6 They collected as much money as they could
7 and sent it to Jerusalem for Priest Jehoiakim and the other priests, as well as for the people living there.
8 On the tenth day of the month of Sivan, I got together all the sacred things that had been taken from the Lord's temple in Jerusalem and took them back to Judah. These included the silver things that King Zedekiah of Judah had made
9 and that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia had taken from Jerusalem. He brought these to Babylon, along with King Jehoiachin, the important leaders of Judah, the prisoners, and most of the people.
10 The Jews living in Babylon wrote the following letter for Baruch to take with him to Judah:Please use the money we are sending to buy animals for sacrifices to please the Lord and sacrifices for sin, as well as to buy incense and to prepare grain offerings. These sacrifices and offerings must be offered on the altar built to honor the Lord our God.
11 Pray that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia and his son Belshazzar will live forever, like the heavens above.
12 And pray that the Lord will keep our people strong and show us how to be faithful. Then King Nebuchadnezzar and King Belshazzar will be pleased with us and protect us, and in return we will be loyal to them.