Baruch 1
Commentary from 3 fathers
In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.
ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ πέμπτῳ, ἐν ἑβδόμῃ τοῦ μηνός, ἐν τῷ καιρῷ, ᾧ ἔλαβον οἱ Χαλδαῖοι τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐνέπρησαν αὐτὴν ἐν πυρί.
въ пѧ́тое лѣ́то, въ седмы́й де́нь мцⷭ҇а, во вре́мѧ, въ не́же взѧ́ша халде́є і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ и҆ пожго́ша є҆го̀ ѻ҆гне́мъ.
And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joachim king of Juda, and in the ears of all the people that came to hear the book,
καὶ ἀνέγνω Βαροὺχ τοὺς λόγους τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου ἐν ὠσὶν ᾿Ιεχονίου, υἱοῦ ᾿Ιωακεὶμ βασιλέως ᾿Ιούδα καὶ ἐν ὠσὶ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν ἐρχομένων πρὸς τὴν βίβλον
И҆ прочтѐ варꙋ́хъ словеса̀ кни́ги сеѧ̀ во ᲂу҆́шы і҆ехоні́и сы́на і҆ѡакі́ма царѧ̀ і҆ꙋ́дина и҆ во ᲂу҆́шы всѣ́хъ люді́й приходѧ́щихъ ко кни́зѣ,
He had earlier been deported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar: the same Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, was also called Eliakim, because he had two names.
Fragments on Baruch 1:3
And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king’s sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the lowest unto the highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon by the river Sud.
καὶ ἐν ὠσὶ τῶν δυνατῶν καὶ υἱῶν τῶν βασιλέων καὶ ἐν ὠσὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων καὶ ἐν ὠσὶ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ, ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου, πάντων τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν Βαβυλῶνι ἐπὶ ποταμοῦ Σούδ.
и҆ во ᲂу҆́шы си́льныхъ и҆ сынѡ́въ ца́рскихъ и҆ во ᲂу҆́шы старѣ́йшинъ, и҆ во ᲂу҆́шы всѣ́хъ люді́й ѿ ма́ла и҆ до вели́ка и҆́хъ, всѣ́хъ живꙋ́щихъ въ вавѷлѡ́нѣ при рѣцѣ̀ сꙋ́дъ.
Whereupon they wept, fasted, and prayed before the Lord.
καὶ ἔκλαιον καὶ ἐνήστευον καὶ ηὔχοντο ἐναντίον Κυρίου
И҆ пла́кахꙋсѧ, и҆ постѧ́хꙋсѧ, и҆ молѧ́хꙋсѧ моли́твами пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ,
They made also a collection of money according to every man’s power:
καὶ συνήγαγον ἀργύριον, καθὰ ἑκάστου ἠδύνατο ἡ χείρ,
и҆ собра́ша сребро̀, ꙗ҆́коже когѡ́ждо можа́ше рꙋка̀,
And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,
καὶ ἀπέστειλαν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ πρὸς ᾿Ιωακεὶμ υἱὸν Χελκίου, υἱοῦ Σαλώμ, τὸν ἱερέα, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ πρὸς πάντα τὸν λαόν, τοὺς εὑρεθέντας μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ
и҆ посла́ша во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ ко і҆ѡакі́мꙋ жерцꙋ̀ вели́комꙋ, сы́нꙋ хелкі́инꙋ сы́на салѡ́млѧ и҆ ко жерцє́мъ и҆ ко всѣ̑мъ лю́демъ, и҆̀же ѡ҆брѣто́шасѧ съ ни́мъ во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ,
At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of the Lord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them into the land of Juda, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely, silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada had made,
ἐν τῷ λαβεῖν αὐτὸν τὰ σκεύη οἴκου Κυρίου, τὰ ἐξενεχθέντα ἐκ τοῦ ναοῦ, ἀποστρέψαι εἰς γῆν ᾿Ιούδα, τῇ δεκάτῃ τοῦ Σειουάν, σκεύη ἀργυρᾶ, ἃ ἐποίησε Σεδεκίας υἱὸς ᾿Ιωσία βασιλεὺς ᾿Ιούδα
внегда̀ взѧ̀ сосꙋ́ды хра́ма гдⷭ҇нѧ и҆знесє́ныѧ ѿ хра́ма возврати́ти на зе́млю і҆ꙋ́динꙋ, въ десѧ́тый де́нь мцⷭ҇а сива́нъ, сосꙋ́ды срє́брѧны, ꙗ҆̀же сотворѝ седекі́а сы́нъ і҆ѡсі́инъ ца́рь і҆ꙋ́динъ,
After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.
