1
These are the Words of the letter Baruk son of Neriyah sent to the nine and a half tribes beyond the river, in which these things were written:
2
Thus says Baruk son of Neriyah to the brothers carried captive: Compassion and shalom be to you.
3
I remember, my brothers, the love of the One who created us, who loved us from the beginning, who never hated us, but chiefly disciplined us.
4
I truly know that all twelve tribes are bound in one bond, because we are born from one father.
5
Therefore I was especially concerned to leave you the Words of this letter before I die, that you may be consoled concerning the evil that reached you and grieve also concerning the evil befalling your brothers; and that you may justify the Judgment of the One who decreed that you be taken captive. What you suffered is less than what you did, so that in the last time you may be found worthy of your fathers.
6
If you consider that you now suffered these things for your good, so that at the end you should not be judged and tormented, you shall then receive everlasting hope—if you chiefly remove from your hearts the empty error because of which you departed from here.
7
If you do these things, the One who always promised on our behalf to those more excellent than we shall continually remember you: He shall never forget or abandon our seed, but in abundant compassion shall again gather all who were scattered.