said:
“So therefore I shall be guilty in Zion,
for your haters will come to this place and pollute your holyplace,
and will carry off your inheritance into exile,
and will make themselves masters over those whom you love.
And they will depart again to the land of their idols,
and will boast before them.
And what will you do for great name?”
2 And the Lord said to me:
“My name and my glory shall last unto eternity,
however, my judgment shall assert its rights in its own time.
3 And you shall see with your eyes
that the enemy shall not demolish Zion, nor shall they burn
Jerusalem,
but they shall serve the Judge for a time.
4 But you, go, and do everything which I have said to you.”
1 [3:1] Syr* / Syr “evil”
2 [3:7] Syr (incorrect) “ornament”
5 And I went away and took with me Jeremiah and Iddo and Seraiah and
Jabesh and Gedaliah and all the nobles of the people. And I led them to the
Kidron Valley and told them everything which had been said to me. 6 And they
raised their voices, and they all wept. 7 And we sat there and fasted until the
evening.
CHAPTER 6~9
Now it happened on the following day that, behold, a Chaldean army surrounded
the city. And in the evening I, Baruch, left the people. And I went outside, and
stood by the oak. 2 And I was grieving over Zion, and lamented over the exile
which had come upon the people. 3 And behold, suddenly a strong spirit lifted me
up and carried me above the wall of Jerusalem. 4 And as I watched, I saw that
four messengers were standing at the four corners of the city. Each of them held a
burning torch in his hands.
5 And another messenger began to descend from the heavens, and said to
them, “Hold your lamps and do not light them until I tell you. 6 Because I was
sent, first to speak a word to the earth, and then to deposit in it what the Lord, the
Most High, has commanded me.”
7 And I saw him descend into the Holy of Holies. And from there, he took the
veil, and the holy ephod, and the mercy seat, and the two tablets, and the holy
raiment of the priests, and the altar of incense, and the forty-eight precious stones
which adorned the priests, and all the holy vessels of the Dwelling.
8 And he said to the earth with a loud voice:
“Earth, earth, earth hear the word of the Mighty God,
and receive the things which I commit to you,
and guard them until the last times,
so that when you are ordered, you may restore them,
so that strangers may not take possession of them.
9 For the time has arrived when Jerusalem will also be delivered up for
a time,
until the moment when it is said, that it will be restored forever.”
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up. 7.1 And after these
things, I heard this messenger saying to the messengers who held the lamps:
“Now destroy the walls and demolish them to their foundations, lest the enemies
boast and say, ‘We have demolished the wall of Zion, and we have burned down
the place of the Mighty God.’”
And they restored me to the place where I once stood. 8.1 Now the
messengers did as he had commanded them; and after they had broken up the
corners of the wall and the wall had fallen, a voice was heard from within the
temple, saying:
2 “Enter, enemies, and come, adversaries!
For he who preserved the house has forsaken it.”
3 Then I, Baruch, departed.
4 And it happened after these things, that the Chaldean army entered. And
they seized the house and everything which was around it. 5 And they carried
away the people into exile and killed some of them. And they bound King
Zedekiah and sent him to the king of Babel.
9.1 And I, Baruch, came with Jeremiah, whose heart was found to be pure
from sins, and who was not captured when the city was seized. 2 And we rent our
garments, and wept and mourned, and fasted for seven days.
CHAPTER 10~12
And it happened after seven days, that the word of God came to me and said to
me, 2 “Tell Jeremiah to depart, in order to support the exiles to Babel. 3 You,
however, remain here amid the desolation of Zion, and I shall show to you, after
these days, what will happen at the end of days.”
4 And I spoke to Jeremiah as the Lord commanded me. 5 Then he went away
with the people, but I, Baruch, came back and sat in front of the gates of the
Temple, and I raised the following lamentation over Zion and said:
6 “Blessed is he who has not been born,
or he, who, after he was born, has died.
7 But as for we who are alive, woe to us,
because we see the afflictions of Zion,
and what has befallen Jerusalem.
8 I shall call the sirens from the sea,
and you, lilin, come from the desert,
and you, demons and dragons, from the forests.
Awake and gird up your loins to mourn,
and take up the dirges with me,
2
and mourn with me.
9 You, farmers, do not sow again.
And you, O earth, why do you give the fruit of your harvest?
Keep within you the sweetness of your sustenance.
10 And you, vine, why do you still give your wine?
For an offering will never again be given from you in Zion,
and the first fruits will never again be offered.
11 And you, heavens, withhold your dew,
and do not open the storehouses of rain.
12 And you, sun, withhold the light of your rays.
And you, moon, extinguish the multitude of your light.
For why should the light rise again,
where the light of Zion is darkened?
13 And you, bridegrooms, do not enter,
and do not let the brides adorn themselves with garlands.
And you, women, do not pray to bear children.
14 for the barren will rejoice more;
and those who have no sons will be glad,
and those who have sons will be sad.
15 For why do they give birth in pains only to bury in grief?
16 Or why should men have sons again?
Or why should their kind of seed be named again,
where this mother is desolate,
and her sons have been carried away into exile?
17 From this time forward, do not speak of beauty any longer,
and do not talk about gracefulness.
18 But you, priests, take the keys of the holy-place,
and cast them to the highest heaven,
and give them to the Lord and say,
“Guard your house yourself,
for, behold, we have been found to be false stewards.”
19 And you, virgins, who twist fine linen,
and silk with gold of Ophir,
quickly take all these things,
and cast them into the fire,
so that it may carry them to him who made them.
And the flame sends them to him who created them,
so that the enemies may not take possession of them.
11.1 “Now I, Baruch, say this to you, O Babel:
‘If you had prospered and if Zion had lived in her glory, it would have been a
great sorrow to us that you had been equal to Zion. 2 But now, behold, the grief is
unending and the lamentation is immeasurable, for, behold, you are prosperous
and Zion desolate. 3 Who will be judge over these things? Or to whom shall we
complain about what has befallen us?’
4 “O Lord, how have you borne it? Our fathers went to rest without grief, and,
behold, the righteous sleep peacefully in the earth. 5 For they did not know this
anguish, nor did they hear about what has befallen us. 6 If only you had ears, O
earth, and if only you had a heart, O dust, so that both of you could go and make
an announcement in the Netherworld, and say to the dead, 7 ‘You are more
blessed than we who live.’
12.1 “Instead I shall state as I think, and I shall utter against you, the1 land
which is prospering:
2 ‘The noonday does not always burn, nor do the rays of the sun continually
give light. 3 And do not expect, nor hope, that you will always have prosperity
and joy. And do not be excessively raised up, and do not oppress.2 4 For surely
wrath will awaken against you in its own season; for now it is restrained by
longsuffering, as it were, by a rein.’”3
5 And having spoken these things, I fasted for seven days.
CHAPTER 13~15
And after these things, it happened that I, Baruch, was standing on Mount Zion
and, behold, a voice came from on high, saying to me:
2 “Stand-up on your feet, Baruch, and hear the word of the strong God. 3
Because you have been astonished at what has befallen Zion, you will surely be
preserved until the end of times to be for a testimony. 4 This means that if these
prosperous cities ever say, ‘Why has the Mighty God brought this retribution
upon us?’, 5 you and those who are like you, those who have seen this evil and
retribution coming upon you and your people in their own time, may say to them,
‘This is so that the nations4 will be thoroughly punished.’ 6 And this they may
expect. 7 And if they say in that time, ‘When?’, you will say to them:
8 ‘All of you who have drunk the strained wine,
1 12:1] Gk / Syr “O”
2 12:4] Syr / Gk “And do not expect to have joy and do not excessively oppress.”
3 12:4] Gk / Syr “by reins”
4 13:5] Gk / Syr “nation”
now also drink its dregs,
for the judgment of the Eminent One is without partiality.
9 Therefore, he previously did not spare his own sons;
but because they sinned, he afflicted them as his enemies.
10 Therefore, they were once punished,
so that they might be forgiven.
11 But now, you peoples and nations, all of you are guilty,
because you have trodden down the earth all this time,5
and misused the things which were created in it.6
12 For all of you have always been benefited,7
but you have always been ungrateful for the beneficence.’”8
14.1 And I answered and spoke:
“Behold, you have shown to me the courses9 of seasons,10 and what will
happen after these things.11 And you have told me that the retribution which you
have spoken about will come upon the nations. 2 And now, I know there are many
who have sinned and who have lived in prosperity and who have departed from
the world, but there will be few nations left in those times to whom your spoken
words are able to be spoken. 3 For what is the advantage of this, or what evil
worse than what we have already seen befall us can we expect to see?
4 “But I will continue to speak in your presence. 5 What advantage do the
knowledgeable have before you, those who have not walked in vanity like the rest
of the nations, and who have not said to the dead, ‘Give life to us,’ but have
always feared you and have not left your ways? 6 And behold, they have been
diligent,12 and, nevertheless, even on their account, you had no mercy on Zion. 7
And if there are others who did evil, Zion should have been forgiven on account
of the works of those who did good works, and she should not have been
overwhelmed because of the works of those who acted unrighteously.
8 “But who, O Lord, my Lord, will comprehend your judgment? Who will
explore the depth of your way? 9 Or who is able to discern the majesty of your
path? Who is able to discern your incomprehensible counsel? Or who of those
born has ever discovered the beginning or the end of your wisdom? 10 For all of
us have been made like breath. 11 For just as breath ascends involuntarily and
vanishes, so it is with the nature of men. They do not depart according to their
own will, and they are ignorant of what will befall them in the end.
12 “For the righteous rightly have good hope for the end; and, without fear,
they leave this habitation because they possess a store of good works with you,
which is preserved in storehouses. 13 Therefore, they leave this world without
fear; and with confidence and complete joy, they expect to receive the world
which you have promised to them. 14 But as for us: woe to us who are now also
being shamefully treated, and who await evils at that time. 15 But you know
precisely what you have made of your servants, for we are not able to understand
what is good like you, our Creator.
16 “But I shall continue to speak in your presence, O Lord, my Lord. 17 In the
beginning, when the world along with its inhabitants did not yet exist, you devised
and spoke with a word, and simultaneously the works of creation13 stood before
you. 18 And you said, that you would make a man for this world as a guardian
over your works, so that it might be known that he was not created for the world,
but the world for him. 19 And now, I see that the world which was made for us,
behold, it remains; but we, for whom it was made, depart.”
15.1 And the Lord answered and said to me:
“You are rightly astonished about man’s departure, but your judgment
regarding the evils which befell those who sin is incorrect. 2 And with regard to
what you have said about the righteous who are taken away and the wicked who
are prosperous; 3 and with regard to what you have said, that man does not know
your judgment; 4 for this reason, now, listen and I shall speak to you; pay
attention, and I shall let my words be heard.
5 “It is true that man would not have understood my judgment if he had not
received the law, and if I had not instructed him in understanding. 6 But now,
because he has transgressed, having understanding, he will indeed be punished
because of this understanding. 7 And with regard to the righteous, on whose
account you said that the world has come: indeed, what is coming is also on their
account. 8 For to them, this world is a struggle and an effort with much trouble.
And accordingly, what is to come will be a crown with great glory.”