μετὰ τὸ ἀποικίσαι Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος τὸν ᾿Ιεχονίαν καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ τοὺς δεσμώτας καὶ τοὺς δυνατοὺς καὶ τὸν λαὸν τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα·
повнегда̀ преселѝ навꙋходоно́соръ ца́рь вавѷлѡ́нскїй і҆ехоні́ю и҆ кнѧ̑зи, и҆ ᲂу҆́зники и҆ си̑льныѧ и҆ лю́ди землѝ ѿ і҆ерⷭ҇ли́ма, и҆ введѐ ѧ҆̀ (свѧ̑заны) въ вавѷлѡ́нъ.
And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;
καὶ εἶπαν· ἰδοὺ ἀπεστείλαμεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀργύριον, καὶ ἀγοράσατε τοῦ ἀργυρίου ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ λίβανον καὶ ποιήσατε μάννα καὶ ἀνοίσατε ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν
И҆ реко́ша: сѐ, посла́хомъ къ ва́мъ сребро̀, да кꙋ́пите на сребрѣ̀ всесожжє́нїѧ за грѣ́хъ и҆ ѳѷмїа́мъ, и҆ сотвори́те же́ртвꙋ и҆ вознеси́те на же́ртвенникъ гдⷭ҇а бг҃а на́шегѡ,
Even though the temple had been razed to the ground, they offered sacrifices on the spot where it was built. In fact, it was unlawful to offer sacrifices in a place other than Jerusalem.
Fragments on Baruch 1:10
And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:
καὶ προσεύξασθε περὶ τῆς ζωῆς Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος καὶ εἰς ζωὴν Βαλτάσαρ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ὦσιν αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτῶν ὡς αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
и҆ моли́тесѧ за житїѐ навꙋходоно́сора царѧ̀ вавѷлѡ́нскагѡ и҆ за житїѐ валтаса́ра сы́на є҆гѡ̀, да бꙋ́дꙋтъ дні́е и҆́хъ, ꙗ҆́коже дні́е небе́снїи, на землѝ.
The Fathers call sexual desire “Egypt,” meaning the body’s inclination toward its own satisfaction and the mind’s focus on pleasure. They understand by “Assyrians” the passionate, all-consuming thoughts that trouble and confuse the mind as they fill it with impure images and violently drag it down with sin, even when it does not want that sin around.… Before one gives into passion, even if his thoughts rise up against him, he is still free in his own city; indeed, he also has God helping him. If, therefore, such a person humbles himself before God and bears the yoke of his affliction of temptation with thanksgiving and puts up even a small fight, the help of God will surely deliver him. If instead he flees hard work and lowers himself to the desires of the body, then he is deported with force and violence to the land of the Assyrians, where he must serve them even if he does not want to. But then the prophet still says, “Pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar because in his life is your salvation.” “Nebuchadnezzar” stands for someone who does not become discouraged at the affliction of temptation that comes, nor does he rebel but endures it with humility, suffering it like something he deserves and considering that he is not worthy to be freed from this weight. Indeed, he understands that his trial deserves to last even longer and should be even more severe. He is someone who, whether he is aware or not that the cause of his troubles lies with himself or his circumstances at the moment, believes that nothing that comes from God is without justice.
Spiritual Instructions 13:143
And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favour in their sight.
