1 E aconteceu, depois disso, que morreu o rei dos filhos de Amom, e seu filho Hanum reinou em seu lugar. 2 Então, disse Davi: Usarei de beneficência com Hanum, filho de Naás, como seu pai usou de beneficência comigo. E enviou Davi a consolá-lo, pelo ministério de seus servos, acerca de seu pai; e vieram os servos de Davi à terra dos filhos de Amom. 3 Então, disseram os príncipes dos filhos de Amom a seu senhor, Hanum: Porventura, honra Davi a teu pai aos teus olhos, porque te enviou consoladores? Porventura, não te enviou Davi os seus servos para reconhecerem esta cidade, e para espiá-la, e para transtorná-la? 4 Então, tomou Hanum os servos de Davi, e lhes rapou metade da barba, e lhes cortou metade das vestes, até às nádegas, e os despediu. 5 O que fazendo saber a Davi, este enviou a encontrá-los, porque estavam estes homens sobremaneira envergonhados; e disse o rei: Deixai-vos estar em Jericó, até que vos torne a crescer a barba; e então vinde.

6 Vendo, pois, os filhos de Amom que se tinham feito abomináveis para Davi, enviaram os filhos de Amom e alugaram dos siros de Bete-Reobe e dos siros de Zobá vinte mil homens de pé, e do rei de Maaca, mil homens, e dos homens de Tobe, doze mil homens. 7 O que ouvindo Davi, enviou contra eles a Joabe com todo o exército dos valentes. 8 E saíram os filhos de Amom e ordenaram a batalha à entrada da porta, mas os siros de Zobá e Reobe e os homens de Tobe e Maaca estavam à parte no campo.

9 Vendo, pois, Joabe que estava preparada contra ele a frente da batalha, por diante e por detrás, escolheu dentre todos os escolhidos de Israel e formou-os em linha contra os siros. 10 E o resto do povo entregou na mão de Abisai, seu irmão, o qual o formou em linha contra os filhos de Amom. 11 E disse: Se os siros forem mais fortes do que eu, tu me virás em socorro; e, se os filhos de Amom forem mais fortes que tu, irei a socorrer-te. 12 Esforça-te, pois, e esforcemo-nos pelo nosso povo e pelas cidades de nosso Deus; e faça o Senhor, então, o que bem parecer aos seus olhos. 13 Então, se achegou Joabe e o povo que estava com ele à peleja contra os siros; e estes fugiram de diante dele. 14 E, vendo os filhos de Amom que os siros fugiam, também eles fugiram de diante de Abisai e entraram na cidade; e voltou Joabe dos filhos de Amom e veio para Jerusalém. 15 Vendo, pois, os siros que tinham sido feridos diante de Israel, tornaram a refazer-se. 16 E enviou Hadadezer e fez sair os siros que estavam da outra banda do rio, e vieram a Helã; e Sobaque, chefe do exército de Hadadezer, marchava diante deles. 17 Do que informado Davi, ajuntou a todo o Israel, e passou o Jordão, e veio a Helã; e os siros se puseram em ordem contra Davi e pelejaram contra ele. 18 Porém os siros fugiram de diante de Israel, e Davi feriu dentre os siros aos homens de setecentos carros e quarenta mil homens de cavalo; também ao mesmo Sobaque, general do exército, feriu, e morreu ali. 19 Vendo, pois, todos os reis, servos de Hadadezer, que haviam ficado mal diante de Israel, fizeram paz com Israel e o serviram; e temeram os siros de socorrer mais aos filhos de Amom.

1 AND it came to pass that there arose a division among the people, insomuch that they divided hither and thither and went their ways, leaving Nephi alone, as he was standing in the midst of them.2 And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him.3 And it came to pass as he was thus pondering-being much cast down because of the wickedness of the people of the Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings, and their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities-and it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying:4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.8 And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple it shall be rent in twain, it shall be done.9 And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall be done.10 And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass.11 And now behold, I command you, that ye shall go and declare unto this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.12 And behold, now it came to pass that when the Lord had spoken these words unto Nephi, he did stop and did not go unto his own house, but did return unto the multitudes who were scattered about upon the face of the land, and began to declare unto them the word of the Lord which had been spoken unto him, concerning their destruction if they did not repent.13 Now behold, notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the chief judge, they did harden their hearts and did not hearken unto the words of the Lord.14 Therefore Nephi did declare unto them the word of the Lord, saying: Except ye repent, thus saith the Lord, ye shall be smitten even unto destruction.15 And it came to pass that when Nephi had declared unto them the word, behold, they did still harden their hearts and would not hearken unto his words; therefore they did revile against him, and did seek to lay their hands upon him that they might cast him into prison.16 But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them.17 And it came to pass that thus he did go forth in the Spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God, even until he had declared it unto them all, or sent it forth among all the people.18 And it came to pass that they would not hearken unto his words; and there began to be contentions, insomuch that they were divided against themselves and began to slay one another with the sword.19 And thus ended the seventy and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.