JacobChapter4

Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;

Now I, Jacob, have ministered much among my people in word, and I cannot write more than a little of what I have said, because engraving our words on plates is so difficult; and we know that what we write on plates must remain.

But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers—

But whatever we write on anything other than plates will decay and vanish away. Still, we can write a few words on plates, and they will give our children, and our beloved brothers as well, a small degree of knowledge about us and about their fathers.

Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.

In this we rejoice; and we work diligently to engrave these words on plates, hoping that our beloved brothers and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and study them, and learn about their first parents with joy, not with sorrow or contempt.

For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.

This is why we have written these things: so they may know that we knew of Christ, and that we had a hope of his glory many hundreds of years before his coming. And we were not the only ones who had a hope of his glory; so did all the holy prophets who came before us.

Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.

They believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and we also worship the Father in his name. That is why we keep the law of Moses: it points our souls to him. And for this reason it is sanctified to us for righteousness, just as it was counted righteousness for Abraham in the wilderness to obey the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac. That offering is a symbol of God and his Only Begotten Son.

Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

So we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy. Having all these witnesses, we gain a hope, and our faith becomes unshaken — so unshaken that we can truly command in the name of Jesus, and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

Even so, the Lord God shows us our weakness, so we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescension toward humankind, that we have power to do these things.

Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.

Great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of his mysteries; and it is impossible for people to find out all his ways. No one knows his ways unless it is revealed to them; so, brothers, do not despise the revelations of God.

For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?

By the power of his word, humanity came to be on the face of the earth, and the earth itself was created by the power of his word. So if God, by speaking, brought the world into being, and by speaking created humanity, then why can he not command the earth, or the work of his hands on the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?

Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.

So, brothers, do not try to counsel the Lord; instead, take counsel from his hand. You know yourselves that he counsels in wisdom, in justice, and in great mercy over all his works.

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

So, beloved brothers, be reconciled to him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son. Then you may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection that is in Christ, and be presented to God as the firstfruits of Christ, having faith and a good hope of glory in him before he reveals himself in the flesh.

And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?

And now, beloved, do not be surprised that I tell you these things. Why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and reach a perfect knowledge of him, just as we reach a knowledge of the resurrection and the world to come?

Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.

My brothers, whoever prophesies should prophesy so that people can understand, because the Spirit speaks the truth and does not lie. So it speaks of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; these things are shown to us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But we are not the only witnesses of these things, for God also spoke them to prophets of old.

But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.

But the Jews were a stiff-necked people. They despised the words of plainness, killed the prophets, and looked for things they could not understand. Because of their blindness, a blindness that came by looking beyond the mark, they were bound to fall; for God has taken away his plainness from them and given them many things they cannot understand, because they wanted it that way. And because they wanted it, God has done it, so that they may stumble.

And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.

And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit to prophesy. For I perceive, by the workings of the Spirit in me, that because of their stumbling the Jews will reject the stone on which they could build and have a safe foundation.

But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build.

But according to the scriptures, this stone will become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation on which the Jews can build.

And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their corner?

And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these people, after rejecting the sure foundation, can ever build on it, so that it may become the head of their corner?

Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for you.

My beloved brothers, I will unfold this mystery to you, if I am not in any way shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and do not stumble because of my intense anxiety for you.