καὶ δώσει Κύριος ἰσχὺν ἡμῖν καὶ φωτίσει τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμῶν, καὶ ζησόμεθα ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν Βαλτάσαρ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ δουλεύσομεν αὐτοῖς ἡμέρας πολλὰς καὶ εὑρήσομεν χάριν ἐναντίον αὐτῶν.
И҆ да да́стъ гдⷭ҇ь крѣ́пость на́мъ и҆ да просвѣти́тъ ѻ҆́чи на́ши, и҆ да живе́мъ под̾ сѣ́нїю навꙋходоно́сора царѧ̀ вавѷлѡ́нска и҆ под̾ сѣ́нїю валтаса́ра сы́на є҆гѡ̀, да рабо́таемъ и҆̀мъ дни̑ мнѡ́ги и҆ ѡ҆брѧ́щемъ благода́ть пред̾ ни́ми.
Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God; and unto this day the fury of the Lord and his wrath is not turned from us.
καὶ προσεύξασθε περὶ ἡμῶν πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἡμάρτομεν τῷ Κυρίῳ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἀπέστρεψεν ὁ θυμὸς Κυρίου καὶ ἡ ὀργὴ αὐτοῦ ἀφ᾿ ἡμῶν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
И҆ моли́тесѧ за на́съ ко гдⷭ҇еви бг҃ꙋ на́шемꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ согрѣши́хомъ гдⷭ҇еви бг҃ꙋ на́шемꙋ, и҆ не ѿврати́сѧ ꙗ҆́рость гдⷭ҇нѧ и҆ гнѣ́въ є҆гѡ̀ ѿ на́съ до сегѡ̀ днѐ.
And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.
καὶ ἀναγνώσεσθε τὸ βιβλίον τοῦτο, ὃ ἀπεστείλαμεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἐξαγορεῦσαι ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἑορτῆς καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις καιροῦ,
И҆ прочти́те кни́гꙋ сїю̀, ю҆́же посла́хомъ къ ва́мъ, и҆сповѣ́дати въ домꙋ̀ гдⷭ҇ни въ де́нь пра́здника, во дни̑ годовы̑ѧ,
And ye shall say, To the Lord our God belongeth righteousness, but unto us the confusion of faces, as it is come to pass this day, unto them of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
καὶ ἐρεῖτε· Τῷ Κυρίῳ Θεῷ ἡμῶν ἡ δικαιοσύνη, ἡμῖν δὲ αἰσχύνη τῶν προσώπων ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, ἀνθρώπῳ ᾿Ιούδα καὶ τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ
и҆ да рече́те: гдⷭ҇ꙋ бг҃ꙋ на́шемꙋ пра́вда, а҆ на́мъ стыдѣ́нїе ли́цъ, ꙗ҆́коже де́нь се́й, человѣ́кꙋ і҆ꙋ́динꙋ и҆ живꙋ́щымъ во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ,
God’s judgment against us is extremely just: we deserve shame, all of us having transgressed. Indeed, like the kings, even the priests have done what is forbidden.
Commentary on Baruch 1:15-16
God punished us justly, and today we are ashamed to be justly made prisoners.
Fragments on Baruch 1:15
And to our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers:
καὶ τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ἡμῶν καὶ τοῖς ἄρχουσιν ἡμῶν καὶ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἡμῶν καὶ τοῖς προφήταις ἡμῶν καὶ τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν,
и҆ царє́мъ на́шымъ и҆ кнѧзє́мъ на́шымъ, и҆ жерцє́мъ на́шымъ и҆ проро́кѡмъ на́шымъ и҆ ѻ҆тцє́мъ на́шымъ:
For we have sinned before the Lord,
ὧν ἡμάρτομεν ἔναντι Κυρίου
поне́же согрѣши́хомъ пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ
And disobeyed him, and have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us openly:
καὶ ἠπειθήσαμεν αὐτῷ καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσαμεν τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν πορεύεσθαι τοῖς προστάγμασι Κυρίου, οἷς ἔδωκε κατὰ πρόσωπον ἡμῶν.