CHAPTER 16~20
And I answered and said:
5 13:11] Gk / Syr adds
6 13:11] Gk / Syr “earth all this time, and because you have used creation unrighteously”
7 13:12] Gk / Syr “For I have always benefited you”
8 13:12] Gk / Syr adds
9 14:1] Gk / Syr “course”
10 14:1] Syr “time”
11 14:1] Syr / Gk omits “after these things”
12 14:6] Arab “they were seized away”
13 14:17] Syr “creations”
3
“O Lord, my Lord, behold, the present years are few and evil; and who, in this
short time,1 is able to inherit what is immeasurable?”
17.1 And the Lord answered and said to me:
2 “With the Most High no account is taken of much time, nor of a few years.
For what did it profit Adam that he lived 930 years and transgressed what he was
commanded? 3 Therefore, the great amount of time that he lived did not profit
him, but it brought death and cut off the years of those who were born from him.
4 Or what did it harm Moses that he lived only 120 years, and, because he
subjected himself to Him who created him, brought the law to the descendants of
Jacob and lit a lamp for the nation of Israel?”
18.1 And I answered and said:
“The man who lit the lamp has taken from the light, and there are few who
imitated him. But many whom he has lit, have taken from the darkness of Adam
and have not rejoiced in the light of the lamp.”
19.1 And he answered and said to me:
“Because of this, he appointed a covenant for them at that time and said,
‘Behold, I have set before you life and death,’ and he called the heavens and the
earth to witness against them. 2 For he knew that his time was short, but that the
heavens and the earth will endure forever. 3 Yet, after this death, they sinned and
transgressed, although they knew that they had the law to reprove them, as well as
that light in which nothing could err, and also the witnessing spheres, and me.
And now, with regard to everything which exists: it is I who judge.
4 “But you, do not think about these things in your soul, and do not be
afflicted because of past things. 5 For now it is the end of time that should be
considered: whether it be business, prosperity, or shame; and not its beginning. 6
For if a man prospers in his youth, yet is treated shamefully in his old age, he
forgets all the prosperity he once possessed. 7 And further, if a man is treated
shamefully in his youth, yet is prosperous toward his end, he no longer
remembers his shame. 8 And listen further: Even if everyone had prospered
continually since the day death was decreed against the transgressors, and it was
destroyed in the end, everything would have been in vain.
20.1 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, and the times will hasten more
than the former, and the seasons will hasten more than those who have passed,
and the years will pass more quickly than the present ones. 2 Therefore, I have
now taken Zion away, so that I might more speedily visit the world in its own
season.
3 “Now therefore, hold fast to your heart everything which2 I have
commanded you, and seal it in the recesses of your mind. 4 And then I shall show
to you my mighty judgment and my unsearchable ways. 5 Therefore, go and
sanctify yourself for seven days, and do not eat bread and do not drink water, and
do not speak to anyone. 6 And after this time, come to this place, and I shall
reveal myself to you. And I shall speak truths to you, and I shall command you
with regard to the course of times, for they are coming and will not delay.”
CHAPTER 21
Then I went from there and sat in the Kidron Valley in an earthen cave. And
there, I sanctified my soul. And I ate no bread, but I was not hungry. And I drank
no water, but I was not thirsty. And I stayed there until the seventh day as he had
commanded me. 2 And afterward, I came to the place where he had previously
spoken with me. 3 And it happened at sunset, that my soul received many
thoughts, and I began to speak in the presence of the Mighty One, and said:
4 “O hear me, you who created the earth; the one who fixed the firmament by
the word,3 and fastened the height of the heavens by the spirit; the one who in the
beginning of the world called what did not yet exist, and they obey you. 5 You
who, with your sign, gave commandments to the air, and have seen the things
which are yet to come as well as those which have passed. 6 You who, with great
thoughts, rule over the hosts standing before you; and who, with indignation, rule
the countless holy ones, who are flame and fire, whom you created from the
beginning, those who stand around your throne. 7 For all this exists for you alone
so that you may create at once everything which you want.
8 “You are the one who causes the raindrops to fall by number upon the earth.
And you alone know the consummation of times before it has arrived. Honor my
prayer. 9 For you alone are able to sustain all those who exist and those who have
passed away4 and those who are to yet come, those who sin and those who are
righteous, since you are the Living One, the Inscrutable One. 10 For you are the
only Living One, the Immortal One and the Inscrutable One, and you know the
number of men. 11 And although in the course of time many have sinned, many
others have been righteous.
1 16:1] Syr omits “time”
2 [20:3] Syr omits “which”
3 [21:4] Emendation / Syr “firmament in its fullness”
4 [21:9] Arab “exist, what is gone”
12 “You know where you have preserved the end of those who have sinned,
or the consummation of those who have been righteous. 13 For if this present life,
which all men possess, is the only one which exists, nothing could be more bitter
than this. 14 For of what profit is strength which changes into weakness, of food
in abundance which changes into famine, or beauty which changes into ugliness?
15 For the nature of man is always changeable. 16 For what we once were, we are
no longer; and what we are now, we shall not always remain. 17 For if an end of
all things had not been prepared, their beginning would have been in vain.
18 “But tell me about everything which comes from you, and enlighten me
regarding what I ask you: 19 How long will the corruptible remain? And how
long will the time of mortals be prosperous? And when will those who pass away
in this world no longer be polluted by the great wickedness? 20 Therefore,
mercifully command and accomplish all which you have said that you would do,
so that your power will be recognized by those who believe that your
longsuffering is weakness. 21 And now, to those who do not know, but who have
seen what has befallen us and our city until now, show to them that these things
are in agreement with the longsuffering of your power; for on account of your
name, you have called us a beloved people.
22 “Therefore, from now, everything is in a state of mortality. 23 Therefore,
reprove the messenger of death, and let your glory appear, and let the greatness of
your beauty be known, and let the Netherworld be sealed, so that from this time
forward it may not receive the dead, and let the storehouses of the souls restore
those who are enclosed in them. 24 For many years of desolation have passed
since the days of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all those who were like
them, who sleep in the earth — those on whose account you have said you have
created the world. 25 And now, show your glory quickly and do not postpone
what was promised by you.”
26 And it happened, when I had finished the words of this prayer, that I
became very weak.
CHAPTER 22~30
And afterward it happened that, behold, the heavens were opened, and I saw, and
strength was given to me. Then a voice was heard from on high, and it said to me:
2 “Baruch, Baruch, why are you troubled? 3 Who starts on a journey and does
not complete it? Or who will be comforted making a voyage by sea unless he can
reach port? 4 Or he who promises to give a present to someone — is it not a theft,
unless it is fulfilled? 5 Or he who sows the earth — does he not lose everything
unless he reaps its fruit in its season? 6 Or he who plants a plant — does the planter
expect to receive fruit from it, unless it grows until its appointed time? 7 Or a
woman who has conceived — does she not surely kill her infant when she bears
untimely? 8 Or he who builds a house — can it be called a house, unless it is
provided with a roof and is finished? Tell me this first.”
23.1 And I answered and said:
“No, Lord, my Lord.”
2 And he answered and said to me:
“Then why are you troubled about what you do not know? And why are you
restless about things you possess no knowledge of? 3 For as you have not
forgotten men who now exist and those who have passed away, so I remember
those who are yet to come. 4 For when Adam sinned and death was decreed
against those who were to be born, the great number of those who would be born
was set; and for that number, a place was prepared where the living might dwell
and where the dead might be preserved. 5 Therefore, no creature will live again
unless5 the previously declared number is reached. For my spirit is the creator of
life, and the Netherworld receives the dead. 6 And further, it has been granted to
you to hear about the things which follow these times. 7 For truly, my redemption
has drawn near and is not as far away as before.
24.1 “For behold, the days are coming, and the books will be opened in which
are written the sins of all those who have sinned; and moreover, the storehouses
will also be opened in which the righteousness of all those who have been
righteous in creation is brought together. 2 For it will happen at that time, that you
shall see, and many with you, the longsuffering of the Most High, which lasts
throughout all generations, who has been longsuffering toward all who are born,
both those who sinned and those who are righteous.”
3 And I answered and said:
“But, behold, O Lord, no man knows the number of things which have passed
away, nor of those which are yet to come. 4 For behold, I indeed know what has
befallen me;6 but I do not know what will happen to our enemies, or when you
will visit your works.”
25.1 And he answered and said to me:
5 [23:5] Arab “until”
6 [24:4] Arab “us”
4
“You also will be preserved until that time, until that sign which the Most
High will bring about for the inhabitants of the earth at the end of days. 2
Therefore, this will be the sign: 3 when horror seizes the inhabitants of earth, and
they fall into many tribulations; and moreover, when they fall into great torments.
4 And because of their great tribulations, it will happen that they will say in their
thoughts, ‘The Mighty One no longer remembers the earth.’ And when they lose
hope, it will happen, that then the time will awake.”
26.1 And I answered and said:
“That coming tribulation, will it last a long time? And that distress, will it
embrace many years?”
27.1 And he answered and said to me:
“That time is divided into twelve parts, and each part is reserved for its
appointed task:
2 “In the first part, there shall be the beginning of commotions.
3 “And in the second part: the slaughtering of the great.
4 “And in the third part: the fall of many into death.
5 “And in the fourth part: the sending of the sword.
6 “And in the fifth part: famine and the withholding of rain.
7 “And in the sixth part: […]
8 [“And in the seventh part:] earthquakes and terrors.1
9 “And in the eighth part: a multitude of phantoms and the attacks of
demons.
10 “And in the ninth part: the fall of fire.
11 “And in the tenth part: rape and much oppression.
12 “And in the eleventh part: injustice and unchastity.
13 “And in the twelfth part: disorder arising from a conglomeration of
everything which has been previously mentioned.
14 “For these parts of that time are reserved, and will be mixed, one with
another, and they will minister to each other. 15 For some of these parts will
withhold a portion of themselves while taking from others, and some will
accomplish their own portion as well as that of others; hence, those who live on
earth in those days will not understand that this is the end of times. 28.1 But at
that time, whoever understands will be wise. 2 For the measure and the
calculation of that time is two parts a week of seven weeks.”
3 And I answered and said:
“It is good for a man to come and see those times, but it is better for him not to
come to those times, lest he fall. 4 But I shall also say this: 5 Will he who is
incorruptible despise those who are corruptible? And will he despise whatever
befalls those who are corruptible, so that he might look only to those who are not
corruptible? 6 But, O Lord, if these things which you have spoken to me
beforehand do indeed come to pass, then let me know this as well, if indeed I have
found favor in your eyes: 7 Is it in only one place or in only one part of the earth
where these things will come to pass, or will they be experienced by the whole
earth?”
29.1 And he answered and said to me:
“Whatever happens at that time will befall the whole earth. Therefore, all who
are alive will experience it. 2 For at that time, I shall only protect those found in
this land in those very days. 3 And it will happen, when everything which should
come to pass in those parts has been accomplished, that the Anointed-One will
begin to be revealed.
4 “And Behemoth will be revealed from its place, and Leviathan will arise
from the sea — those two great monsters which I created on the fifth day of
creation, and which I shall have kept until that time. And then they will be
nourishment for all who remain. 5*2 The earth will also yield its fruits ten
thousandfold. And on each vine there will be a thousand branches, and each
branch will produce a thousand clusters, and each cluster will produce a thousand
grapes, and each grape will produce a cor of wine. 6 And those who hungered will
rejoice; and moreover, they will see marvels every day. 7 For winds will go out
from before me every morning to bring the fragrance of aromatic fruits, and
clouds at the end of the day to distill the dew of health. 8 And it will happen at
that time, that the storehouse of manna will again descend from on high, and they
will eat of it in those years because these are the ones who will have arrived at the
consummation of time.
