12. I gave the copies of the deeds to Baruch, son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I did this in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and the witnesses who had signed the deed and in the presence of all the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the prison.
13. Then I gave Baruch these orders:
14. ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Take both of these documents, both the sealed and the unsealed copies of the deed. Put them in a clay jar so that they will last a long time.
15. This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: My people will again buy houses, fields, and vineyards in this land.’
16. “After I had given the copies to Baruch, son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord. I prayed,
17. ‘Almighty Lord, you made heaven and earth by your great strength and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
18. You show mercy to thousands of generations. However, you punish children for the wickedness of their parents. You, God, are great and mighty. Your name is the Lord of Armies.
19. You make wise plans and do mighty things. You see everything the descendants of Adam do. You reward them for the way they live and for what they do.
20. You performed miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt. To this day you are still doing them in Israel. You made a name for yourself that continues to this day.
21. You brought your people from Egypt with miraculous signs and amazing things, with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and with great terror.
22. You gave them the land that you swore with an oath to give their ancestors, the land flowing with milk and honey.