Jeremiah 36:1-21 ▼

1 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) son of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) king of Judah (praised), this word came to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) from the LORD {YHWH}:

2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel (he wrestles with God), Judah (praised), and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) until today.

3 Perhaps when the people of Judah (praised) hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

4 So Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) called Baruch (blessed) son of Neriah (lamp of YHWH), and at the dictation of Jeremiah, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words that the LORD {YHWH} had spoken to Jeremiah.

5 Then Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) commanded Baruch (blessed), “I am restricted; I cannot enter the house of the LORD {YHWH};

6 so you are to go to the house of the LORD {YHWH} on a day of fasting, and in the hearing of the people you are to read the words of the LORD from the scroll you have written at my dictation. Read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah (praised) who are coming from their cities.

7 Perhaps they will bring their petition before the LORD {YHWH}, and each one will turn from his wicked way; for great are the anger and fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.”

8 So Baruch (blessed) son of Neriah (lamp of YHWH) did everything that Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet had commanded him. In the house of the LORD {YHWH} he read the words of the LORD from the scroll.

9 Now in the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) son of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) king of Judah (praised), a fast before the LORD {YHWH} was proclaimed to all the people of Jerusalem (city of peace) and all who had come there from the cities of Judah.

10 {YHWH} From the chamber of Gemariah (YHWH has accomplished) son of Shaphan the scribe, which was in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of the house of the LORD, Baruch (blessed) read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) in the hearing of all the people.

11 When Micaiah (who is like God) son of Gemariah (YHWH has accomplished), the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD {YHWH} from the scroll,

12 he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama (my God has heard) the scribe, Delaiah (YHWH has drawn) son of Shemaiah (heard by YHWH), Elnathan (God has given) son of Achbor (mouse), Gemariah (YHWH has accomplished) son of Shaphan, Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) son of Hananiah (God has favored), and all the other officials.

13 And Micaiah (who is like God) reported to them all the words he had heard Baruch (blessed) read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.

14 Then all the officials sent word to Baruch (blessed) through Jehudi (Jew) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH), the son of Shelemiah (repaid by YHWH), the son of Cushi (their blackness), saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come here.” So Baruch son of Neriah (lamp of YHWH) took the scroll and went to them.

15 “Please sit down,” they said, “and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch (blessed) read it in their hearing.

16 When they had heard all these words, they turned to one another in fear and said to Baruch (blessed), “Surely we must report all these words to the king.”

17 “Tell us now,” they asked Baruch (blessed), “how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?”

18 “It was at his dictation,” Baruch (blessed) replied. “He recited all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”

19 Then the officials said to Baruch (blessed), “You and Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) must hide yourselves and tell no one where you⁺ are.”

20 So the officials went to the king in the courtyard. And having stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama (my God has heard) the scribe, they reported everything to the king.

21 Then the king sent Jehudi (Jew) to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama (my God has heard) the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him.