30.1 “And it will happen after these things, when the time of the Anointed-
One’s appearance has been fulfilled, that he will return with glory. Then all who
have fallen asleep in hope of him will rise. 2 And it will happen at that time, that
those storehouses preserving the number of the souls of the righteous will be
opened, and they will come out, and the multitudes of the souls will appear
1 [24:8] The task appointed to either the sixth or the seventh week has dropped out by scribal error. An
alternate reconstruction would be: “And in the sixth part: earthquakes and terrors. And in the seventh part:
[…]” (or possibly even something minutely different)
2 Papias Excerpt 3A
together, in one assembly, of one mind. And the first will rejoice, and the last will
not be grieved. 3 For they know3 that the time has come of which it is said that it
is the end of times. 4 But when the souls of the wicked see all these things, they
will waste away even more. 5 For they will know that their torment has come, and
that their perditions have arrived.”
CHAPTER 31~34
And it happened after these things, that I went to the people and said to them,
“Assemble all of your elders to me, and I shall speak words to them.”
2 And they all assembled in the Kidron Valley. 3 And I answered and said to
them:
“Hear, O Israel, and I shall speak to you; and give ear, O seed of Jacob, and I
shall instruct you. 4 Do not forget Zion, but remember Jerusalem’s anguish. 5 For
behold, the days are coming, when everything which is will become the prey of
corruption, and it will be as though it had never been.
32.1 “But as for you, if all of you prepare your hearts to sow into them the
fruits of the law, it shall protect you in the time in which the Mighty One shall
shake the entire creation. 2 For after a short time, the building of Zion will be
shaken in order that it might be rebuilt. 3 But that building will not remain; but
after a time, it will again be uprooted and will remain desolate for a time. 4 And
afterwards, it is necessary for it to be renewed in glory and be perfected into
eternity. 5 Therefore, we should not be so distressed about the evil which has now
come, but much more distressed about what is yet to be. 6 For when the Mighty
One renews his creation, there will be a trial greater than these two tribulations.
7 “And now, do not draw near to me for a few days, and do not seek me until I
come to you.”
8 And it happened after having said all these words to them that I, Baruch,
went my way. And when the people saw me leaving, they raised their voices and
lamented, and said:
9 “Where are you going from us, Baruch? And are you going to abandon us as
a father who forsakes his children as orphans and leaves them? 33.1 Are these the
commands given to you by your friend, Jeremiah the prophet, when he said to
you, 2 ‘Look after this people during the time of my absence, while I prepare the
rest of our brothers in Babel, against whom the sentence has been declared that
they should be carried away into exile.’? 3 And now, if you abandon us, it would
have been better for all of us to die before you, and, then, that you should leave
us.”
34.1 And I answered and said to the people:
“Far be it from me to forsake you or to withdraw from you. But on your
behalf, and on behalf of Zion, I shall go to the Holy of Holies to inquire of the
Mighty One, so that I may receive some further illumination. And after these
things, I shall return to you.”
CHAPTER 35~43
And I, Baruch, went to the holy place and sat on its ruins and wept, and said:
2 “O that my eyes were springs,
and my eyelids a fountain of tears.
3 For how shall I lament over Zion,
4 and how shall I mourn over Jerusalem?
For at the place where I am now prostrate,
the chief-priests used to offer holy sacrifices,
and placed on it incense of fragrant aromas.
5 But now, our glorying has become dust,
and the desire of our soul is ashes.”
36.1 And after I had said these things, I fell asleep at that place, and I saw a
vision in the night. 2 And behold there was a forest of trees planted on the plain,
and it was surrounded by high mountains and rugged rocks. And the forest
occupied much space. 3 And behold, a vine arose in front of it; and from under it,
a fountain ran peacefully. 4 And now, that fountain came to the forest and
churned into great waves, and those waves submerged the forest and suddenly
uprooted the entire forest and overthrew all the mountains which surrounded it. 5
And the height of the forest became low, and the apex of the mountains became
low. And that fountain became so strong that it left nothing of the great forest
except one cedar. 6 When it had also cast that one down, it destroyed the entire
forest and uprooted it so that nothing was left of it, nor could its place be
recognized anymore. Then that vine arrived with the fountain in peace and in
great tranquility, and it arrived at a place which was not far from the cedar which
had been cast down; and they brought that cedar to it.
7 And as I was watching, I saw that the vine opened its mouth and spoke, and
said to the cedar, “Are you not the remaining cedar from the forest of
wickedness? Because of you, wickedness remained and has been performed
during all these years, but never goodness. 8 And you kept conquering what did
3 [30:3] Emendation / Syr “For he knows”
5
not belong to you; and you did not even show compassion to what did belong to
you. And you kept extending your power over those who were living far from
you; and those who do draw close to you, you kept in the nets of your
wickedness; and you always uplifted your soul like one who could not be
uprooted. 9 But now your time has hastened and your hour has come. 10
Therefore, O cedar, follow the forest which has departed before you, and become
dust with it, and let your ashes be mixed together. 11 And now, recline in anguish,
and rest in torment until your last time comes when you will return to be
tormented even more.”
37.1 And after these things, I saw that the cedar was burning and the vine
growing, while it and everything around it became a plain full of unfading
flowers. And indeed, I awoke and arose. 38.1 And I prayed and said:
“O Lord, my Lord, you are the one who always enlightens those who conduct
themselves with understanding. 2 Your law is life, and your wisdom is the right
way. 3 Therefore, explain to me the interpretation of this vision. 4 For you know
that my soul has always walked in your law, and that from my earliest days, I did
not depart from your wisdom.”
39.1 And he answered and said to me:
2 “Baruch, this is the interpretation of the vision which you have seen. As you
have seen the great forest1 surrounded by high and rugged mountains,2 this is the
word: 3 Behold, the days will come when this kingdom which once destroyed
Zion will be destroyed, and it will be subjected to the kingdom which will come
after it. 4 Then again, after a time, this second kingdom will also be destroyed.
And another, a third will arise, and that one will also possess power in its own
time, then will be destroyed.
5 “And after these things, a fourth kingdom will arise whose power will be
more harsh and more evil than those before it, and it will seize a multitude of
times like the forests on the plain, and it will rule the times, and it will exalt itself
more than the cedars of Lebanon. 6 And in it, the truth will be hidden, and all who
are polluted with unrighteousness will flee to it like evil beasts flee and creep into
the forest. 7 And when the time of its consummation has approached for it to fall,
it will happen at that time, that the dominion of my Anointed-One, which is like
the fountain and the vine, will be revealed. And when it is revealed, it will uproot
the multitude of its host. 8 And concerning what you have seen, the tall cedar
which remained of that forest; and regarding the words which you heard spoken
to it by the vine, that is the explanation.
40.1 “The last ruler who is left alive at that time will be bound, whereas his
entire host will be put to the sword. And they will carry him up to Mount Zion,
and my Anointed-One will convict him of all his wicked deeds. And he will
gather together and set before him all the works of his hosts. 2 And afterwards, he
will kill him, and protect the rest of my people who will be found in the place
which I have chosen. 3 And his dominion will last forever, until the world of
corruption has ended, and until the previously mentioned times have been
fulfilled. 4 This is your vision, and this is its interpretation.”
41.1 And I answered and said:
“For whom and for how many will these things be? Or who will be worthy to
live in that time? 2 For I shall now speak before you everything which I think, and
I shall ask you about the things which I meditate upon. 3 For behold, I see many
of your people who have separated themselves from your statutes and who have
thrown off from them the yoke of your law. 4 But further, I have seen others who
have forsaken their vanity and who have fled for refuge under your wings. 5
Therefore, what will happen to them? Or how will the last time receive them? 6
Or perhaps their time will surely be weighed? And will they be judged
accordingly as the scale indicates?”
42.1 And he answered and said to me:
2 “I shall also show these things to you. As for what you said, ‘To whom and
to how many will these things be?’ The good which was previously mentioned
will be for those who have believed, and the opposite of these things will be for
those who have despised. 3 And as for what you said in regard to those who have
drawn near and to those who have withdrawn, this is the explanation. 4 As for
those who originally subjected themselves, but later withdrew and mingled
themselves with the seed of the mingled peoples, their former time was
considered as mountains. 5 And as for those who originally did not know life, but
later knew it exactly and mingled with the seed of the peoples who have separated
themselves, their latter3 time will be considered as mountains. 6 And time will
succeed to time, and season to season, and one will receive from another. And
then, with a view to the end, everything will be compared according to the
measurement of times and the hours of seasons. 7 For corruption will take away
those who belong to it, and life those who belong to it. 8 And the dust will be
1 [39:2] Syr “forests”
2 [39:2] Syr “mountain”
3 [44:5] Emendation / Syr “former”
called, and told, ‘Give back what does not belong to you, and raise up all which
you have kept until its own time.’
43.1 “But you, Baruch, direct your heart toward what has been spoken to you,
and understand what has been revealed to you, because you have many
consolations which will last forever. 2 For you will depart from this place and
leave the regions which are now before your eyes. And you shall forget what is
corruptible and shall never again remember what is among mortals. 3 Therefore,
go, and command your people. Then come to this place, and afterward, fast seven
days. And then I shall come to you and speak with you.”
CHAPTER 44~47
And I, Baruch, went from there and came to my people. And I called my firstborn
son, and my friend Gedaliah,4 and seven of the elders of the people, and said to
them:
2 “Behold, I go to my fathers in accordance with the way of the whole earth. 3
But you, do not withdraw from the way of the law, but guard and admonish the
remaining people, lest they withdraw from the Mighty One’s commandments. 4
For you see that he whom we serve is righteous, and that our Creator is impartial.
5 And, all of you, look at what has befallen Zion and what has happened to
Jerusalem. 6 For the Mighty One’s judgment will be made known, as well as his
ways which are inscrutable and right.
7 “For if you endure and persevere in his fear and do not forget his law, the
times will again change into good for you. And they will participate in the
consolation of Zion. 8 For whatever is now, is nothing. But whatever is in the
future will be very great. 9 For everything which is corruptible will pass away,
and everything which is mortal will depart. And everything which is present will
be forgotten, and no remembrance will remain of the present time which is5
polluted by evils. 10 For he who runs now runs in vain, and he who is prosperous
will soon fall and be humiliated. 11 For what will be in the future, that will be our
object of desire; and what comes later, that is what we shall hope for. For it is a
time which does not pass away.
12 “And the hour which will remain forever is coming. And the new world is
coming; those who enter into its beginning are not carried back to corruption by it,
but it has no mercy upon those who depart into torment; and those who are living
in it are not carried to perdition by it. 13 For those are the ones who will inherit
this time which has been spoken of, and the inheritance of the promised time
belongs to them. 14 These are the ones who have acquired for themselves
treasures of wisdom, and stores of insight are found with them, and they have not
withdrawn from mercy, and they have preserved the truth of the law. 15 For the
coming world will be given to them, but the habitation of the remainder, who are
many,6 will be in the fire.
45.1 “Therefore, admonish the people as much as you can. For this is our task.
2 For if you instruct them, you will make them alive.”
46.1 And my son, along with the elders of the people, answered, and said to
me:
“Has the Mighty One humiliated us to such an extent as to take you away
from us so quickly? 2 And shall we truly be in darkness? And will there no longer
be light for that people who remain? 3 For where shall we again investigate the
law, or who will distinguish between death and life for us?”
