Chapter 2

1And Jeremiah ran and told these things to Baruch; and as they went into the temple of God, Jeremiah tore his garments and put dust on his head and entered the holy place of God.

2And when Baruch saw him with dust sprinkled on his head and his garments torn, he cried out in a loud voice, saying: Father Jeremiah, what are you doing? What sin has the people committed?

3(For whenever the people sinned, Jeremiah would sprinkle dust on his head and would pray for the people until their sin was forgiven.)

4So Baruch asked him, saying: Father, what is this?

5And Jeremiah said to him: Refrain from rending your garments -- rather, let us rend our hearts! And let us not draw water for the trough, but let us weep and fill them with tears! For the Lord will not have mercy on this people.

6And Baruch said: Father Jeremiah, what has happened?

7And Jeremiah said: God is delivering the city into the hands of the king of the Chaldeans, to take the people captive into Babylon.

8And when Baruch heard these things, he also tore his garments and said: Father Jeremiah, who has made this known to you?

9And Jeremiah said to him: Stay with me awhile, until the sixth hour of the night, so that you may know that this word is true.

10Therefore they both remained in the altar-area weeping, and their garments were torn.