1I Zeniff having taught in all the language of the Nephites & having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi or of the land of our fathers first inheritance & I having been sent as a spie among the Lamanites that I might spie out their forces that our army might come upon them & destroy them but when I saw that which was good among them I was desi reous that they should not be destroid
1I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our fathers’ first inheritance, and having been sent as a spy among the Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might come upon them and destroy them— but when I saw that which was good among them I was desirous that they should not be destroyed.
2therefore I contended with my Brethren in the wilderness for I would that our ruler should make a treaty with them but he bein g an austere & a bloodthirsty man commanded that I should be slain but I was rescued by the sheding of much blood for father faaght against father & brother agai nst brother untill the greatest number of our army was destroid in the wilderness & we returned those of us that were spared to the land of Zarahemla to that tale to their wives & their children
2Therefore, I contended with my brethren in the wilderness, for I would that our ruler should make a treaty with them; but he being an austere and a blood- thirsty man commanded that I should be slain; but I was rescued by the shedding of much blood; for father fought against father, and brother against brother, until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness; and we returned, those of us that were spared, to the land of Zarahemla, to relate that tale to their wives and their children.
3& yet I being overzealous to inherit the land of our fathers collected as many as were desireous to go up to possess the land & started again on our journy into the wilderness to go up to the land but we were sm itten with famine & sore affliction for we were slow to remember the Lord our God
3And yet, I being over- zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our journey into the wilderness to go up to the land; but we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God.
4nevertheless after many days wandering in the wilderness we pitched our tents in the place where our brethren were slain which was near to the land of our fath ers
4Nevertheless, after many days’ wandering in the wilderness we pitched our tents in the place where our brethren were slain, which was near to the land of our fathers.
5& it came to pass that I went again with four of my men into the city in unto the king that I might know of the disposition of the king & that I might know if I mig ht go in with my People & possess the land in peace
5And it came to pass that I went again with four of my men into the city, in unto the king, that I might know of the disposition of the king, and that I might know if I might go in with my people and possess the land in peace.
6& I went in unto the king & he covenanted with me that I might possess the land of LehiNephi & the land of Sh ilom
6And I went in unto the king, and he covenanted with me that I might possess the land of Lehi- Nephi, and the land of Shilom.
7& he also commanded that his People should depart out of that land & I & my People went into the land that we might possess it
7And he also commanded that his people should depart out of the land, and I and my people went into the land that we might possess it.
8& we began to build bui ldings & to repair the walls of the City yea even the walls of the City of LihiNephi & the City of Shilom
8And we began to build buildings, and to repair the walls of the city, yea, even the walls of the city of Lehi- Nephi, and the city of Shilom.
9& we began to till the ground yea even with all manner of seeds with seeds of corn & of wheat & of barly & with neas & with Sheum & w ith seeds of all manner of fruits & we did begin to multiply & prosper in the land
9And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley, and with neas, and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of fruits; and we did begin to multiply and prosper in the land.
10now it was the cunning & the craftiness of King Laman to bring my People into bondage that he yiended up the land that we might possess it
10Now it was the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman, to bring my people into bondage, that he yielded up the land that we might possess it.
11therefore it came to pass that after we had dwelt in the land for the space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy lest by any means my People should wax strong in the land & that they could not overpower them & bring them into bondage
11Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt in the land for the space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy, lest by any means my people should wax strong in the land, and that they could not overpower them and bring them into bondage.
12now they were lazy & an Idoletrous People therefore they were desireous to bring us into bondage that they might glut themselves with the labours of our hands yea that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields
12Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields.
13therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his People that they should contend with my People therefore there began to be wars & contentions in the land
13Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his people that they should contend with my people; therefore there began to be wars and contentions in the land.
14for in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land of Nephi away on the South of the land of Shilom when my People were wa tering & feading their flocks & tilling their lands a numerous host of Lamanites came upon them & began to slay them & to take of their flocks & the corn of their fiel
14For, in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land of Nephi, away on the south of the land of Shilom, when my people were watering and feeding their flocks, and tilling their lands, a numerous host of Lamanites came upon them and began to slay them, and to take off their flocks, and the corn of their fields.
15ds yea & it came to pass that they fled all that were not overtaken even into the City of Nephi & did call upon me for protection
15Yea, and it came to pass that they fled, all that were not overtaken, even into the city of Nephi, and did call upon me for protection.
16& it came to pass that I did arm them with bows & with arrows with swords & with simetres & with clubs & with slings & with all manner of weopons which we could invent & I & my People did go forth against the Lamanites to battle
16And it came to pass that I did arm them with bows, and with arrows, with swords, and with cimeters, and with clubs, and with slings, and with all manner of weapons which we could invent, and I and my people did go forth against the Lamanites to battle.
17yea in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to batt le against the Lamanites for I & my People did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies for we were awakened to a rememberance of the deliverance of our fathers
17Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.
18& God did hear our cries & did answer our prayers & we did go forth in his might yea we did go forth against the Lamanites & in one day & a night we did slay three thousand & forty three we did slay them even untill we had driven them out of our land
18And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and in one day and a night we did slay three thousand and forty- three; we did slay them even until we had driven them out of our land.
19& I myself with mine own hands did help bury their dead & behold to our great sorrow & lamentation two hundred & seventy nine of our brethren were slain
19And I, myself, with mine own hands, did help to bury their dead. And behold, to our great sorrow and lamentation, two hundred and seventy- nine of our brethren were slain.