Chapter 5th. now & now it came to pass that after I Nephi had made an end of speaking to my Bretheren behold they said unto me thou hast declared unto us hard things more than that which we are able to bare
1And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.
& it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked according to the truth & the righteous have I justified & testified that they should be lifted up at the last day wherefore the guilty taketh the truth to be hard for it cutteth them to the verry centre
2And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.
& now my Brethren if ye were righteous & were willing to hearken to the truth & geve heed unto it that ye might walk uprightly before God then ye would not murmur because of the truth & say thou speakest hard things against us
3And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.
& it came to pass that I Nephi did exhort my Brethren with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord
4And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.
& it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord insomuch that I had joy & great hopes of them that they would walk in the paths of righteousness
5And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord; insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness.
know all these things were said & done as my father dwelt in a tent in the vally which he called Lemuel
6Now, all these things were said and done as my father dwelt in a tent in the valley which he called Lemuel.
& it came to pass that I Nephi took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife & also my Brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife & also Zoram took the elder daughter of Ishmael to wife
7And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife.
& thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto him & also I Nephi had been blessed of the Lord excedingly
8And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto him. And also, I, Nephi, had been blessed of the Lord exceedingly.
& it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spake unto my father by night & commanded him that on the morrow he should take his journey into the wilderness
9And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spake unto my father by night, and commanded him that on the morrow he should take his journey into the wilderness.
& it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning & went forth to the tent door & to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship & it was of fine brass & within the ball was two spindles & the one pointed the way whither they we should◊ e go into the wilderness
10And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness.
& it came to pass that we did gather together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness & all the remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us & we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness
11And it came to pass that we did gather together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us; and we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness.
& it came to pass that we did take our tents & departed into the wilderness across the River
12And it came to pass that we did take our tents and depart into the wilderness, across the river Laman.
Lemuel Laman & itcame to pass that we traveled for the space of four days nearly a southsouth east direction & we did pitch our tents again & we did call the name of the place Shazer
13And it came to pass that we traveled for the space of four days, nearly a south- southeast direction, and we did pitch our tents again; and we did call the name of the place Shazer.
& it came to pass that we did take our bows & our arrows & go forth into the wilderness to slay food for our families & after that we had slain food for our families we did return again to our families in the wilderness to the place of Shazer & we did go forth again in the wilderness following the same direction keeping in the most fertile parts of the wilderness which was in the borders near the Red Sea
14And it came to pass that we did take our bows and our arrows, and go forth into the wilderness to slay food for our families; and after we had slain food for our families we did return again to our families in the wilderness, to the place of Shazer. And we did go forth again in the wilderness, following the same direction, keeping in the most fertile parts of the wilderness, which were in the borders near the Red Sea.
& it came to pass that we did travel for the space of many days slaying food by the way with our bows & our arrows & our stones & our slings
15And it came to pass that we did travel for the space of many days, slaying food by the way, with our bows and our arrows and our stones and our slings.
& we did follow the directions of the Ball which lead us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness
16And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
& after that we had traveled for the space of many days we did pitch our tents for the space of a time that we might again rest ourselves & obtain food for our families
17And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents for the space of a time, that we might again rest ourselves and obtain food for our families.
& it came to pass that as I Nephi went forth to slay food behold I did brake my bow which was made of fine steel & after that I did brake my bow behold my Brethren were angery with me because of the loss of my bow for we did obtain no food
18And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine steel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food.
& it came to pass that we did return without food to our families & being much fateagued because of their journeing they did suffer much for the want of food
19And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food.
& it came to pass that Laman & Lemuel & the Sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur excedingly because of their sufferings & afflictions in the wilderness & also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God yea & they were all exceding sorrowful even that they did murmur against the Lord
20And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord.
now it came to pass that I Nephi haveing been afflicted with my Brethren because of the loss of my bow & their bows having <lost> their springs it began to be exceding difficult yea insomuch that we could obtain no food
21Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs, it began to be exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch that we could obtain no food.
