1to pass in the sixty & ninth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of the Nepites th at Nephi the Son of Helaman returned to the land of Zarahemla from the land Northward
1Behold, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites, that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land of Zarahemla from the land northward.
2for he had been forth among the people which was in the land Northwa rd & did preach the word of God unto them & did prophesy many things unto them
2For he had been forth among the people who were in the land northward, and did preach the word of God unto them, and did prophesy many things unto them;
3& they did reject all his words insomuch that he could not stay amo ng them but returned again unto the land of his nativity
3And they did reject all his words, insomuch that he could not stay among them, but returned again unto the land of his nativity.
4& seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness & those Gadianton robbers filling the Judgm entseats having usurped the power & authority of the land laying aside the commandments of God & not in the least aright before him doing no jus tice unto the children of men
4And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment- seats— having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;
5condemning the righteous because of their righteou sness letting the guilty & the wicked go unpunished because of their money & moreover to be held in office at the head of goverment to rule & to do according to their wills that they might get gain & glory of the world & moreover that they mig ht more easy commit adultry & steal & kill & do according to their own wills
5Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills—
6now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites in the space of not many years & when Nephi saw it his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast & he did exclame in the agony of his soul
6Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:
7O that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem that I could have joyed with him in the promised land then were his people easy to be intreated firm to keep the commandments of God & slow to be led to do iniquity & they were quick to heark en unto the words of the Lord
7Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—
8yea if my days could have been in them days then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren
8Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren.
9but behold I am consign ed that these are my days & that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren
9But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren.
10& behold now it came to pass that it was upon a Tower which was in the garden of Nephi which was by the highway which led to the chief Market which was in the city of Zarahemla therefore as Nephi had bowed himself up on the Tower which was in his Garden which Tower was also near unto the garden gate which led by the haghway
10And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower, which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by the highway which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla; therefore, Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower which was in his garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate by which led the highway.
11& it came to pass that there was sertain men passing by & saw Nephi as he was a pouring out his soul unto God upon the Tower & they ran & told the people what they had seen & the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people
11And it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God upon the tower; and they ran and told the people what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people.
12& now when Nephi arose he beheld the multitudes of people which had gathered toge ther
12And now, when Nephi arose he beheld the multitudes of people who had gathered together.
13& it came to pass that he opened his mouth & said unto them Behold why have ye gathered yourselves together that I may tell you of your iniquities
13And it came to pass that he opened his mouth and said unto them: Behold, why have ye gathered yourselves together? That I may tell you of your iniquities?
14yea because I have got upon my Tower that I might pour out my soul unto my God because of the ex ceding sorrow of my heart which is because of your iniquities
14Yea, because I have got upon my tower that I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my heart, which is because of your iniquities!
15& becaus of my mourn ing & lamenation ye have gathered yourselves together & do marvel yea & ye have great need to marvel yea ye had ought to marvel because ye are given away that the De vil hath got so great hold upon your hearts
15And because of my mourning and lamentation ye have gathered yourselves together, and do marvel; yea, and ye have great need to marvel; yea, ye ought to marvel because ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts.
16yea how could ye have given away to the enticeing of him who art seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlast ing miseary & endless wo
16Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?
17O repent ye repent ye why will ye die turn ye turn ye unto the Lord your God why hath he forsaken you
17O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you?
18it is because you have ha rdened your hearts yea ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good Shepherd yea ye have provoked him to anger against you
18It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you.
19& behold instead of gathering you except ye will repent behold he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs & wild beasts
19And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts.
20O how could you have forgotten your God in the verry day that he hath delivered you
20O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you?
21but behold it is to get gain to be praised of men yea & that ye might get gold & silver & ye have set your hearts upon the riches & the vain things of this world for the which ye do murder & plunder & steal & bear fals witness against your neighbor & do all manner of iniquity
21But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.
22& for this cause wo shall come unto you excpt ye shall repent for if ye will not repent behold this great city & also all those great cities which are round about which are in the land of our possession shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them for behold the Lord will not grant unto you strength as he hath hitherto done to withstand against your enemies
22And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies.
23for behold thus saith the Lord I will not shew un to the wicked of my strength to one more than the other save it be unto those who repe nteth of their Sins & hearken unto my words now therefore I would that ye should be hold my brethren that it shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall repent
23For behold, thus saith the Lord: I will not show unto the wicked of my strength, to one more than the other, save it be unto those who repent of their sins, and hearken unto my words. Now therefore, I would that ye should behold, my brethren, that it shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall repent.
24for behold they are more righteous than you for they have not sined against that great knowledge which ye have received therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them yea he will lengthen out their days & increase their seed even when thou shalt be utterly destroyed except thou shalt repent
24For behold, they are more righteous than you, for they have not sinned against that great knowledge which ye have received; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them; yea, he will lengthen out their days and increase their seed, even when thou shalt be utterly destroyed except thou shalt repent.
25yea wo be unto you because of that great abomination which hath come among you & ye have united yourselves unto it yea to that secret band which was established by Gadianton
25Yea, wo be unto you because of that great abomination which has come among you; and ye have united yourselves unto it, yea, to that secret band which was established by Gadianton!
26yea wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts which hath lifted you up beyond that which is good because of your ex ceding great riches
26Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you up beyond that which is good because of your exceedingly great riches!
27yea wo be unto you because of your wickedness & abominations
27Yea, wo be unto you because of your wickedness and abominations!
28& excpt ye repent ye shall perish yea even your lands shall be taken from you & ye shall be destroyed from off the face of the
28And except ye repent ye shall perish; yea, even your lands shall be taken from you, and ye shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth.
29earth behold I do not say these things shall be of myself because it is not of myself that I know these things but behold I know that these things are true because the Lord God hath made them known unto me therefore I testify that they shall be
29Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I know these things; but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be.