5. Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying: “I am detained; I cannot go into the House of Adonai.
6. So you go and read in the megillah —which you have written from my mouth, the words of Adonai—in the ears of the people, in the House of Adonai, on a fast day. You should also read them in the ears of all Judah coming from their towns.
7. Perhaps they will present their supplication before Adonai, and each one will turn from his wicked way. For great is the anger and fury that Adonai has pronounced against this people.”
8. So Baruch son of Neriah did according to all that the prophet Jeremiah commanded him, reading from the book the words of Adonai in the House of Adonai.
9. Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of King Josiah of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before Adonai—all the people in Jerusalem and all the people that came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem.
10. Then Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the House of Adonai, in the chamber of Gemariah son of the scribe Shaphan, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the House of Adonai, in the ears of all the people.
11. Now when Micaiah son of Gemariah son of Shaphan, had heard from the scroll all the words of Adonai,
12. he went down to the scribe’s chamber of the king’s palace. All the officials sat there—the scribe Elishama, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the officials.
13. Then Micaiah reported to them all the words that he had heard Baruch reading out of the scroll in the ears of the people.
14. All the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah son of Shelemiah son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying: “Bring in your hand the megillah which you read in the ears of the people and come.” So Baruch son of Neriah brought the megillah in his hand and went to them.
15. Then they said to him: “Sit down now, and read it in our ears.” So Baruch read it in their ears.
16. After they had heard all the words, they turned to each other in fear, then said to Baruch: “We will surely report all these words to the king.”