JacobChapter1

For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

Fifty-five years had now passed since Lehi left Jerusalem. And Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment about the small plates, the plates on which these things are engraved.

And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I consider to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

He commanded me to write on these plates a few of the things I consider most precious, and to touch only lightly on the history of this people, who are called the people of Nephi.

For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.

The history of his people, he said, would be engraved on his other plates, and I was to preserve these plates and hand them down to my descendants, from generation to generation.

And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people.

And if there was sacred preaching, or great revelation, or prophesying, I was to engrave the main points on these plates and treat them as fully as I could, for Christ's sake and for the sake of our people.

For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.

Because of our faith and our deep concern for our people, it had truly been shown to us what would happen to them.

And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.

We also had many revelations and the spirit of much prophecy, so we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which was to come.

Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.

That is why we labored diligently among our people: to persuade them to come unto Christ and partake of the goodness of God, so they could enter into his rest. Otherwise he might swear in his anger that they would never enter in, as happened when the people of Israel provoked him in the days of testing in the wilderness.

Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.

How we wished to God that we could persuade all people not to rebel against God and provoke him to anger, but to believe in Christ, and consider his death, and suffer his cross, and bear the shame of the world. So I, Jacob, take it on myself to fulfill the commandment of my brother Nephi.

Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.

Now Nephi was getting old, and he saw that he would soon die. So he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people, according to the reigns of the kings.

The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—

The people loved Nephi greatly. He had been a great protector for them, wielding the sword of Laban in their defense and laboring all his days for their welfare.

Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.

So they wanted to keep his name in remembrance, and whoever reigned in his place was called by the people second Nephi, third Nephi, and so on, according to the reigns of the kings. That is what the people called them, whatever their own names were.

And it came to pass that Nephi died.

Then Nephi died.

Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

Now, the people who were not Lamanites were Nephites. Even so, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.

But from now on I, Jacob, will not distinguish them by all these names. Those who seek to destroy the people of Nephi I will call Lamanites, and those who are friendly to Nephi I will call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.

And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

Now, under the reign of the second king, the people of Nephi began to grow hard in their hearts and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, like David of old, who wanted many wives and concubines, and his son Solomon after him.

Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.

They also began to seek a lot of gold and silver, and to grow somewhat proud.

Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.

So I, Jacob, gave them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained my errand from the Lord.

For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.

I, Jacob, had been consecrated a priest and teacher of this people by the hand of Nephi, and so had my brother Joseph.

And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.

And we magnified our office to the Lord, taking the responsibility on ourselves, answering for the people's sins on our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence. By laboring with all our might, we would keep their blood from coming upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.