Jeremiah 45
What Happens in This Chapter
Baruch, the man who wrote down Jeremiah's words, gets a short message of his own. Baruch has said that he is worn out and sad and can find no rest. God answers that he is tearing down the land he built up, so Baruch should not look for great things for himself. God tells Baruch that he will keep his life wherever he goes.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
1Jeremiah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. Baruch, the son of Neriah, wrote Jeremiah's words on a scroll while Jeremiah said them out loud. This happened in the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah. Then Jeremiah spoke this message to Baruch.
The KJV says Baruch wrote "in a book." Books back then were long rolled-up sheets called scrolls.
2Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch:
2This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch.
3Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
3You said, "This is so hard for me! The LORD has piled more sadness on top of my hurting. I am worn out from crying. I cannot find any rest."
"Woe is me" is an old way of saying "how sad and awful this is for me."
4Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
4Jeremiah, tell Baruch this. The LORD says, "I built this land up, and now I will tear it down. I planted it, and now I will pull it up. I will do this to the whole land."
5And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
5"And are you hoping for big things for yourself? Do not look for them. I am going to bring trouble on every living person, says the LORD. But wherever you go, I will let you keep your life."
The KJV says God will give Baruch his life "for a prey." A prey was something a soldier carried home safely from a battle. It means Baruch will get to keep his life, even when everything else is lost.
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