4 And I said to them:
“I cannot resist the throne of the Mighty One. Nevertheless, Israel will not
lack a wise man, nor the tribe of Jacob, a son of the law. 5 But only prepare your
hearts, so that all of you may obey the law, and be subject to those who, in fear,
are wise and understanding. And prepare your souls, so that none of you shall
depart from them. 6 For if you do these things, good tidings, about which I
previously told you, will come to you, and you will not fall into the torment which
I previously testified to you about.”
But with regard to the word, that I was to be taken, I did not make it known to
them, not even to my son. 47.1 And after I had left, having dismissed them, I
returned from there and said to them, “Behold, I go to Hebron, for the Mighty
One has sent me there.”
2 And I arrived at that place where the word had been spoken to me, and I sat
there and fasted for seven days.
CHAPTER 48
And it happened after the seventh day, that I prayed before the Mighty One and
said:
2 “O Lord, you summon the coming of the times,
and they stand before you.
4 [44:1] Arab / Syr “and my friends the Gedaliahs”
5 [44:9] Arab “present times that are”
6 [44:15] two omit “who are many”
6
You cause the display of power of the ages to pass away
and they do not resist you.
You arrange the course of the seasons,
and they obey you.
3 You alone know the length of the generations,
and you do not reveal your secrets to many.
4 You make known the multitude of the fire,
and you weigh the lightness of the wind.
5 You explore the extent of the heights,
and you scrutinize the depths of the darkness.
6 You care for1 the number of those who will pass away, and they are
preserved;
and you prepare a house for those who are yet to be.
7 You remember the beginning which you created,
and you do not forget that destruction which is yet to come.
8 With signs of fear and indignation you command the flames,
and they change into spirits.
And with the word you bring to life what does not exist,
and with mighty power you hold what has not yet come.
9 You instruct the creation with your understanding,
and you give wisdom to the spheres so that they minister
according to their positions.
10 Innumerable armies stand before you,
and at your sign, peacefully minister according to their positions.
11 Hear your servant,
and give ear to my petition.
12 For we are born in a short time,
and in a short time we return.
13 But with you, hours are like times,
and days like generations.
14 Therefore, do not be angry with man, for he is nothing;
and do not take account of our works, for what are we?
15 For behold, by your gift we come2 into the world,
and we do not leave of our own will.
16 For we did not say to our parents, ‘Beget us,’
nor have we sent to the Netherworld, and said, ‘Receive us.’
17 Therefore, what is our strength that we should bear your wrath?
Or what are we that we should endure your judgment?
18 Protect us in your compassion,
and help us in your mercy.
19 Look upon the small ones who submit to you,
and save all those who draw near to you.
And do not destroy the hope of our people,
and do not cut short the times of our help.
20 For this is the nation which you have elected,
and these are the people with whom you found no equal.
21 But now I shall speak before you,
and I shall talk as my heart thinks.
22 In you we have put our trust, for, behold, your law is with us,
and we know that we shall not fall as long as we keep your
statutes.
23 For we shall always be blessed; at least, we have not mingled with
the nations.
For we are all one celebrated people;
24 we, who received one law from the One.
And that law which is among us will help us,
and that excellent wisdom which is in us will support us.”
25 And when I had prayed these things, I grew very weak. 26 And he
answered and said to me:
“You have prayed sincerely, Baruch,
and all your words have been heard.
27 But my judgment demands its own,
and my law demands its rights.
28 For I shall answer you from your own words,
and I shall speak to you from your own prayer.
29 “For it is as follows: Nothing will be corrupted, unless it acted wickedly,
allowing itself to forget my goodness and to refuse my longsuffering. 30 For this
reason, you will surely be taken up, as I told you before.
31 “And that time which brings affliction will arise. For it will come and pass
away with enormous vehemence; and it will be turbulent, arriving in the heat of
indignation. 32 And it will be in those days, that all the inhabitants of the earth
will live with each other in peace,3 because they do not know that my judgment
1 [48:6] Emendation / Syr “You command”
2 [48:15] Arab “we have emerged”
3 [48:32] Arab “will quarrel against each other”
has drawn near. 33 For at that time, there will not be many wise men to be found;
and also, the intelligent will be but a few; furthermore, even those who know will
be silent more and more. 34 And there will be many rumors and not a few tidings,
and the works of the phantoms will be visible, and not a few promises will be
recounted: some idle and others affirmed. 35 And honor will be changed into
shame, and strength will be humiliated to contempt, and confidence will be
broken down, and beauty will become contemptible. 36 And many will say to
many at that time, ‘Where has the multitude of intelligence hidden itself, and to
where has the multitude of wisdom departed?’4
37 “And while someone is meditating on these things, envy will arise within
those who did not think much of themselves; and passion will take hold of those
who were peaceful; and many will be stirred up by wrath to injure many; and they
will raise armies to shed blood; but in the end, they will perish together with
them.
38 “And it will happen in that very time, that openly, before the eyes of all
mankind, that the times will change; because, in all those previous times, they
polluted themselves and caused oppression, and each man walked in his own
works and did not remember the law of the Mighty One. 39 Therefore, a fire will
consume their thoughts; and in a flame, the meditations of their hearts will be
tested. For the Judge5 will come and will not hesitate. 40 For each of the
inhabitants of the earth knew when they were transgressing, but because of their
pride, they did not know my law. 41 But many will surely weep at that time — yes,
over the living more than over the dead.”
42 And I answered and said:
“O Adam, what have you done to all those who were born from you? And
what will be said of the first Eva who obeyed the serpent? 43 For this entire
multitude is going to corruption. And countless are those whom the fire devours.
44 “But once more I shall speak in your presence: 45 You, O Lord, my Lord,
know what is within your creature, for long ago you commanded the dust to
produce Adam; 46 and you know the number of those who are born from him and
how they sinned before you, those who existed and who did not confess you as
their Creator. 47 And concerning all of these, their end will put them to shame;
and your law, which they transgressed, will repay them on your day.
48 “But now, let us cease discussing the wicked and inquire about the
righteous. 49 And I will recount their blessedness, and I shall not be silent in
celebrating their glory which is kept for them. 50 For surely, as all of you have
endured much labor in the short time in which you live in this transitory world, so
you will receive great light in that world which has no end.
CHAPTER 49~52
49.1 “Nevertheless, I again ask of you, O Mighty One; yes, I shall ask for favor
from him who created all things. 2 In what form will the living live in your day?
Or how will their splendor remain after that time? 3 Will they, perhaps, retain this
present form, and put on these chained members, which are presently involved in
evils, and by which evils are accomplished? Or will you perhaps change these
things which have been in the world, as well as the world itself?”
50.1 And he answered and said to me:
“Baruch, listen to this word; and write down in the memory of your heart
everything which you shall learn. 2 For the earth will surely give back the dead at
that time; currently, it receives them in order to preserve them, not making any
change in their form. But as it has received them, so it will give them back. And
as I have delivered them to it, so it will also raise them. 3 For at that time, it will
be necessary to show to the living that the dead have come to life again, and that
the departed have returned. 4 Then, when those who currently know each other at
this present time will, at that time, recognize each other, it will happen that my
judgment will be strong, and those things which have previously been spoken of
will come.
51.1 “And it will happen after this, when that appointed day has gone by, that
both the appearance of those who are found to be guilty, as well as the glory of
those who are righteous, will be changed. 2 For those who are presently acting
wickedly shall suffer torment at that time; and as they suffer, their appearance will
be made worse than it is at present.
3 “Furthermore, the glory of those who have presently been made righteous
by my law, those who possessed understanding in their life, and those who
4 [48:33~36] Cyprian seems to be quoting from a Latin version of this text “For the time will come, when all
of you will seek me, both you and those who will be after you, to hear the word of wisdom and of
understanding, but none of you will find me. And the nations will desire to see the wise man, but this will not
happen to them; but not because the wisdom of this world will be absent or will fail to the earth, for the word
of the law will not be absent from the world. For wisdom will be within a few who watch, and who are silent
and quiet, and who converse with one another; because some will dread them, and will fear them as evil. But
some do not believe the word of the law of the Highest. But some who are amazed in their countenance will
not believe; and also, those who contradict will believe, and will be contrary to and hindering the spirit of
truth. Moreover, others will be wise to the spirit of error, and declaring the edicts, as if of the Highest and the
Strong One. Moreover, others are possessors of faith. Others are mighty and strong in the faith of the Highest,
and hateful to the stranger.”
5 [48:39] Arab “For a rendering of judgment”
7
planted the root of wisdom in their heart: at that time, their splendor will be
glorified by transformations, and the appearance of their face will be changed into
the light of their beauty so that they may be able to acquire and receive the
undying world which is promised to them.
4 “Therefore, above all these things, those who come will lament at that time,
because they despised my law, and stopped up their ears lest they hear wisdom
and receive understanding. 5 Therefore, when they see that those whom they are
presently exalting themselves over, will, at that time, be more exalted and
glorified than themselves, then both these and those will be transformed: the latter
into the splendor of messengers; and the former into startling visions and horrible
shapes, and they will waste away even more. 6 For first, they will see, and then,
they will depart to be tormented.
7 “However, those who have been saved because of their works, and to whom
the law has been a present hope, and understanding an expectation, and wisdom a
trust, they will see marvels displayed at their proper time. 8 For they shall see that
world which, currently, is invisible to them; and they will see a time which,
currently, is hidden from them. 9 And time will no longer age them. 10*1 For they
will dwell in the heights of that world, and they will be made as the messengers
and be made equal to the stars. And they will be changed into any form they
desire, from beauty into loveliness, and from light into the splendor of glory. 11
For the extents of the Garden will be spread out before them; and the beautiful
majesty of the living creatures beneath the throne will be shown to them, as well
as all the hosts of the messengers — those who, presently, are held fast by my
word, lest they show themselves; and who are restrained by my2 command, so that
they may stand firm at their places until the time of their arrival has come.
12 “And then, the excellence of the righteous will surpass that of the
messengers. 13 For the first will receive the last, those whom they were
expecting; and the last will receive those whom they used to hear had passed
away. 14 For they have been delivered from this world of tribulation, and have set
down the burden of anguish.
15 “Therefore, for what have men lost their life? And for what have those who
were on the earth exchanged their soul? 16 For previously, they chose for
themselves this present time that cannot pass away without anguish. And they
chose for themselves that time of whose issues are full of lamentations and evils.
And they have denied the world which does not age those who come to it. 17 And
they have rejected the time of3 glory so that they are not coming to the honor of
which I have previously told you.”
52.1 And I answered and said:
2 “How can we forget those for whom, at that time, woe is reserved? And why
then are we mourning once again for those who die? Or why do we weep for
those who depart to the Netherworld? 3 Let the lamentations be reserved for the
beginning of that coming torment; and let the tears be stored up for the arrival of
that future destruction. 4 But even in the face of these things, I will speak. 5 And
concerning the righteous, what will they do now? 6 Rejoice in the suffering that
all of you now suffer. For why do any of you look for the decline of your
enemies? 7 Prepare your souls for what is reserved for you, and prepare your
souls for the reward which is laid up for you.”
And after I had said this, I fell asleep there.
