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.
13 Finally, pray for us—we have sinned against the Lord our God, and he is still angry.
14 When you go to the temple during festivals and other religious celebrations to confess your sins to the Lord, be sure to have this book read aloud.
15 Pray the following prayer when you confess your sins to the Lord:The Lord our God always does right, but we are deeply ashamed of what we have done. We are the people of Judah and Jerusalem, but all of us,