1My beloved son I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive but I write somewhat that which is grieveous
1My beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat of that which is grievous.
2for behold I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites in the which we did not conqer & Archeantus has fallen by the sword & also Luram & Emer yea & we have lost a great number of our choice men
2For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer; and Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men.
3& now behold my son I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people for they do not repent & Satan stireth them up con tinually to anger one with another
3And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
4behold I am laboring with them continually & when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble & anger against me & when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it wherefore I fear lest the spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them
4Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
5for so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death & they have lost their love one towards another & they thirst after blood & revenge continually
5For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.
6& now my beloved son notwithstanding their hardness let us labor diligently for if we should cease to labor we should be brought under condemnation for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness & rest our souls in the kingdom of God
6And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.
7& now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people for according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron behold the Lamanites have many prisoners which they took from the tower Sherrizah & there were men women & children
7And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and children.
8& the husbands & fathers of those women & children they have slain & they feed the women upon the flesh of their hus bands & the children upon the flesh of their fathers & no water save a little do they give unto them
8And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.
9& notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum for behold many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners & after depriveing them of that which was most dear & precious above all things which is chastity & vertue
9And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—
10& after that they had none this thing they did murder them in a most cruel manner torturing their bodies even unto death & af ter that they have done this they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts because of the hardness of their hearts & they do it for a token of bravery
10And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.
11O my beloved son how can a people like this that are without civilizeation
11O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—
12& only a few years have passed away & they were a civil & a delightsome people
12(And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people )
13but O my son how can a people like this whose delight is in so much abomination
13But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination—
14how can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgement against us
14How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?
15behold my heart cries Wo unto this people come out in jud gement O God & hide their sins & wickedness & abominations from before thy face
15Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face!
16& again my son there are many widows & their daughters which remain in Sherrizah & that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away behold the army of Zenephi has carried away & left them to wander whithersoever they can for food & many old women do faint by the way & die
16And again, my son, there are many widows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah; and that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi has carried away, and left them to wander whithersoever they can for food; and many old women do faint by the way and die.
17& the army which is with me is weak & the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah & me & as many as have fled to the army of Aaron have fallen victims to their awful bruitality
17And the army which is with me is weak; and the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me; and as many as have fled to the army of Aaron have fallen victims to their awful brutality.
18O the depravity of my people they are without order & without mercy behold I am but a man & I have but the strength of a man & I cannot any longer enforce my commands
18O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.
19& they have become strong in their perver sion & they are alike brutal spareing none neither old nor young & they delight in every th ing save that which is good & the sufferings of our women & our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed every thing yea tongue cannot tell neither can it be written
19And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.
20& now my son I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene behold thou knowest the wickedness of this people thou knowest that they are without principle & past feeling & their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites
20And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites.
21behold my son I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me
21Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me.
22but behold my son I recommend thee unto God & I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved & I pray unto God that he would spare thy life to witnes the return of his people unto him or their utter destruction for I know that they must perish except they repent & return unto him
22But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.
23& if they perish it will be like unto the Jaredites because of the wilfulness of their hearts seeking for blood & re venge
23And if they perish it will be like unto the Jaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for blood and revenge.
24& if it so be that they perish we know that many of our brethren have desented over unto the Lamanites & many more will also desen over unto them wherefore write some what a few things if thou art spared & I should perish & not see thee but I trust that I may see thee soon for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto the
24And if it so be that they perish, we know that many of our brethren have deserted over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also desert over unto them; wherefore, write somewhat a few things, if thou art spared and I shall perish and not see thee; but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee.
25my son be faithful in christ & may not the things which I have written grieve thee to way thee down unto death but may christ lift thee up & may his sufferings & death & the shewing his body unto our fathers & his mercy & long suffering & the hope of his glory & of eternal life rest in your mind forever
25My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long- suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
26& may the grace of God the Father who se throne is high in the Heavens & our Lord Jesus Christ who sitteth on the right hand of his power until all things shall become subject unto him be & abide with you for ever Amen.—— Chapter
26And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.