и҆ не покори́хомсѧ є҆мꙋ̀ и҆ не послꙋ́шахомъ гла́са гдⷭ҇а бг҃а на́шегѡ ходи́ти въ повелѣ́нїихъ є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆̀же дадѐ пред̾ лице́мъ на́шимъ.
Since the day that the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, unto this present day, we have been disobedient unto the Lord our God, and we have been negligent in not hearing his voice.
ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας, ἧς ἐξήγαγε Κύριος τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἤμεθα ἀπειθοῦντες πρὸς Κύριον Θεὸν ἡμῶν καὶ ἐσχεδιάζομεν πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἀκούειν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ.
Ѿ днѐ, во́ньже и҆зведѐ гдⷭ҇ь ѻ҆тцы̀ на́шѧ ѿ землѝ є҆гѵ́петски, и҆ до сегѡ̀ днѐ бѣ́хомъ не покарѧ́ющесѧ гдⷭ҇еви бг҃ꙋ на́шемꙋ и҆ ѿмета́хомсѧ, є҆́же не послꙋ́шати гла́са є҆гѡ̀.
“We are stubborn,” not to mention “we have devised every kind of sin.” Paul says of them that they are “ingenious in wickedness.”
Commentary on Baruch 1:19
Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord appointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day.
καὶ ἐκολλήθη εἰς ἡμᾶς τὰ κακὰ καὶ ἡ ἀρά, ἣν συνέταξε Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ παιδὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, ᾗ ἐξήγαγε τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου δοῦναι ἡμῖν γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη.
И҆ прильпѐ къ на́мъ ѕло̀ и҆ клѧ́тва, ю҆́же сочинѝ гдⷭ҇ь мѡѷсе́ю ѻ҆́трокꙋ своемꙋ̀ въ де́нь, во́ньже и҆зведѐ гдⷭ҇ь ѻ҆тцы̀ на́шѧ ѿ землѝ є҆гѵ́петскїѧ, да́ти на́мъ зе́млю кипѧ́щꙋю млеко́мъ и҆ ме́домъ, ꙗ҆́коже де́нь се́й.
Nevertheless we have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, according unto all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto us:
καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσαμεν τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν κατὰ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τῶν προφητῶν, ὧν ἀπέστειλε πρὸς ἡμᾶς,
И҆ не послꙋ́шахомъ гла́са гдⷭ҇а бг҃а на́шегѡ по всѣ̑мъ словесє́мъ прⷪ҇ро́чєскимъ, ꙗ҆̀же посла̀ къ на́мъ,
But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.
καὶ ᾠχόμεθα ἕκαστος ἐν διανοίᾳ καρδίας αὐτοῦ τῆς πονηρᾶς ἐργάζεσθαι θεοῖς ἑτέροις, ποιῆσαι τὰ κακὰ κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμοὺς Κυρίου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.
и҆ хожда́хомъ кі́йждо на́съ по ра́зꙋмꙋ се́рдца своегѡ̀ ѕла́гѡ рабо́тати богѡ́мъ и҆нѣ̑мъ, твори́ти ѕла̑ѧ пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма гдⷭ҇а бг҃а на́шегѡ.
And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias, the son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,
ΚΑΙ οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι τοῦ βιβλίου, οὓς ἔγραψε Βαροὺχ υἱὸς Νηρίου, υἱοῦ Μαασαίου, υἱοῦ Σεδεκίου, υἱοῦ ᾿Ασαδίου, υἱοῦ Χελκίου, ἐν Βαβυλῶνι,
Сїѧ̑ словеса̀ кни́ги, ю҆́же написа̀ варꙋ́хъ сы́нъ нирі́инъ, сы́на маасе́ева, сы́на седекі́ина, сы́на а҆саде́ева, сы́на хелкі́ина въ вавѷлѡ́нѣ,