In the Ethiopian Biblical canon, the Book of Baruch is part of the broader 'Jeremiah Cycle,' which includes additional texts not found in Western Bibles. In the Western tradition, Baruch is a deuterocanonical book. In many Bibles, the Letter of Jeremiah (Baruch chapter 6) is presented as a separate book. However, in the Greek Septuagint, it is incorporated as the sixth chapter of Baruch.
Baruch
Chapter 6 — The Letter of Jeremiah
A copy of a letter which Jeremiah sent to those who were to be led captive to Babylon by the king of Babylon, to tell them the things which he had been commanded by God.
Because of the sins which you have committed before God, you will be led to Babylon as captives by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
So when you have come to Babylon, you will remain there for many years, and for a long time, even up to seven generations; and after that I will bring you away in peace.
But now you will see in Babylon gods of silver and gold and wood, borne on men's shoulders, causing fear among the heathen.
Be careful, therefore, not to become like these foreigners, and do not let fear of these gods possess you.
When you see the multitude behind and before them, worship the Lord in your heart.
For my angel is with you, and I myself will care for your souls.
Their tongues are polished by a craftsman; they themselves are covered with gold and silver; but they are false and cannot speak.
People take gold and make crowns for their gods, like a young woman who loves fine jewelry.
Sometimes the priests steal the gold and silver from their gods and spend it on themselves.
They even give some of it to the prostitutes in the brothel and deck out their gods like men, with clothes, these gods of silver, gold, and wood.
Yet these gods cannot protect themselves from rust and corrosion, though they are covered with purple robes.
Their faces are wiped clean because of the dust in the temple, which is thick upon them.
One of them holds a scepter, like a man who is a judge of a region, yet cannot put to death any who offend him.
Another holds a sword or an ax in his right hand, yet cannot save himself from war or from robbers.
This proves they are not gods. Do not worship them.
Like a broken vessel, these gods are useless.
Women sit at the gates, with branches of wood, burning incense to them; and if one of them is taken away by some passerby, she goes to her neighbor to have children born to her, because she has lost her husband.
The priests take the clothes from their gods, and clothe their wives and children.
Even if someone does evil to these gods, or if good is done to them, they cannot repay it. They cannot set up a king or depose him.
They cannot give riches or money. If a man makes a vow to them and does not keep it, they will not require it.
They cannot save a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.
They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor deliver one who is in distress.
They cannot show mercy to a widow, nor do good to an orphan.
These gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, are like stones from the mountain. Those who worship them will be put to shame.
How then is it to be supposed or said that they are gods?
Every year the priests of these gods take their wives and children and feast with them. Then they shout before their gods, as people mourn for the dead.
They take their garments and put them on their priests, who then clothe their own wives and children with them.
Even if someone does evil to them, they cannot repay it. They cannot save a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.
They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch, which guards nothing. Their priests lock their gods up with bars and doors, to prevent them from being stolen by robbers.
They light lamps for them, and more than they light for themselves, yet these gods cannot see even one of them.
They are like one of the beams of a house. Their hearts, it is said, are eaten away by creeping things from the earth; and when anyone eats them and their clothes, they do not feel it.
If their faces are blackened by smoke from the temple, they do not notice it.
Bats, swallows, and other birds land on their bodies and heads, and so do cats.
From this you will know that they are not gods. Do not worship them.
The gold that is around them is polished for beauty, but if someone rubs off the tarnish, they do not gleam, for they did not feel it when they were cast.
They were bought at a high price, but there is no breath of life in them.
Since they have no feet, they are carried on men's shoulders, showing to everyone how worthless they are. Even those who serve them are put to shame.
If one of them falls to the ground, it cannot get up again by itself. If someone sets it upright, it cannot move itself. If someone bows down to it, it cannot look at him.
They are like a corpse thrown into darkness.
The priests sell the animals that are sacrificed to their gods, and they take the money and spend it on themselves. They also share the meat from the sacrifices with their wives.
They anoint their gods with the blood of the sacrifices, but they still do not feel the smell.
Sometimes the priests take the garments from their gods and put them on their wives and children.
Even if someone does something evil to them, good or bad, they cannot repay it. They cannot set up a king or depose him.
