1 Depois que Josué morreu, o povo de Israel perguntou a Deus, o Senhor:

— Qual das nossas tribos vai ser a primeira a atacar os cananeus?

2 O Senhor respondeu:

— O povo de Judá vai primeiro porque eu lhe dei a terra.

3 Então o povo de Judá disse ao povo de Simeão:

— Vamos juntos à terra que nos foi dada e lutemos contra os cananeus. Depois iremos juntos à terra que for dada a vocês.

Assim as tribos de Simeão 4 e de Judá foram guerrear juntas. E o Senhor Deus lhes deu a vitória sobre os cananeus e os perizeus, e eles mataram dez mil homens em Bezeque. 5 Nesse lugar encontraram Adoni-Bezeque e lutaram contra ele. E eles derrotaram os cananeus e os perizeus. 6 Adoni-Bezeque fugiu, mas eles o perseguiram e prenderam. E cortaram os polegares das suas mãos e os dedões dos seus pés. 7 Então Adoni-Bezeque disse:

— Eu mandei cortar os polegares das mãos e os dedões dos pés de setenta reis, e eles apanhavam migalhas debaixo da minha mesa. Agora Deus fez comigo o mesmo que eu fiz com eles.

Então levaram Adoni-Bezeque para a cidade de Jerusalém, e ele morreu ali.

8 Os homens de Judá atacaram Jerusalém e a conquistaram. Mataram os seus moradores e puseram fogo na cidade. 9 Depois foram lutar contra os cananeus que moravam nas montanhas, no deserto do Sul e nas planícies de Judá. 10 Também atacaram os cananeus que moravam na cidade de Hebrom, que antes era chamada de Quiriate-Arba. E venceram Sesai, Aimã e Talmai, que eram filhos de Anaque.

11 Dali marcharam contra os moradores de Debir, que também era chamada de Quiriate-Sefer. 12 Então Calebe disse:

— Eu darei a minha filha Acsa em casamento ao homem que conseguir tomar Quiriate-Sefer.

13 Otoniel conquistou a cidade. Ele era filho de Quenaz, o irmão mais novo de Calebe. Então Calebe lhe deu a sua filha Acsa em casamento. 14 Quando Acsa foi morar com Otoniel, ela insistiu com ele que pedisse ao pai dela algumas terras. Acsa foi para o lugar onde Calebe estava, e, quando ela desceu do jumento, o seu pai perguntou:

— O que é que você quer?

15 — Eu quero um presente! — respondeu ela. — Já que o senhor me deu uma terra seca, me dê também algumas fontes de água.

Então Calebe lhe deu as fontes que ficavam nas terras altas e nas baixas.

16 Os descendentes do sogro de Moisés, que era queneu, saíram com o povo de Judá e foram de Jericó, a cidade das palmeiras, para o deserto de Judá, que fica ao sul de Arade. E ali viveram com os amalequitas.

17 O povo de Judá e o de Simeão se juntaram e atacaram os cananeus da cidade de Zefate. Em nome de Deus, eles destruíram completamente a cidade e mudaram o seu nome para Horma .

18 Eles não tomaram Gaza, Asquelom e Ecrom e os seus territórios vizinhos. 19 O Senhor Deus ajudou o povo de Judá, e eles conquistaram a região das montanhas. Mas não puderam expulsar os moradores do litoral porque estes tinham carros de ferro. 20 Como Moisés havia mandado, a cidade de Hebrom foi dada a Calebe. E ele pôs para fora dali os três filhos de Anaque. 21 Mas o povo da tribo de Benjamim não expulsou os jebuseus que moravam na cidade de Jerusalém. E os jebuseus dali vivem com o povo de Benjamim até hoje.

22,23 O povo das tribos de José, isto é, Efraim e Manassés, também saiu. Eles atacaram a cidade de Betel, que antigamente era chamada de Luz. E o Senhor os ajudou. Eles mandaram espiões à cidade; 24 estes viram um homem que ia saindo e lhe disseram:

— Como podemos entrar na cidade? Diga, e não mataremos você.

25 Então ele mostrou a entrada. Eles entraram e mataram todos os moradores da cidade, menos aquele homem e toda a sua família. 26 Então ele foi para a terra dos heteus, construiu ali uma cidade e lhe deu o nome de Luz. E esse é o seu nome até hoje.

27 A tribo de Manassés não expulsou o povo que morava nas cidades de Bete-Sã, Taanaque, Dor, Ibleão, Megido e nos seus povoados. Os cananeus continuaram a viver nelas. 28 Quando os israelitas ficaram mais fortes, obrigaram os cananeus a trabalhar para eles, mas não expulsaram todos.

29 A tribo de Efraim não expulsou os cananeus que moravam na cidade de Gezer, e assim os cananeus ficaram vivendo ali com eles.

30 A tribo de Zebulom não expulsou o povo que vivia nas cidades de Quitrom e Naalol. Os cananeus viveram com eles, mas eram obrigados a trabalhar para eles.

31 A tribo de Aser não expulsou o povo que vivia nas cidades de Aco, Sidom, Alabe, Aczibe, Helba, Afeca e Reobe. 32 O povo de Aser viveu com os cananeus que moravam ali, pois eles não tinham sido expulsos.

33 A tribo de Naftali não expulsou o povo que morava nas cidades de Bete-Semes e Bete-Anate. Os cananeus viveram com o povo de Naftali, mas eram obrigados a trabalhar para eles.

34 Os amorreus forçaram a tribo de Dã a se retirar para as montanhas e não os deixavam descer ao vale. 35 Os amorreus ficaram vivendo nas montanhas de Heres, em Aijalom e em Saalabim, mas o povo da tribo de José os dominou e os forçou a trabalhar para eles. 36 As terras dos amorreus começavam na subida do Escorpião e em Sela e iam na direção norte.

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.