CHAPTER 53~54
And I saw a vision. And behold, a cloud was coming up from the great sea. And
as I was watching it, I saw that it was entirely filled with both black and white
waters, and there were many colors in those waters. And something like great
lightning was appearing at its top. 2 And I saw the cloud passing swiftly in quick
courses, and it was covering the whole earth.
3 And it happened after these things, that the cloud began to pour its contained
waters upon the earth. 4 And I saw that the waters descending from it were not all
of the same likeness. 5 For at first, they were very black for a time. And
afterward, I saw that the waters became bright, but there were not as many. And
after these, I again saw black waters; and after these bright again. Then black
again, and bright again. 6 Now this happened twelve times, but the black were
always more numerous than the bright. 7 And it happened at the end of the cloud,
that, behold, it poured down black waters which were much darker than all the
waters which had been before. And fire was mingled with them. And at the
regions where those waters descended, they wrought devastation and destruction.
8 And after these, I saw how the lightning, which I had seen at the top of the
cloud, seized it and pressed it down to the earth. 9 Now that lightning shone so
exceedingly, that it lit up the whole earth, and it healed the regions where the final
waters had descended and where they had wrought devastation. 10 And it
occupied the whole earth and took dominion over it. 11 And after this, as I was
watching, I saw that twelve rivers were ascending from the sea, and they began to
1 Matthew 22:30
2 [51:11] Arab / Syr omits “my”
3 [51:17] Emendation / Syr “and”
surround the lightning and to become subject to it. 12 And because of my fear, I
awoke.
54.1 And I sought the Mighty One and said:
“You alone, O Lord, from of old, know the depths of the world, and what will
happen in the times that you bring about by your word. And against the works of
the inhabitants of the earth, you hasten the beginnings of the times. And you alone
know the ends of the seasons. 2 You are the one for whom nothing is hard; but
you are, however, the one who easily accomplishes everything by a single sign. 3
You are the one to whom both the depths and the heights come together, and
whose word the beginnings of the ages serve. 4 You are the one who reveals to
those who fear you4 what is prepared for them, so that from now on, they may be
comforted by you. 5 You show your mighty works to the unknowing. You tear
down the enclosure around the ignorant. And you enlighten the darkened. And
you reveal the secrets to the spotless, who, in faith, have subjected themselves to
you and your law.
6 “Since you have shown this vision to your servant, also reveal its
interpretation to me. 7 For I know that I have received answers to the subjects
which I asked you about. And you gave me a revelation about what I asked,
revealing to me with what voice I should praise you and from which members I
should cause praises and glorification to go up to you. 8 For if my members were
mouths and the hairs of my head voices, even then, I would not be able to
properly praise you, nor fittingly honor you; nor would I be able to recount your
praise, nor to express the excellence of your beauty.
9 “For what am I among men, or what is my significance among those who
are more excellent than I, that I have heard all these marvelous things from the
Most High, and innumerable promises from him who created me? 10 Blessed is
my mother among those who bear, and praised among women is she who bore
me. 11 For I shall not be silent in praising the Mighty One, but with a praising
voice I shall recount his marvelous works. 12 For who is able to imitate your
marvelous deeds, O God, or who understands your deep thought of life?
13 “For with your counsel, you govern all the creatures created by your right
hand, and you have established every fountain of light at your side, and you have
prepared the treasures of wisdom beneath your throne. 14 And those who do not
love your law are justly perishing. And the torment of judgment is awaiting those
who have not subjected themselves to your power. 15 For although Adam sinned
first and has brought untimely death upon all men, yet each of those men who has
been born from him has prepared for his own soul the coming torment. And each
of those men has also chosen for himself the coming glories. 16 For truly, the man
who believes will receive reward.
17 “But now, as for you, all you wicked who are now living, turn yourselves
to destruction, for you will be visited suddenly, since you have previously rejected
the understanding of the Most High. 18 For his works have not taught you, nor
have you been persuaded by the artifice of his creation which has always existed.
19 Therefore, Adam is not the cause, with an exception of his own soul, but each
of us has been the Adam of his own soul.
20 “But explain to me, O Lord, what you have revealed to me. And inform me
about what I asked you. 21 For at the end of the world, vengeance will be
demanded upon those who have done wickedness in accordance with their
wickedness, and you will glorify the faithful in accordance with their faithfulness.
22 For those who are among your own, you rule; and those who sin, you blot out
from among your own.”
CHAPTER 55~68
And it happened when I had finished the words of this prayer, that I sat down
there under a tree to rest in the shade of its branches. 2 And I was surprised and
was astonished; and in my thoughts, I pondered about the multitude of the
goodness which the sinners, who are on earth, have rejected from themselves, and
about the great torment which they have despised, even though they knew that
they should be tormented because of the sin they had committed. 3 And while I
was pondering these and similar things, behold, Remiel, the messenger who is set
over true visions, was sent to me. And he said to me:
4 “Why does your heart trouble you, Baruch, and why does your thought
disturb you? 5 For if you are already this perturbed, merely hearing about the
judgment, what will happen when you see it with your eyes openly? 6 And if you
are already this overwhelmed at your mere anticipation of the day of the Mighty
One, what will happen when you arrive at its coming? 7 And if you are this fully
distraught at the mere words of the announcement of the torment of the foolish,
how much more when this event itself reveals marvelous things? 8 And if you are
grieved merely upon hearing the names of the good and evil things which will
come at that time, what will happen when you see what the Majesty will reveal,
who will convict some and cause others to rejoice?
56.1 “Nevertheless, since you have sought for the Most High to reveal to you
the interpretation of the vision which you have seen, I have been sent to tell you
this: 2 that the Mighty One has certainly made known to you the course of the
4 [54:4] Emendation / Syr “him”
8
times which have passed, as well as those which are yet to pass, in his world,
from the beginning of its creation1 until its consummation, the times which are
known by deceit and those by truth.
3 “For as you saw a great cloud which came up from the sea and went and
covered the earth: this is the duration of the age created by the Mighty One when
he took counsel in order to create the age. 4 And it happened, when the word had
gone forth from his presence, that the duration of the age was standing as
something small, and it was established in accordance with the abundant
intelligence of him who sent it forth.
5 “And as for the black waters which you first saw on the top of the cloud,
which were the first to descend upon the earth: these are the transgression which
Adam, the first man, committed. 6 For when he transgressed, untimely death
came into being, and mourning was identified, and suffering was prepared, and
pain was created, and toil was kindled, and pride2 began to arise, and the
Netherworld began incessantly demanding to be renewed with blood, and the
conception of children came about,3 and the passion of parents was produced, and
the loftiness of men was humiliated, and goodness vanished. 7 Therefore, what
could be blacker and darker than these things? 8 This is the beginning of the black
waters which you have seen.
9 “And from these black waters, black were again born, and darkest darkness
was produced. 10 For he who became a danger to his own soul, even became a
danger to the messengers. 11 For at the time when he was created, they enjoyed
freedom. 12 And some of them came down and mingled themselves with women.
13 And therefore, those who did so were tormented in chains. 14 But the rest of
the innumerable multitude of messengers restrained themselves. 15 And those
living on the earth perished together through the waters of the flood. 16 Those are
the first black waters.
57.1 “And after these, you saw bright waters: these are Abraham’s fountain and
his generations, and the coming of his son and of his grandson, and of those who
are like them. 2 For at that time, the law, even without being written, was in force
among them; and at that time, the works of the commandments were
accomplished, and the belief in the coming judgment was brought about; and at
that time, the hope of the world which will be renewed was built, and the promise
of the future life to come was planted. 3 These are the bright waters which you
have seen.
58.1 “And the third waters which you have seen, which are black: these are the
mingling of all sins which the nations committed afterward, after the death of
those righteous men; and the wickedness of the land of Egypt, in which they acted
wickedly in the hard labor with which they forced their sons to labor. 2 Yet these
also perished at the end.
59.1 “And the fourth waters which you have seen, which are bright: these are
the coming of Moses, and of Aaron, and of Miriam, and of Joshua son of Nun,
and of Caleb, and of all those who are like them. 2 For at that time, the lamp of
the eternal law illuminated all those who sat in darkness. This lamp announced to
those who believe: the promise of their reward; and to those who deny: the
tormenting fire reserved for them. 3 But also at that time, the heavens were
shaken from their place, those heavens beneath the throne of the Mighty One were
severely shaken when he brought Moses to himself.
4 “For he showed to him many warnings together with the principles of the
law4 and the end of time,5 as he also showed to you. And likewise, he showed to
him the pattern of Zion, along with its measurements, which was to be made after
the pattern of the present holy-place. 5 But at that time, he also showed to him the
measures of the fire, as well as the depths of the abyss, and the weight of the
winds, and the number of the raindrops, 6 and the suppression of wrath, and the
abundance of longsuffering, and the truth of judgment, 7 and the root of wisdom,
and the richness of understanding, and the fountain of knowledge, 8 and the
height of the air, and the greatness of the Garden, and the consummation of the
ages, and the beginning of the day of judgment, 9 and the number of the offerings,
and the worlds which have not yet come, 10 and the mouth of Gehenna, and the
station of vengeance, and the place of faith, and the region of hope, 11 and the
picture of the future torment, and the multitude of the innumerable messengers,
and the hosts of the flame, and the splendor of lightnings, and the voice of the
thunders, and the orders of the chief-messengers, and the storehouses of the light,
and the changes of the times, and the perusals of the law. 12 These are the fourth
bright waters you have seen.
60.1 “And the fifth waters which you have seen pouring down, which are
black: these are the works wrought by the Amorites, and the invocations of their
incantations which they made, and the wickedness of their mysteries,6 and the
mingling of their pollutions. 2 But even Israel was polluted with sins in these days
1 [56:2] Arab / Syr “creations”
2 [56:6] some translators emend to “disease”
3 [56:6] Arab “and the offspring were taken”
4 [59:4] Arab / Syr “laws”
5 [59:4] Syr / Arab “times”
6 [60:1] Arab “and the wickedness of their misdeeds”
of the judges, although they saw many signs having come from him who created
them.
61.1 “And the sixth waters which you have seen, which are bright: these are the
time in which David and Solomon were born. 2 And at that time, the building of
Zion took place, and the dedication of the holy-place, and the mass shedding of
blood of the nations which sinned at that time. And at that time, many offerings
were offered at the dedication of the holy-place. 3 And at that time, peace and
tranquility reigned, 4 and wisdom was heard in the assembly, and the riches of
understanding were magnified in the congregations, 5 and the holy festivals were
fulfilled in happiness and in much joy. 6 And at that time, the judgment of the
rulers was seen without deceit, and the righteousness of the commandments of the
Mighty One was accomplished in truth. 7*7 And at that time, the land received
mercy. And since its inhabitants did not sin, it was being praised above every
land;8 and at that time, the city of Zion ruled over every land and region. 8 These
are the bright waters you have seen.
62.1 “And the seventh waters which you have seen, which are black: these are
the perversion conceived by the counsel of Jeroboam, who took counsel to make
two golden calves; 2 and these are also all the iniquities which were iniquitously
accomplished by the kings who succeeded him, 3 and the curse of Jezebel, and the
idolatry practiced by Israel at that time, 4 and the withholding of rain, and the
famines which occurred until women ate the fruits of their womb, 5 and the time
of their exile which befell the nine and a half tribes because they lived in many
sins. 6 And Shalmaneser, the king of the Assyrians, came and carried them away
into exile. 7 But concerning the nations much could be said: how they always
acted unrighteously and wickedly, and how they never proved themselves to be
righteous. 8 These are the seventh black waters you have seen.
