Fourth Baruch

And Jeremiah ran and reported these things to Baruch. And when they came to the temple of God, Jeremiah tore his clothes and put dust on his head and entered the sanctuary of God.

When Baruch saw him with dust sprinkled on his head and his clothes torn, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Father Jeremiah, what has happened to you, or what sin has the people committed?”

For whenever the people sinned, Jeremiah would sprinkle dust on his head and pray for the people until the sin was forgiven.

And Baruch asked him, saying, “Father, what is this?”

And Jeremiah said to him, “Refrain from tearing your clothes, but rather let us tear our hearts; and let us not draw water for the troughs, but let us weep and fill them with tears; for the Lord will not have mercy on this people.”

And Baruch said, “Father Jeremiah, what has happened?”

And Jeremiah said, “God is delivering the city into the hands of the king of the Chaldeans, to take the people captive into Babylon.”

When Baruch heard these things, he also tore his clothes and said, “Father Jeremiah, who revealed this to you?”

And Jeremiah said to him, “Wait with me a little while until the sixth hour of the night, so that you may know that this word is true.”

So they both remained in the altar area, weeping, and their clothes were torn.