3. then read it to the people of Judah. Perhaps they will stop sinning when they hear what terrible things I plan for them. And if they turn to me, I will forgive them.”
4. I sent for Baruch son of Neriah and asked him to help me. I repeated everything the Lord had told me, and Baruch wrote it all down on a scroll.
5. Then I said,Baruch, the officials refuse to let me go into the Lord's temple,
6. so you must go instead. Wait for the next holy day when the people of Judah come to the temple to pray and to go without eating. Then take this scroll to the temple and read it aloud.
7. The Lord is furious, and if the people hear how he is going to punish them, perhaps they will ask to be forgiven.
11. Gemariah's son Micaiah was there and heard Baruch read what the Lord had said.
12. When Baruch finished reading, Micaiah went down to the palace. His father Gemariah was in the officials' room, meeting with the rest of the king's officials, including Elishama, Delaiah, Elnathan, and Zedekiah.
13. Micaiah told them what he had heard Baruch reading to the people.
14. Then the officials sent Jehudi and Shelemiah to tell Baruch, “Bring us that scroll.”When Baruch arrived with the scroll,
15. the officials said, “Please sit down and read it to us,” which he did.
16. After they heard what was written on the scroll, they were worried and said to each other, “The king needs to hear this!” Turning to Baruch, they asked,
17. “Did someone tell you what to write on this scroll?”
18. “Yes, Jeremiah did,” Baruch replied. “I wrote down just what he told me.”
19. The officials said, “You and Jeremiah must go into hiding, and don't tell anyone where you are.”