63.1 “And the eighth waters which you have seen, which are bright: these are
the righteousness and the 2 integrity of Hezekiah, King of Judah, and the grace
which came upon him. For at that time, Sennacherib was stirred to destroy; and
his wrath roused him, as well as the multitude of the nations allied with him, in
order to destroy. 3 Moreover, when Hezekiah the king heard that that Assyrian
king was devising to come and seize him and destroy his people — the remaining
two and a half tribes — and that he also wanted to destroy Zion, then Hezekiah
trusted in his works, and hoped in his righteousness, and spoke with the Mighty
One and said, 4 ‘Pay attention, behold, Sennacherib is ready to destroy us, and he
will boast and be uplifted when he has destroyed Zion.’
5 “And because Hezekiah was wise, the Mighty One heard him; and because
he was righteous, he paid attention to his prayer. 6 And then the Mighty One
commanded Remiel, his messenger who speaks with you. 7 And I went forth and
destroyed their multitude, whose chiefs alone numbered 185,000, and each of
them had an equal number. 8 And at that time, I burned their bodies within, but I
preserved their clothes and their arms on the outside so that even more of the
Mighty One’s marvelous works might be seen, and, that through it, his name
might be mentioned throughout the entire earth. 9 And so, Zion was saved, and
Jerusalem was delivered; Israel was also freed from tribulations. 10 And all those
who were in the holy land rejoiced, and the name of the Mighty One was glorified
so that it was spoken of. 11 These are the bright waters you have seen.
64.1 “And the ninth waters which you have seen, which are black: these are all
the wickedness which existed in the days of Manasseh son of Hezekiah. 2 For he
acted very wickedly, and killed the righteous, and perverted judgment, and shed
innocent blood, and violently polluted married women, and overturned altars, and
abolished their offerings, and drove away the priests so they were unable to
minister in the holy-place. 3 And he made a statue with five faces: four of them
looked, one in each direction of the four winds, and the fifth was on the top of the
statue so as to challenge the zeal of the Mighty One. And then wrath went forth
from the Mighty One’s presence so that Zion should be uprooted, as has also
happened in your days. 5 But also the judgment went out against the two and a
half tribes so that they also should be carried away into exile as you have now
seen.
6 “And the impiety of Manasseh increased to such a degree that the glory of
the Most High removed itself from the holy-place. 7 Therefore, at that time,
Manasseh was called the impious one; and finally, his abode was in the fire. 8 For
although the Most High had heard his prayer, in the end, when he fell into the
brazen horse and the brazen horse was melted, it served as a sign to him regarding
the hour. 9 For he had not lived perfectly, since he was not worthy, but the sign
was given to him so that he might henceforth know by whom he should be
punished at the end. 10 For he who is able to benefit is also able to punish. 65.1
Therefore, in this way Manasseh acted impiously, and he thought that the Mighty
One would not call these things to account during his time. 2 These are the ninth
black waters you have seen.
66.1 “And the tenth waters which you have seen, which are bright: these are the
purity of the generation of Josiah, the king of Judah, who was the only one in his
time who subjected himself to the Mighty One with all his heart and all his soul. 2
7 Barnabas 11:9
8 [61:7] Barnabas, ClemAlex, “And the land/earth of Jacob was praised beyond all the earth/land”
9
He purified the land from the idols, and made holy all the vessels which had been
polluted, and restored the offerings to the altar, and raised the horn of the holy,
and exalted the righteous, and honored all those who were wise with
understanding. And he brought the priests back to their ministry; and destroyed
and removed the magicians, and enchanters, and necromancers from the land. 3
And he1 not only killed the impious who were living, but they also removed the
bones of the dead from the tombs and had them burned with fire. 4 And he
established the festivals2 and the sabbaths with their holy practices, and he burned
the polluted with fire. And as for the lying prophets who deceived the people,
these he also burned with fire. The people who obeyed them while they lived,
were cast by him into the Kidron Valley, and he heaped stones upon them.
5 “And he was zealous with the zeal of the Mighty One with all his soul, and
he alone was strong in the law at that time so that he left no one uncircumcised or
anyone who acted wickedly in the whole country all the days of his life. 6 Now he
shall receive an eternal reward. And in the last time, he shall be honored with the
Mighty One more than many. 7 For on his account and on account of those who
are like him, the precious glories (which were spoken to you earlier) have been
created and prepared. 8 These are the bright waters which you have seen.
67.1 “And the eleventh waters which you have seen, which are black: these are
the disaster which has now befallen Zion. 2 Do you think that, in the Mighty
One’s presence, there is no mourning among the messengers because Zion is
delivered up in this way? And behold, the nations rejoice in their hearts, and the
crowds are before their idols and say, ‘She who has often trodden down others,
has herself been trodden down; and she who has subjugated, has herself been
subjugated.’ 3 Do you think that the Most High rejoices in these things, or that his
name is glorified? 4 But how will it be with his righteous judgment? 5 But after
these things, those scattered among the nations will be taken hold of by
tribulations and live in shame in every place. 6 For as far as Zion is delivered up
and Jerusalem laid waste, the idols in the cities of the nations will prosper, and the
smoke’s vapor arising from the incense of the law’s righteousness is extinguished
in Zion; and everywhere in the region of Zion, behold, there is the smoke of
impiety! 7 But the king of Babel will arise, the one who has now destroyed Zion,
and he will boast over the people; and in his heart, he will make haughty
declarations in the presence of the Most High. 8 But he too will fall at last. 9
These are those black waters.
68.1 “And the twelfth waters which you have seen, which are bright, this is the
word: 2 For after these things, there will come a time when your people will fall
into such a distress, that they will all be in danger of perishing together. 3 Yet
they will be saved, and their enemies will fall before them. 4 And in time, they
will have much joy. 5 And at that time, after a short interval, Zion will be rebuilt,
and its offerings will be restored, and the priests will return to their ministry, 6
and the nations will also come to honor it, but not as fully as before. 7 But it will
happen after these things, that there will be the fall of many nations. 8 These are
the bright waters you have seen.
CHAPTER 69~76
“With regard to the final waters which you have seen, which are blacker than
all those before them, those which followed the twelfth, which were collected
together; they apply to the whole world. 2 For from the beginning, the Most High
made a division, for he alone knows what will happen in the future. 3 For with
regard to the evils of the coming impieties which would be wrought before him,
he foresaw3 six kinds. 4 And with regard to the good works of the righteous which
would be accomplished before him, he foresaw six kinds in addition to those
which he himself would accomplish at the end of the world. 5 Therefore, these are
not black waters with black, nor bright with bright. For this is the consummation.
70.1 “Therefore, hear the interpretation of the final black waters which will
follow the black waters. This is the word: 2 Behold, the days are coming, when
the time of the world has ripened, and the harvest4 of its evil and good seeds has
come; and it will happen at that time, that the Mighty One will bring confusion of
spirits and consternation of heart over the earth and its inhabitants and its rulers. 3
And they will hate one another and provoke one another to fight. And the base
will rule over the honorable, and the ignoble will be extolled over the illustrious, 4
and many will be delivered to the few. And those who were nobodies will rule
over the strong, and the poor will have more than the rich, and the impious will
exalt themselves over the brave. 5 And the wise will be silent, and the foolish will
speak. And the thought of men will not be realized then, nor the counsel of the
strong, nor will the hope of those who hope be realized. 6 And when those
predicted things have come to pass, then confusion will fall upon all men; and
some of them will fall in war, and some of them will perish in tribulations, and
some of them will be hindered by their own.
7 “Then the Most High will give a sign to those peoples whom he has
previously prepared, and they will come and wage war with the rulers who will
1 [66:3] Arab / Syr “they”
2 [66:4] Arab / Syr “festival”
3 [69:4] Syr / Arab “saw”
4 [70:2] Emendation / Syr “harvests”
remain at that time. 8 And it will happen, that he who saves himself from the war
will die in an earthquake, and he who saves himself from the earthquake will be
burned by fire, and he who saves himself from the fire will perish by famine. 9
And it will happen, that anyone who saves himself and escapes from everything
which has been previously said — both those who have won and those who have
been overcome — will all be delivered into the hands of my Servant, the Anointed-
One. 10 For the whole earth will devour its inhabitants.
71.1 “And the holy land will have mercy on its own, and it will protect its
inhabitants at that time. 2 This is the vision which you have seen, and this is its
interpretation. For I have come to tell you these things because your prayer has
been heard by the Most High.
72.1 “Now also hear about the bright lightning5 which comes at the end
following these black waters. This is the word: 2 After the signs have come, of
which I have previously told to you, when the nations become confused and the
time of my Anointed-One comes, he will call all nations; and some of them he
will spare, and some of them he will kill. 3 Therefore, these things will befall the
nations which will be spared by him: 4 Every nation which has not known Israel
and has not trodden down the seed of Jacob will indeed live. 5 And this is because
some from every nation will be subjected to your people. 6 But all those who have
ruled over you or have known you, will be delivered up to the sword.
73.1 “And it will happen, that after he has brought low everything which is in
the world, and has sat down in eternal peace on the throne of the kingdom, then
joy will be revealed and rest will appear. 2 And then healing will descend in dew,
and disease will vanish, and anxiety and anguish and lamentation will pass away
from among men, and joy will encompass the entire earth. 3 And no one will ever
again die untimely, nor will any adversity take place suddenly. 4 And judgment,
and condemnations, and contentions, and revenges, and blood, and passions, and
envy, and hatred, and all such things will go into condemnation at the time when
they are uprooted. 5 For these are the things which have filled this world with
evils; and because of them, the life of man has been greatly troubled. 6 And the
beasts will come from the forest and serve men, and the asps and dragons will
come out of their holes to subject themselves to a child. 7 And women will no
longer have pain when they give birth, nor will they suffer torment when yielding
the fruits of their womb.
74.1 “And it will happen in those days, that the reapers will not grow weary,
nor will the builders be worn-out from work, because the products will shoot out
speedily on their own, together with those who work on them, in full tranquility. 2
For that time is the consummation of what is corruptible, and the beginning of
what is incorruptible. 3 Therefore, everything which was previously said will
happen in it. Therefore, it is far away from the evil things, and near to what is
undying. 4 This is the bright lightning6 which followed the final dark waters.”
75.1 And I answered and said:
“Who can equal your goodness, O Lord?
for it is incomprehensible.
2 Or who can fathom your mercies
which are without end?
3 Or who can comprehend your intelligence?
4 Or who can narrate the thoughts of your spirit?
5 Or who of those born can hope to arrive at these things,
unless he is one to whom you are merciful and gracious?
6 For, assuredly, if you were not merciful to men —
those who are under your right hand —
they would be unable to come to those things.
For only those who are named among the numbered can be
called.
7 But if we who exist certainly know the reason why we have come,
and if we subject ourselves to him who brought us out of Egypt,
then we shall come again and remember the things which have
passed away,
and we shall rejoice with regard to what has occurred.
8 But if we do not presently know the reason why we have come,
and do not recognize the sovereignty of him who brought us up
from Egypt,
then we shall come again and seek after the things which have
occurred at present,
and shall be painfully grieved because of the things which have
happened.”
