It came to pass, when the children of Israel were taken captive by the king of the Chaldeans, that God spake unto Jeremiah: Jeremiah, my chosen one, arise, go forth out of this city, thou and Baruch; for I will destroy it because of the multitude of the sins of them that dwell therein.
2For your prayers are in the midst of it as a firm pillar, and as a wall of adamant round about it.
3Now therefore arise and go forth, before the host of the Chaldeans compass it about.
4And Jeremiah answered, saying: I beseech thee, O Lord, suffer me thy servant to speak before thee. And the Lord said unto him: Speak, my chosen Jeremiah.
5And Jeremiah spake, saying: O Lord Almighty, thou deliverest the chosen city into the hands of the Chaldeans, that the king may boast with the multitude of his people, and say: I have prevailed against the holy city of God?
6Nay, my Lord; but if it be thy will, let it be made to vanish out of thy hands.
7And the Lord said unto Jeremiah: Since thou art my chosen one, arise and go forth out of this city, thou and Baruch; for I will destroy it because of the multitude of the sins of them that dwell therein.
8For neither the king nor his host shall be able to enter into it, unless I first open the gates thereof.
9Arise therefore, and go unto Baruch, and declare unto him these words.
10And having risen up at the sixth hour of the night, come ye upon the walls of the city, and I will show you that, unless I first destroy the city, they cannot enter into it.
11And when the Lord had said these things, he departed from Jeremiah.