In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church canon, 4 Baruch (also known as the Paralipomena of Jeremiah or the Rest of the Words of Baruch) is considered a canonical book within the broader 'Jeremiah Cycle.' Unlike 1 Baruch, which is deuterocanonical in Western traditions, 4 Baruch is unique to the Ethiopian tradition. This text narrates the events following the fall of Jerusalem, including the miraculous preservation of the Temple vessels, Abimelech's 66-year sleep with fresh figs, a talking eagle as a messenger to Jeremiah in Babylon, and Jeremiah's eventual martyrdom by stoning. The text contains explicit Christological prophecies, indicating a Christian composition likely dating to the 1st or 2nd century AD. The source text provided is based on English translations of the Ge'ez manuscript tradition.
4 Baruch
Chapter 1
It came to pass, when the children of Israel were taken captive by the king of the Chaldeans, that God spoke to Jeremiah saying: Jeremiah, my chosen [one] [servant], arise and depart from this city, you and Baruch, since I am going to destroy it because of the multitude of the sins of those who dwell in it.
For your prayers are like a solid pillar in its midst, and like an indestructible wall surrounding it.
Now, then, arise and depart before the host of the Chaldeans surrounds it.
And Jeremiah answered, saying: I beseech you, Lord, permit me, your servant, to speak in your presence.
And the Lord said to him: Speak, my chosen [one] [servant] Jeremiah.
And Jeremiah spoke, saying: Lord Almighty, would you deliver the chosen city into the hands of the Chaldeans, so that the king with the multitude of his people might boast and say: "I have prevailed over the holy city of God"?
No, my Lord, but if it is your will, let it be destroyed by your hands.
And the Lord said to Jeremiah: Since you are my chosen one, arise and depart form this city, you and Baruch, for I am going to destroy it because of the multitude of the sins of those who dwell in it.
For neither the king nor his host will be able to enter it unless I first open its gates.
Arise, then, and go to Baruch, and tell him these words.
And when you have arisen at the sixth hour of the night, go out on the city walls and I will show you that unless I first destroy the city, they cannot enter it.
When the Lord had said this, he departed from Jeremiah.