76.1 And he answered and said to me:
“Since the revelation of this vision has been explained to you as you
requested, hear the word of the Most High so that you may know what will
happen to you after these things. 2 For you will surely depart from this world,
5 [72:1] Emendation / Syr “waters”
6 [73:4] Emendation / Syr “Those are the last bright waters”
10
nevertheless not to death but to be preserved unto the consummation of the times.
3 Therefore, go up to the top of that mountain, and all the regions of this land will
pass before you, as well as the likeness of the inhabited world, and the summit of
the mountains,1 and the depth of the valleys,2 and the depths of the seas, and the
number of rivers, so that you may see what you are leaving and to where you are
going. 4 Now this will happen after forty days. 5 Therefore, go now during these
days and instruct the people as much as you are able, so that they may learn so as
not to die in the last time, but may learn so that they might live in the last times.”
CHAPTER 77
And I, Baruch, went away from there and came to the people, and assembled
them together from the greatest to the least. And I said to them:
2 “Hear, all of you sons of Israel, look how many you are who remain of the
twelve tribes of Israel. 3 For to you and to your fathers the Lord gave the law
above all nations. 4 And because your brothers have transgressed the
commandments of the Most High, he brought vengeance upon you and upon
them; and he did not spare the first only, but he also gave the latter into exile and
did not leave a remnant of them. 5 And, look, you are here with me. 6 Therefore,
if you make your ways straight, you will also not go away as your brothers went
away, but they will come to you. 7 For he whom you honor is merciful, and he in
whom you hope is gracious and true, so that he will do good to you and not evil.
8 “Have you not seen what has befallen Zion? 9 Or do you perhaps think
that the place itself has sinned, and, for this reason, that it has been destroyed? Or
that the country itself has done some crime, and, for this reason, that it has been
delivered up? 10 And are all of you unaware, that because of you who did sin, the
one who did not sin was destroyed? And that because of those who acted
wickedly, the one who has not gone astray has been delivered up to enemies?”
11 And the whole people answered and they said to me:
“Everything which we can remember of the good things the Mighty One has
done to us, we shall remember. And what we do not remember, he, in his mercy,
knows. 12 Yet do this for us, your people: Also write a letter of teaching and a
scroll of hope to our brothers in Babel, so that you may also strengthen them
before you depart from us. 13 For the shepherds of Israel have perished, and the
lamps which gave light are extinguished, and the fountains from which we used to
drink have withheld their streams. 14 We are now left in darkness and amid the
trees of the forest and in the aridness of the desert.”
15 And I answered and said to them:
“Shepherds and lamps and fountains come from the law; and though we
depart, the law remains. 16 Therefore, if you gaze upon the law and are intent
upon wisdom, then a lamp will not be absent, and a shepherd3 will not give way,
and a fountain will not dry up. 17 Nevertheless, as all of you have asked me, I
shall also write to your brothers in Babel, and I shall send it by means of men.
And likewise, I shall write to the nine and a half tribes, and send these letters by
means of a bird.”
18 And it happened on the twenty-first day of the eighth month that I, Baruch,
came and sat down under the oak in the shadow of its branches. And no one was
with me; I was alone. 19 And I wrote two letters. One I sent by means of an eagle
to the nine and a half tribes, and the other I sent by means of three men to those
who were in Babel. 20 And I called an eagle, and spoke the following words to
him:
21 “You have been created by the Most High to be higher than any other bird.
22 But now, go, and do not tarry in any place, nor enter into a nest, nor perch on
any tree4 until you have flown over the breadth of the many waters of the
Euphrates5 River and have come to the people who live there and dropped this
letter down to them. 23 For remember, that at the time of the flood, Noah received
the fruit of the olive tree from a dove when he sent it forth from the ark. 24 And
also, the ravens served Elijah by bringing food to him as they were commanded.
25 Also Solomon, in the time of his kingship, whenever he wanted to send a letter
or was in need of anything, he commanded a bird and it obeyed him as he
commanded it. 26 And now, do not be reluctant and do not deviate to the right nor
to the left, but fly and go straight away, so that you may preserve the command of
the Mighty One as I have told you.”
CHAPTER 78~81
And6 These are the words of the letter7 which Baruch son of Neriah sent to the
nine and a half tribes which were across the Euphrates8 river, in which were
written the following things:
1 [76:3] Arab / Syr “mountain”
2 [76:3] Arab / Syr “valley”
3 [77:16] Arab / Syr “thought”
4 [77:2] Syr / Arab “on a tree”
5 [77:22] Greek / from Persian “Ufratu” / Hebrew “Furat”
6 [78:1] c / abdeghiwp adds
7 [78:1] c / abdefghiwp omits “of the letter”
8 [78:1] c / others add
2 This is what Baruch son of Neriah says to the brothers who were carried
away into exile: 3 Grace and peace be with you.9 I remember, my brothers, the
love of him who created us,10 who loved us from the beginning and who never
hated us, but, on the contrary,11 chastised us. 4 And truly I know: Are we not all,
the twelve tribes,12 bound by one exile as we also descend from one father?
5 Therefore, I have been the more diligent to leave you the words of this letter
before I die, so that you may be comforted with regard to the evils13 which have
befallen you; and so that all of you may also be grieved with regard to the evils
which have befallen your brothers; and then further, so that you may realize that
his decreed judgment against you to be carried away into exile is a righteous
judgment. For what you have suffered is disproportioned to what you have done,
in order that you may be found worthy of your fathers in the last times.
6 Therefore, if you deem that what you have now suffered is for your good, in
order that you may not be condemned at the end and be tormented, then you shall
receive everlasting hope; and if, above all, you purge from your hearts the idle
error for which you went away from here. 7 For if you do these things, he shall
continually remember you. He is the one who, on our behalf, always promised to
those who were more excellent than ourselves, that he will never forget or forsake
our seed;14 but with much mercy, he will reassemble all15 those who were
dispersed.
79.1 Therefore, my brothers, learn first what befell Zion, that is, how
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, came up against us. 2 For we have sinned against
him who created us, and have not observed the commandments16 which he
commanded us to keep. 3 And yet, he has not chastised us as we deserved. 4 For
what befell you, we also suffer, even more, for it befell us as well.17
80.1 And now, my brothers, I make known to you that18 when the enemies had
surrounded the city, messengers were sent from the Most High. And19 they20
demolished the fortifications21 of the strong wall, and he22 destroyed the solid iron
corners which could not be dislodged. 2 Nevertheless, they hid some vessels of23
the holy vessels, lest they be polluted24 by the enemies. 3 And when they had
done these things,25 they immediately left the following to the enemies: the
demolished wall, and the plundered house, and the burned temple, and the people
who were overcome because26 they were delivered up, lest the enemies should
boast and say, “With power27 We have overcome to such an extent that we have
even destroyed the house of the Most High.”
4 They have also bound your brothers and carried them away to Babel and
have caused them to live there. 5 And we have been left here with very few. 6
This is the tribulation about which I write to you. 7 For truly I know that the
inhabitants28 of Zion were a consolation to you. As long29 as you knew that they
were prosperous, this was more important than the tribulation you endured being
separated from them.
81.1 But also hear the word of consolation! 2 For I was mourning over Zion,
and I asked for mercy from the Most High, and said, 3 “Will these things continue
for us until the end?30 And will these evils befall us31 always?”
4 And the Mighty One acted32 according to the multitude of his33 graces, and
the Most High acted according to the magnitude of his mercy: And he revealed a
word to me, so that I might be comforted; and he showed to me visions, so that I
might never again be anguished; and he made known to me the mysteries34 of the
times, and showed to me the coming of the seasons.
CHAPTER 82~84
Therefore, my brothers, I have written to you so that you may find comfort with
regard to the multitude of your35 tribulations.36 2 For all of you know that our
9 [78:3] c / abdefghiwp omit “be with you”
10 [78:3] abdefghilwp / c, Arab “me”
11 [78:3] abcgh / defiwr omit “on the contrary”
12 [78:4] c / abdefghiwp “I know that, behold, we the twelve tribes are”
13 [78:5] c / abdefghiwp “evil”
14 [78:7] c / abdefghimwp “forsake us”
15 [78:7] abdefghwp / c omits “all”
16 [79:2] chwp / abdefgil “commandment”
17 [79:4] bdefghiwp “But likewise what has befallen you has overtaken us; in a preeminent degree have we
suffered as well”
18 [80:1] c / abdefghiwp add
19 [80:1] abcdfghilm / ewp omit “And”
20 [80:1] Arab / Syr “he” / most omit altogether
21 [80:1] c / abdefghilmwp “fortifications”
22 [80:1] most / c “they”
23 [80:2] c / abdefghiwp add
24 [80:2] abcfghi / ewp “destroyed” / d “taken”
25 [80:3] abdeghiwp / c (erroneously) “And when these things had gone by”
26 [80:3] abcgh / defiwp “when”
27 [80:3] c / abdefghiwp add
28 [80:7] ac / bdefghilwp “habitation”
29 [80:7] abcdfghi / fwp “So far”
30 [81:3] c / abdefghilmwp “How long will these things exist for us?”
31 [81:2] acdefhiwp / bg “me”
32 [81:4] c / abdefghiwp “always, who acted”
33 [81:4] abcgh / defiwp omit “his”
34 [81:4] ch / abdefgiwp “mystery”
35 [82:1] c / abdefghiwp add
36 [82:1] abcgh / defiwp “tribulation”
11
Creator will surely avenge1 us on all our enemies, according to everything which
they have done against us and among us; and also, that the consummation
prepared by the Most High is near, and that his grace is coming, and that the
fulfillment of his judgment is not far off.
3 For behold2 at the present,3 we see the multitude of all the nations’
prosperity,
while they have acted wickedly;
but they will be like a vapor.4
4 And we behold the multitude of their power,
while they act impiously;
but they will be made like a drop.5
5 And we see the strength of their power,6
while they resist the Mighty One every hour;7
but they will be counted like spittle.
6 And we ponder about the glory of their majesty,
while they do not keep the statues8 of the Most High;
but they will pass away like smoke.
7 And we think about the beauty of their gracefulness,9
while they are soaked in pollutions;10
but they will fade away like withering grass.
8 And we ponder about the strength of their cruelty,
while they do not remember the end;
but they will be broken like a passing wave.
9 And we note the pride11 of their power,
while they deny the goodness of God12 by whom it was given to
them;
but they will vanish like a passing cloud.
83.1 For the Most High will certainly hasten his times, and he will certainly
bring about his seasons. 2 And he will certainly judge13 those who are in his
world. And he will truly inquire into everything with regard to all their sinful
works.14 3 And he will certainly investigate the secret thoughts and what is stored
up in the inner chambers of15 each one of man’s members;16 and he will make
those things manifest in the presence of everyone with blame. 4 For17 Therefore,
let none of these present things enter into your heart, but on the contrary, let us be
expectant, since what was promised to us18 will come. 5 And we should now19 not
look upon the delight20 of the present21 nations, but let us remember what has been
promised to us in the end.22 6 For the ends of the times and of the seasons will
surely pass away, together with everything which is in them. 7 In23 The end of the
age will then show the great power of its Ruler when everything comes to
judgment.
8 Therefore, all of you should prepare your hearts for what you have
previously believed, lest you should be excluded from both worlds,24 being
carried away into exile here and being tormented there.25 9 For what exists now or
what has passed away or what will come, in all these things, neither is the evil
fully evil, nor even is the good fully good.
