Fourth Baruch

When the hour of the night came, just as the Lord had said to Jeremiah, Jeremiah and Baruch came together to the walls of the city.

And behold, there was the sound of trumpets, and angels came out of heaven, holding torches in their hands, and they stood upon the walls of the city.

And when Jeremiah and Baruch saw them, they wept, saying, “Now we know that the word is true.”

And Jeremiah implored the angels, saying, “I beg you, do not destroy the city yet, until I speak a word to the Lord.”

And the Lord spoke to the angels, saying, “Do not destroy the city until I speak to my chosen one, Jeremiah.”

Then Jeremiah spoke, saying, “I beseech you, Lord, command me to speak before you.”

And the Lord said, “Speak, my chosen one, Jeremiah.”

And Jeremiah said, “Behold now, Lord, we know that you are delivering the city into the hands of its enemies, and they will take the people away to Babylon.”

“What do you want me to do with the holy vessels of the ministry?”

And the Lord said to him, “Take them and deliver them to the earth, saying, ‘Hear, O earth, the voice of your Creator, who formed you in the abundance of waters, who sealed you with seven seals for seven times, and after these things you will receive your beauty;’ ”

“ ‘preserve the vessels of the ministry until the gathering of the beloved one.’ ”

And Jeremiah spoke, saying, “I beseech you, Lord, show me what I am to do with Abimelech the Ethiopian, for he performed many good deeds for your servant Jeremiah.”

For he has drawn me up from the pit of mud, and I do not want him to see the destruction of this city and its desolation, but that you may have mercy on him and that he may not grieve.

And the Lord said to Jeremiah, “Send him to the vineyard of Agrippa, and in the shadow of the mountain I will cover him until I restore the people to the city.”

“But you, Jeremiah, depart with your people to Babylon, and remain with them, evangelizing them until I restore them to the city.”

“But leave Baruch here until I speak with him.”

After saying these things, the Lord ascended from Jeremiah to heaven.

And Jeremiah and Baruch entered the sanctuary, and taking up the vessels of the ministry, they delivered them to the earth, just as the Lord had spoken to them.

And immediately the earth swallowed them up.

And the two sat down and wept.

And when morning came, Jeremiah sent Abimelech, saying, “Take the basket, and go to the field of Agrippa by way of the mountain, and bring a few figs, and give them to the sick of the people; for upon you is the joy of the Lord, and upon your head is glory.”

And after saying these things, Jeremiah dismissed him; and Abimelech went just as he had told him.