2 Baruch 10

1And it happened after seven days that the word of God came to me and said to me:

2“Tell Jeremiah to go and accompany the captivity of the people as far as Babylon.

3But you, remain here in the desolation of Zion, and after these days I will show you what is to happen in the latter times.”

4And I spoke to Jeremiah my brother as the Lord had commanded me.

5And he went with the people, but I, Baruch, returned and sat before the gates of the temple, and I lifted up this lament over Zion and said:

6“Blessed is he who was not born, or he who was born and died.

7But as for us who live, woe to us, because we have seen the afflictions of Zion and what has happened to Jerusalem.

8I will call the Sirens from the sea, and you Liliths, come from the desert, and you demons and dragons from the forests: awake, gird up your loins for mourning, and take up lamentation with me, and mourn with me.

9You farmers, do not sow again; and you, O earth, why do you still give the fruit of your produce? Keep within you the sweetness of your nourishment.

10And you, vine, why do you still give your wine? For no offering from you will again be received in Zion, and no firstfruits will again be accepted.

11And you, heavens, hold back your dew, and do not open the treasuries of rain.

12And you, sun, hold back the light of your rays; and you, moon, extinguish the abundance of your light. For why should light rise again, where the light of Zion has been darkened?

13And you, bridegrooms, do not enter; and let not the virgins adorn themselves. And you, women, do not pray to bear children.

14Rather, let the barren rejoice, and let those who have no children be glad; but let those who have children grieve.

15For why should they bear in pain and bury in groaning?

16Or why should people again have children, or why should the seed of their nature again be named, when this mother lies desolate and her children have gone away into captivity?

17From now on, do not again speak of beauty, and do not discourse of loveliness ...”