They are like stones from a mountain, like a potter's clay vessel, which the potter can break at will. Why then should anyone think they are gods?
Do not worship them, nor be like the heathen who are afraid of them.
The sun and moon and stars are bright and are sent out to be useful. They obey God.
So also the lightning, when it flashes, is widely seen; and the wind blows across every land.
When God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are told.
Fire sent from above to burn up mountains and forests does what it is commanded. But these gods are not like them in appearance or power.
Therefore, do not think they are gods, nor call them gods, for they cannot do justice for anyone or do anyone any good.
Since you know that they are not gods, do not worship them.
They cannot help a king, nor give victory to him in battle. They cannot help the weak against the strong.
They cannot save a rich man from death, nor rescue the oppressed from the powerful.
They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor rescue anyone in distress.
They cannot show mercy to a widow, nor do good to an orphan.
These gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, are no better than stones from the mountain. Those who worship them will be put to shame.
How then can anyone think or say that they are gods?
They are nothing more than the work of carpenters and goldsmiths. They are only what the craftsmen want them to be.
Those who make them are not long-lived themselves, so how can the things they make be gods?
They leave nothing but lies and shame to those who come after them.
When war or calamity comes upon them, the priests of these gods decide among themselves where they can hide with them.
How then can anyone fail to understand that they are not gods, for they cannot save themselves from war or from calamity?
Since they are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will be known in future ages that they are nothing but lies.
It will be clear to all the nations and kings that they are not gods, but the work of men's hands, and that there is no divine power in them.
Who then cannot know that they are not gods?
For they cannot set up a king over a land, nor give rain to men.
They cannot decide a legal case, nor deliver anyone from injustice, for they are powerless.
They are like crows between heaven and earth. When fire falls on the temple of these wooden gods overlaid with gold or silver, their priests will flee and escape, but they will be burned up like beams.
They cannot resist a king or an enemy. Why then should anyone think or say that they are gods?
These gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, cannot protect themselves from thieves or robbers.
Strong men will strip them of their gold and silver and take away the clothes they are wearing. They will go away with all that, and these gods cannot help themselves.
It is better to be a king who shows his courage, or a useful vessel in a house, which the owner will treasure, than to be such false gods. Or better is a door in a house, which protects what is inside, than such false gods.
The sun and moon and stars are bright and are sent out to be useful. They obey God.
So also the lightning, when it flashes, is widely seen; and the wind blows across every land.
When God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are told.
Fire sent from above to burn up mountains and forests does what it is commanded. But these gods are not like them in appearance or power.
Therefore, do not think they are gods, nor call them gods, for they cannot do justice for anyone or do anyone any good.
Since you know that they are not gods, do not worship them.
They cannot help a king, nor give victory to him in battle. They cannot help the weak against the strong.
They cannot save a rich man from death, nor rescue the oppressed from the powerful.
They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor rescue anyone in distress.
They cannot show mercy to a widow, nor do good to an orphan.
These gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, are no better than stones from the mountain. Those who worship them will be put to shame.
How then can anyone think or say that they are gods?
They are nothing more than the work of carpenters and goldsmiths. They are only what the craftsmen want them to be.
Those who make them are not long-lived themselves, so how can the things they make be gods?
They leave nothing but lies and shame to those who come after them.
When war or calamity comes upon them, the priests of these gods decide among themselves where they can hide with them.
How then can anyone fail to understand that they are not gods, for they cannot save themselves from war or from calamity?
Since they are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will be known in future ages that they are nothing but lies.
It will be clear to all the nations and kings that they are not gods, but the work of men's hands, and that there is no divine power in them.
Who then cannot know that they are not gods?
For they cannot set up a king over a land, nor give rain to men.
They cannot decide a legal case, nor deliver anyone from injustice, for they are powerless.
They are like crows between heaven and earth. When fire falls on the temple of these wooden gods overlaid with gold or silver, their priests will flee and escape, but they will be burned up like beams.
They cannot resist a king or an enemy. Why then should anyone think or say that they are gods?
These gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, cannot protect themselves from thieves or robbers.
Strong men will strip them of their gold and silver and take away the clothes they are wearing. They will go away with all that, and these gods cannot help themselves.