1 E sucedeu, depois da morte de Josué, que os filhos de Israel perguntaram ao Senhor, dizendo: Quem dentre nós primeiro subirá aos cananeus, para pelejar contra eles? 2 E disse o Senhor: Judá subirá; eis que lhe dei esta terra na sua mão. 3 Então, disse Judá a Simeão, seu irmão: Sobe comigo à herdade que me caiu por sorte, e pelejemos contra os cananeus, e também eu contigo subirei à tua, que te caiu por sorte. E Simeão partiu com ele. 4 E subiu Judá, e o Senhor lhe deu na sua mão os cananeus e os ferezeus; e feriram deles em Bezeque a dez mil homens. 5 E acharam a Adoni-Bezeque em Bezeque, e pelejaram contra ele, e feriram aos cananeus e aos ferezeus. 6 Porém Adoni-Bezeque fugiu; e o seguiram, e o prenderam, e lhe cortaram os dedos polegares das mãos e dos pés. 7 Então, disse Adoni-Bezeque: Setenta reis, com os dedos polegares das mãos e dos pés cortados, apanhavam as migalhas debaixo da minha mesa; assim como eu fiz, assim Deus me pagou. E o trouxeram a Jerusalém, e morreu ali.

8 Porque os filhos de Judá pelejaram contra Jerusalém, e a tomaram, e a feriram a fio de espada, e à cidade puseram a fogo. 9 E, depois, os filhos de Judá desceram a pelejar contra os cananeus que habitavam nas montanhas, e no sul, e nas planícies. 10 E partiu Judá contra os cananeus que habitavam em Hebrom (era, porém, dantes, o nome de Hebrom Quiriate-Arba), e feriram a Sesai, e a Aimã, e a Talmai.

11 E, dali, partiu contra os moradores de Debir (e era, dantes, o nome de Debir Quiriate-Sefer). 12 E disse Calebe: Quem ferir a Quiriate-Sefer e a tomar, lhe darei a minha filha Acsa por mulher. 13 E tomou-a Otniel, filho de Quenaz, o irmão de Calebe, mais novo do que ele; e Calebe lhe deu a sua filha Acsa por mulher. 14 E sucedeu que, vindo ela a ele, o persuadiu a que pedisse um campo a seu pai; e ela se apeou do jumento, saltando; e Calebe lhe disse: Que é o que tens? 15 E ela lhe disse: Dá-me uma bênção, pois me deste uma terra seca; dá-me também fontes de águas. E Calebe lhe deu as fontes superiores e as fontes inferiores.

16 Também os filhos do queneu, sogro de Moisés, subiram da cidade das Palmeiras com os filhos de Judá ao deserto de Judá, que está ao sul de Arade; e foram e habitaram com o povo. 17 Foi-se, pois, Judá com Simeão, seu irmão, e feriram aos cananeus que habitavam em Zefate, e totalmente a destruíram, e chamaram o nome desta cidade Horma. 18 Tomou mais Judá a Gaza com o seu termo, e a Asquelom com o seu termo, e a Ecrom com o seu termo. 19 E foi o Senhor com Judá, e despovoou as montanhas; porém não expeliu os moradores do vale, porquanto tinham carros de ferro. 20 E deram Hebrom a Calebe, como Moisés o dissera, e dali expeliu os três filhos de Anaque.

21 Porém os filhos de Benjamim não expeliram os jebuseus que habitavam em Jerusalém; antes, os jebuseus habitaram com os filhos de Benjamim em Jerusalém até ao dia de hoje.

22 E subiu também a casa de José a Betel, e foi o Senhor com eles. 23 E fez a casa de José espiar a Betel (e foi dantes o nome desta cidade Luz). 24 E viram os espias um homem que saía da cidade e lhe disseram: Ora, mostra-nos a entrada da cidade, e usaremos contigo de beneficência. 25 E, mostrando-lhes ele a entrada da cidade, feriram a cidade a fio de espada; porém àquele homem e a toda a sua família deixaram ir. 26 Então, aquele homem foi-se à terra dos heteus, e edificou uma cidade, e chamou o seu nome Luz; este é o seu nome até o dia de hoje.

27 Nem Manassés expeliu os habitantes de Bete-Seã, nem dos lugares da sua jurisdição; nem a Taanaque, com os lugares da sua jurisdição; nem aos moradores de Dor, com os lugares da sua jurisdição; nem aos moradores de Ibleão, com os lugares da sua jurisdição; nem aos moradores de Megido, com os lugares da sua jurisdição; e quiseram os cananeus habitar na mesma terra. 28 E sucedeu que, quando Israel cobrou mais forças, fez dos cananeus tributários, porém não os expeliu de todo.

29 Tampouco expeliu Efraim os cananeus que habitavam em Gezer; antes, os cananeus habitavam no meio dele, em Gezer.

30 Tampouco expeliu Zebulom os moradores de Quitrom, nem aos moradores de Naalol; porém os cananeus habitavam no meio dele e foram tributários.

31 Tampouco Aser expeliu os moradores de Aco, nem os moradores de Sidom, nem Alabe, nem Aczibe, nem Helba, nem Afeca, nem Reobe; 32 porém os aseritas habitaram no meio dos cananeus que habitavam na terra; porquanto os não expeliram.

33 Tampouco Naftali expeliu os moradores de Bete-Semes, nem os moradores de Bete-Anate; mas habitou no meio dos cananeus que habitavam na terra; porém lhes foram tributários os moradores de Bete-Semes e os de Bete-Anate.

34 E apertaram os amorreus aos filhos de Dã até às montanhas; porque nem os deixavam descer ao vale. 35 Também os amorreus quiseram habitar nas montanhas de Heres, em Aijalom e em Saalabim; porém prevaleceu a mão da casa de José, e ficaram tributários. 36 E foi o termo dos amorreus desde a subida de Acrabim, e desde a penha, e dali para cima.

1 AND now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the record which I have been making into the hands of my son Moroni, behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites.2 And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ *that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people. But may God grant that he may survive them, that he may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them.3 And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.4 And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass-5 Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.6 But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.8 And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people.9 And now I, Mormon, *proceed to finish out my record, which I take from the plates of Nephi; and I make it according to the knowledge and the understanding which God has given me.10 Wherefore, it came to pass that after Amaleki had delivered up these plates into the hands of king Benjamin, he took them and put them with the other plates, which contained records which had been handed down by the kings, from generation to generation until the days of king Benjamin.11 And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from generation to generation until they have fallen into my hands. And I, Mormon, pray to God that they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which my people and their brethren shall be judged at the great and last day, according to the word of God which is written.12 And now, concerning this king Benjamin-he had somewhat of contentions among his own people.13 And it came to pass also that the armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people. But behold, king Benjamin gathered together his armies, and he did stand against them; and he did fight with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban.14 And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance.15 And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;16 And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes; and after there having been much contention and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites, behold, it came to pass that king Benjamin, with the assistance of the holy prophets who were among his people-17 For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness; and there were many holy men in the land, and they did speak the word of God with power and with authority; and they did use much sharpness because of the stiffneckedness of the people-18 Wherefore, with the help of these, king Benjamin, by laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul, and also the prophets, did once more establish peace in the land.19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did unite together; and Mosiah was appointed to be their king.20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.21 And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward.23 Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead.24 And behold, I have seen, in the days of king Benjamin, a serious war and much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But behold, the Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that king Benjamin did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla.25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord; and that which is evil cometh from the devil.26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.27 And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number who went up into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephi; for there was a large number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance.28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a considerable number, and took their journey again into the wilderness.30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.