10 For every kind of health which now exists
is changing into diseases.26
11 And every might which now exists
is changing into weakness.
And every power which now exists
is changing into impotencies.27
1 [82:2] Syr / Arab “rescue”
2 [82:3] c / abdefghiwp add
3 [82:3] abcdfghiwp / e omits “at the present”
4 [82:3] most / c (erroneously) “like polluted”
5 [82:4] abdefghilwp / c, Arab (erroneously) “pollution”
6 [82:5] abdefghiwp / c, Arab (erroneously) “truth”
7 [82:5] abdefghiwp / c (erroneously) “year”
8 [82:6] c / abdefghwp “commandments”
9 [82:7] c / abdefghilwp “life” / Arab “bodies”
10 [82:7] c / abdefghilwp “pollution”
11 [82:9] c / abdefghiwp “beauty”
12 [82:9] c / abdefghiwp omits “of God”
13 [83:2] acdefhiwp / bg “And our God will judge”
14 [83:2] c / abdefghiwp “their hidden works”
15 [83:3] c / abdefghilwp “though which are in the inner chamber [several “chambers”] of”
16 [83:3] abdefghilwp / c “each member which were in sins”
17 [83:4] c / others add
18 [83:4] c / abdefghiwp add
19 [83:5] c / abdefghiwp add
20 [83:5] abdfghiwp, Arab / c “delights”
21 [83:5] c / abdefghiwp omit “present”
22 [83:5] abcdfghiwp / e omits “And we should…the end” (by scribal error)
23 [83:7] c / abdfghiwp add “In” / e instead adds “And”
24 [83:8] c / abdefghikwp “from the world”
25 [83:8] c / abdefghiwp “that will be carried away in exile now and be tormented thereupon” (e is slightly
different)
26 [83:10] abcdeghk / dfiwp “disease”
27 [83:11] c / bg(adefhi similar) “impotency” / k omits here (by scribal error)
And every youthful energy
is changing into old age and consummation.
12 And every graceful beauty which now exists
is changing into withering and ugliness.
13 And every infantile pride28 which now exists
is changing into humiliation and shame.
14 And every haughty glory which now exists
is changing into the silent shame.29
And every delight and splendor which now exists
is changing into silent ruin.
15 And every joy and delight which now exists
is changing into rejection30 and ruin.
16 And every prideful clamor which now exists31
is changing into still dust.32
17 And every rich possession33 which now exists
is changing into the Netherworld alone.
18 And every seizing desire which now exists
is changing into involuntary death.
And every lustful desire34 which now exists35
is changing into tormenting judgment.
19 And every deceitful pretense36 which now exists
is changing into a truthful refutation.
20 And every ointment’s sweetness which now exists
is changing into37 judgment and condemnation.
21 And every lying38 friendship
is changing into silent39 defamations.40
22 Therefore, since all these things are now happening, do you think41 that
they will not be avenged? 23 But the consummation of42 everything will come to
truth.
84.1 Now, behold,43 while I still live, I gave you knowledge. For I have said,
that all of you should, above all, learn the commandments of the Mighty One, in
which I shall instruct you.44 And before I die, I shall set before you some of the
commandments of his judgment. 2 Remember, that in the past, Moses called the
heavens and the earth to witness against you and said, “If you transgress the law,
you shall be dispersed. But if you keep it, you shall be planted.”45
3 And46 he also spoke other things to you when all of you were twelve tribes
together in the desert. 4 And after his death, you cast them away from you, and,47
therefore, what has been predicted has come upon you. 5 And now, Moses spoke
to you before these things befell you and, behold, they have befallen you, for you
have forsaken the law. 6 Behold, I also say to you after you have suffered: that if
you obey the things which I have said to you, you shall receive from the Mighty
One everything which has been stored up and preserved for you.
7 Therefore, let this letter be a witness between me and you so that you may
remember the commandments of the Mighty One, and that it also may serve as
my defense in the presence of him who has sent me. 8 And remember Zion and
the law,48 and the holy land and your brothers, and the covenant and49 your
fathers; and do not forget the festivals and the sabbaths. 9 And pass on this letter
and the traditions50 of the law to your children after you as your fathers also
handed them down to you. 10 And always ask continuously51 and pray diligently
with all your soul that the Mighty One may be reconciled with you and that he
may not count up the multitude of your sins,52 but remember the integrity of your
fathers. 11 For if he does not judge us according to the multitude of his mercy,
woe to all of us who are born!
28 [83:13] c / abdefghikwp “every dominion and vanity” / Arab “pride that the people boast with”
29 [83:14] abdfgik / cewp omit “And every glory of haughtiness….silent shame” (by scribal error)
30 [83:15] c / abdefghikwp “worms”
31 [83:16] abdefghikwp / c omits “that now exists”
32 [83:16] c / abdefghikmwp “into stillness and dust”
33 [83:17] cdefiwp (lit. “possession of riches”) / abghk (lit. “possession and riches”)
34 [83:18] abcegh (lit. “desire of lusts”) / dfiwp (lit. “desire of lust”)
35 [83:18] abdefghikwp / c omits “that now exists”
36 [83:19] c (lit. “every pretense of deceit”) / abdefghiklnwp “every pretense and deceit” (some have
“deceits” instead of “deceit”)
37 [83:21] most / c omits “refutation by truth…now exists changes into”
38 [83:21] abdefghikwp / c omits “lying”
39 [83:21] c / abdefgikwp “truth”
40 [83:21] c / others “defamation”
41 [83:22] c / abdefghiklwp “now, does anyone think”
42 [83:22] abcdefghik / wp omit “of”
43 [84:1] c / abdefghikwp add
44 [84:1] c / bdghilwp “all of you should learn the excellent things; for the Mighty One has commanded me to
instruct you”
45 [84:2] c / abdefghiwp “preserved”
46 [84:3] c / abdefghiwp “But”
47 [84:3] ch / abdefgiwp omits “and”
48 [84:8] c / abefghilwp “remember the law and Zion” / d “remember the law <?> Zion”
49 [84:8] c / abdefghiwp “of”
50 [84:9] c / abdefghiwp “tradition”
51 [84:10] c / abdeghiwp add
52 [84:10] abdefghiwp / c, Arab “sinners”
12
CHAPTER 85~87
Further, know that, in former times and in former generations, our fathers had
helpers, righteous prophets and holy ones.1 2 Moreover,2 we were in our own
land, and they helped us when we sinned, and they intervened for us with him
who has created us, since they trusted in their works. And the Mighty One heard
them3 and purged us from our sins. 3 But now, the righteous have been
assembled, and the prophets are sleeping. And4 We too have left the5 land, and
Zion has been taken away from us, and now we have nothing, except for the
Mighty One and his law. 4 Therefore, if we direct and dispose our hearts, we shall
receive everything which we lost, along with much more than we lost,
tremendously multiplied.6 5 For whatever we lost was subjected to corruption, and
whatever we receive will not be corruptible.
6 Therefore, I have also written to our brothers in Babel, so that7 I may attest
these things to them as well. 7 And everything which I have previously told you
should be before your eyes always, since we are still in the spirit of8 the power of
our liberty.
8 And9 further, the Most High is also10 longsuffering toward us here, and he
has shown to us what is to come, and has not concealed from us what will happen
at the end. 9 Therefore, before the judgment11 exacts its own and truth of what12 is
rightfully hers, let us prepare our soul, so that we may possess and not be
possessed, and so that we may hope and not be put to shame, and so that we may
rest with our fathers and not be tormented with those who hate us.
10 For the youth of this world has passed away, and the vigor of creation is
already exhausted. And the advent13 of the times is very near; indeed, they will
have passed by. And the pitcher is near to the cistern, and the ship to the port, and
the journey’s course to the city, and life to its consummation. 11 And further,
prepare your souls, so that, after you have sailed and disembarked from the ship,
you may find rest and not be condemned,14 once you have arrived.
12 For behold,15 the Most High will bring all these things to pass. There will16
never again be an opportunity for a change-of-mind, nor a limit to the times, nor a
duration of the seasons, nor a change of ways;17 nor an opportunity for prayer, nor
sending up petitions, nor acquiring knowledge,18 nor giving love;19 nor
opportunity for a soul to change its mind, nor supplications20 for offenses, nor
prayers21 of the fathers, nor intercession of the prophets, nor help of the righteous.
13 For there is the sentence of judgment to22 corruption, regarding23 the way to the
fire and the path which leads to glowing coals.24 14 That is why there is one law
through One, one world, and an end for all those who dwell in it. 15 And25 Then
he will preserve those whom he is able to forgive, and26 he will purge them from
sins; and at the same time, he will destroy those who are polluted with sins

86.1 Therefore, when you receive my letter,27 read it carefully in your
assemblies. And meditate upon it, in particular however28 on the days of your
fasts. And remember me by this letter, as I also, in the same way, remember you
by it, and it may fare you well29 always.

87.1 And it happened, after I had finished all the words of this letter,
composing it carefully until the end, that I folded it, and sealed it carefully, and
bound it to the neck of the eagle. And I let it go and sent it away.30
The end of the letter of Baruch son of Neriah.31

1 [85:1] c / abdefghiwp “righteous men and holy prophets”
2 [84:2] c / abdefghiwp “No, more”
3 [84:2] c / abdefghiwp “heard their prayer” / Arab “used to grant their request”
4 [84:3] c / abdeghiwp add
5 [84:3] abdefghiwp / c “our”
6 [84:4] c / abdefghiwp “hearts, will we receive again everything which we lost, and much more than we lost,
tremendously multiplied?”
7 [84:6] abcg (h similar) / defiwp “Babel and”
8 [84:7] c / abdefghiwp “spirit and in”
9 [84:8] c / abdefghiwp omits “And”
10 [84:8] c / abdefghiwp omits “also”
11 [84:9] a / c “before his judgment” / bdefghilwp “before the Judge”
12 [84:9] ac / bdefgiwp “truth which”
13 [84:10] abcdeghil / wp “space”
14 [84:11] abcgh / efwp “and may have rest” / di are different
15 [84:12] c / others “For, behold, when” / Arab “For when”
16 [84:12] c / others, Arab “come, there will”
17 [85:12] bgwp / dei “of way” / ac “to open space” / h “of souls”
18 [85:12] bcdefghiwp / a “nor a giver”
19 [85:12] cd / abefghiwp “nor pardoner of guilt”
20 [85:12] c / abdeghilwp “supplication” / f omits material here
21 [85:12] c / bdefghiwp “prayer”
22 [85:13] c / abdefghiwp “of”
23 [85:13] abdefghiwp / c adds
24 [85:13] c / abefghi “to Gehenna” / Arab “to Gehenna-fire”
25 [85:15] bcgh / adefilwp add
26 [85:15] c / adefghiwp “preserve. And those whom he is able to forgive, he”
27 [86:1] c, Arab / l “receive the letter”
28 [86:1] c / l adds “however”
29 [86:1] c / abdefghiwp add
30 [87:1] c / all others omit “And it happened….it away.”
31 [87:1] c / bgh (a similar) “Here ends the first letter of Baruch the scribe.” / dei “Here ends the first letter.” /
wp “Here ends the letter of Baruch.” / f omits altogether

Page last revised on

Page last updated on Sunday, 01 June 2025 01:09 PM

Blue Letter Bible Search Tool

ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!