Third Baruch

Now I, Baruch, weeping in my understanding and being concerned for the people, and how King Nebuchadnezzar was permitted by God to destroy his city, said:

“Lord, why have you set fire to your vineyard and laid it waste? Why have you done this? And why, Lord, did you not give us over to another discipline, but deliver us to such nations, so that they, mocking, say, ‘Where is their God?’”

And behold, as I was weeping and saying such things, I saw an angel of the Lord coming and saying to me, “Understand, O man, man of desires, and do not be so concerned about the salvation of Jerusalem, for thus says the Lord God Almighty.”

“For he sent me before you to announce and show you all things of God.”

“For your prayer was heard before him and entered the ears of the Lord God.”

And when he had said these things to me, I was silent. And the angel says to me, “Cease to provoke God, and I will show you other mysteries greater than these.”

And I, Baruch, said, “As the Lord God lives, if you show me and I hear a word from you, I will not speak again; may God add judgment to me on the day of judgment, if I speak hereafter.”

And the angel of the powers said to me, “Come and I will show you the mysteries of God.”