& it came to pass that I Nephi did speak much unto my Brethren because that they had hardoned thy their hearts again even unto complaining against the Lord their God
22And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against the Lord their God.
& it came to pass that I Nephi did make out of wood a bow & out of a strait stick an arrow wherefore I did arm myself with a bow & an arrow with a sling & with stones & I said unto my father whither shall I go to obtain food
23And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my father: Whither shall I go to obtain food?
& it came to pass that he did enquire of the Lord for they had humbled themselves because of my words for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul
24And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul.
& it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father & he was truly chastened because of his murmurings against the Lord insomuch that he was brought down into the debths of sorrow
25And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father; and he was truly chastened because of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.
& it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him look upon the Ball & behold the things which are written
26And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.
& it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the Ball he did fear & tremble excedingly & also my Brethren & the Sons of Ishmael & our wives
27And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.
& it came to pass that I Nephi beheld that the pointers which were in the Ball that they did work according to the faith & diligence & head which we did giveunto them
28And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.
& there was also writhen upon them a new writeing which was plane to be read which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord & it was written & changed from time to time according to the faith & diligence which we gave unto it & thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things
29And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.
& it came to pass that I Nephi did go forth up into the top of the mountain according to the directions which was given upon the Ball
30And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.
& it came to pass that slay bea wild beasts insomuch that I did obtain food for our families
31And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families.
& it came to pass that I did return to our tents bearing the beasts which I had slain & now when they beheld that I had obtained food how great was their joy & it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord & did give thanks unto him
32And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great was their joy! And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give thanks unto him.
& it came to pass that we did again take our journey traveling nearly the same course as in the beginning & after that we had traveled for the space of many days we did pitch our tents again that we might tarry for the space of a
33And it came to pass that we did again take our journey, traveling nearly the same course as in the beginning; and after we had traveled for the space of many days we did pitch our tents again, that we might tarry for the space of a time.
time & it came to pass that Ishmael died & was buried in the place which was called Nahom
34And it came to pass that Ishmael died, and was buried in the place which was called Nahom.
& it came to pass that the daughters of Ishmael did mourn excedingly because of the loss of their father & because of their afflictions in the wilderness & they did murmur against my father because that he had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem saying our father is dead yea & we have have wandered much in the wilderness & we have suffered much afflictions hungar thrurst & fateague & after all these sufferings we must perish in the wilderness with hungar
35And it came to pass that the daughters of Ishmael did mourn exceedingly, because of the loss of their father, and because of their afflictions in the wilderness; and they did murmur against my father, because he had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, saying: Our father is dead; yea, and we have wandered much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much affliction, hunger, thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings we must perish in the wilderness with hunger.
& thus they did murmur against my father & also against me & they were desireous to return again to Jerusalem
36And thus they did murmur against my father, and also against me; and they were desirous to return again to Jerusalem.
& Laman saith unto Lemuel & also unto the Sons of Ishmael behold let us slay our father & also our Brother Nephi who hath taken it upon him to be our ruler & our teacher who are his elder Brethren
37And Laman said unto Lemuel and also unto the sons of Ishmael: Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.
now he saith that the Lord hath talked with him & also that Angels hath ministered unto him but behold we know that he lieth unto us & he telleth us these things & he worketh many things by his cunning arts that he may deceive our eyes thinking perhaps that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness & after that he hath lead us away he hath thought to make himself a King & a ruler over us that he may do with us according to his will & pleasure & after this manner did my Brother Laman stir up them their hearts to angar
38Now, he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered unto him. But behold, we know that he lies unto us; and he tells us these things, and he worketh many things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness; and after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.
& it came to pass that the Lord was with us yea even the woice of the Lord came unto & did speak many words unto them & did chasten them excedingly & after that they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their angar & did repent of their Sins insomuch that the Lord did bless us again with food that we did not perish
39And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, yea, even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch that the Lord did bless us again with food, that we did not perish.