31 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying: That inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
32 And behold they were cut off from his presence.
33 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity.
34 For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint;
35 Wherefore, as they were white, and exceeding fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people, the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.
36 And thus saith the Lord God, I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.
37 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed: for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing.
38 And the Lord spake it, and it was done.
39 And because of their cursing which was upon them, they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.
40 And the Lord God said unto me, They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me;
41 And inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.
42 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people.
43 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.
44 And thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem.
45 And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made of my people, thus far.
46 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me, Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.
47 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.
48 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God.
49 And if my people are pleased with the things of God, they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates.
50 And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people, they must search mine other plates.
51 And it sufficeth me to say, that forty years had passed away, and we had already had wars and contentions with our brethren.
CHAPTER 5
1 The word of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, which he spake unto the people of Nephi.
2 Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and ordained after the manner of his holy order,
3 And having been consecrated by my brother, Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector, and on whom ye depend for safety,
4 Behold, ye know that I have spoken unto you exceeding many things;
5 Nevertheless, I speak unto you again; for I am desirous for the welfare of your souls.
6 Yea, mine anxiety is great for you; and ye yourselves know that it ever has been.
7 For I have exhorted you with all diligence; and I have taught you the words of my father;
8 And I have spoken unto you concerning all things which are written from the creation of the world.
9 And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come;
10 Wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah.
11 And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you.
12 And I speak them unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God.
13 And now the words which I shall read, are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel;
14 Wherefore, they may be likened unto you; for ye are of the house of Israel.
15 And there are many things which have been spoken by Isaiah, which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house of Israel.
16 And now, these are the words:
17 Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people;
18 And they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
19 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers:
20 They shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet;
21 And thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
22 And now I, Jacob, would speak somewhat concerning these words: For behold, the Lord has shewn me that those who were at Jerusalem, from whence we came, have been slain and carried away captive;
23 Nevertheless, the Lord has shewn unto me that they should return again.
24 And he also has shewn unto me, that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in the flesh;
25 And after he should manifest himself, they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel, who spake it unto me.
26 And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold the judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them.
27 And the day cometh that they shall be smitten and afflicted.
28 Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful, they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated;
29 Nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance.
