3. Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”
4. So Jeremiah sent for Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated all the prophecies that the lord had given him, Baruch wrote them on a scroll.
5. Then Jeremiah said to Baruch, “I am a prisoner here and unable to go to the Temple.
6. So you go to the Temple on the next day of fasting, and read the messages from the lord that I have had you write on this scroll. Read them so the people who are there from all over Judah will hear them.
7. Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the lord’s forgiveness before it is too late. For the lord has threatened them with his terrible anger.”
8. Baruch did as Jeremiah told him and read these messages from the lord to the people at the Temple.
9. He did this on a day of sacred fasting held in late autumn, during the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah. People from all over Judah had come to Jerusalem to attend the services at the Temple on that day.
10. Baruch read Jeremiah’s words on the scroll to all the people. He stood in front of the Temple room of Gemariah, son of Shaphan the secretary. This room was just off the upper courtyard of the Temple, near the New Gate entrance.
11. When Micaiah son of Gemariah and grandson of Shaphan heard the messages from the lord,
12. he went down to the secretary’s room in the palace where the administrative officials were meeting. Elishama the secretary was there, along with Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
13. When Micaiah told them about the messages Baruch was reading to the people,
14. the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah, grandson of Shelemiah and great-grandson of Cushi, to ask Baruch to come and read the messages to them, too. So Baruch took the scroll and went to them.
15. “Sit down and read the scroll to us,” the officials said, and Baruch did as they requested.
16. When they heard all the messages, they looked at one another in alarm. “We must tell the king what we have heard,” they said to Baruch.