9:1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Nephi had
spoken these words, certain men who were among them ran
to the judgment-seat; yea, even there were five who went,
and they said among themselves, as they went: |
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9:2 Behold, now we will know of a surety whether
this man be a prophet and God hath commanded him to
prophesy such marvelous things unto us. Behold, we do not
believe that he hath; yea, we do not believe that he is a
prophet; nevertheless, if this thing which he has said
concerning the chief judge be true, that he be dead, then
will we believe that the other words which he has spoken
are true. |
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9:3 And it came to pass that they ran in their
might, and came in unto the judgment-seat; and behold,
the chief judge had fallen to the earth, and did lie in
his blood. |
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9:4 And now behold, when they saw this they were
astonished exceedingly, insomuch that they fell to the
earth; for they had not believed the words which Nephi
had spoken concerning the chief judge. |
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9:5 But now, when they saw they believed, and fear
came upon them lest all the judgments which Nephi had
spoken should come upon the people; therefore they did
quake, and had fallen to the earth. |
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9:6 Now, immediately when the judge had been
murdered--he being stabbed by his brother by a garb of
secrecy, and he fled, and the servants ran and told the
people, raising the cry of murder among them; |
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9:7 And behold the people did gather themselves
together unto the place of the judgment-seat--and behold,
to their astonishment they saw those five men who had
fallen to the earth. |
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9:8 And now behold, the people knew nothing
concerning the multitude who had gathered together at the
garden of Nephi; therefore they said among themselves:
These men are they who have murdered the judge, and God
has smitten them that they could not flee from us. |
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9:9 And it came to pass that they laid hold on
them, and bound them and cast them into prison. And there
was a proclamation sent abroad that the judge was slain,
and that the murderers had been taken and were cast into
prison. |
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9:10 And it came to pass that on the morrow the
people did assemble themselves together to mourn and to
fast, at the burial of the great chief judge who had been
slain. |
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9:11 And thus also those judges who were at the
garden of Nephi, and heard his words, were also gathered
together at the burial. |
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9:12 And it came to pass that they inquired among
the people, saying: Where are the five who were sent to
inquire concerning the chief judge whether he was dead?
And they answered and said: Concerning this five whom ye
say ye have sent, we know not; but there are five who are
the murderers, whom we have cast into prison. |
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9:13 And it came to pass that the judges desired
that they should be brought; and they were brought, and
behold they were the five who were sent; and behold the
judges inquired of them to know concerning the matter,
and they told them all that they had done, saying: |
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9:14 We ran and came to the place of the
judgment-seat, and when we saw all things even as Nephi
had testified, we were astonished insomuch that we fell
to the earth; and when we were recovered from our
astonishment, behold they cast us into prison. |
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9:15 Now, as for the murder of this man, we know not
who has done it; and only this much we know, we ran and
came according as ye desired, and behold he was dead,
according to the words of Nephi. |
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9:16 And now it came to pass that the judges did
expound the matter unto the people, and did cry out
against Nephi, saying: Behold, we know that this Nephi
must have agreed with some one to slay the judge, and
then he might declare it unto us, that he might convert
us unto his faith, that he might raise himself to be a
great man, chosen of God, and a prophet. |
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9:17 And now behold, we will detect this man, and he
shall confess his fault and make known unto us the true
murderer of this judge. |
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9:18 And it came to pass that the five were
liberated on the day of the burial. Nevertheless, they
did rebuke the judges in the words which they had spoken
against Nephi, and did contend with them one by one,
insomuch that they did confound them. |
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9:19 Nevertheless, they caused that Nephi should be
taken and bound and brought before the multitude, and
they began to question him in divers ways that they might
cross him, that they might accuse him to death-- |
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9:20 Saying unto him: Thou art confederate; who is
this man that hath done this murder? Now tell us, and
acknowledge thy fault; saying, Behold here is money; and
also we will grant unto thee thy life if thou wilt tell
us, and acknowledge the agreement which thou hast made
with him. |
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9:21 But Nephi said unto them: O ye fools, ye 1uncircumcised of heart, ye blind, and ye
stiffnecked people, do ye know how long the Lord your God
will suffer you that ye shall go on in this your way of
sin? |
[1] Acts 7:51 Ye
stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears... |
9:22 O ye ought to begin to howl and mourn, because
of the great destruction which at this time doth await
you, except ye shall repent. |
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9:23 Behold ye say that I have agreed with a man
that he should murder Seezoram, our chief judge. But
behold, I say unto you, that this is because I have
testified unto you that ye might know concerning this
thing; yea, even for a witness unto you, that I did know
of the wickedness and abominations which are among you. |
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9:24 And because I have done this, ye say that I
have agreed with a man that he should do this thing; yea,
because I showed unto you this sign ye are angry with me,
and seek to destroy my life. |
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9:25 And now behold, I will show unto you another
sign, and see if ye will in this thing seek to destroy
me. |
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9:26 Behold I say unto you: Go to the house of
Seantum, who is the brother of Seezoram, and say unto
him-- |
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9:27 Has Nephi, the pretended prophet, who doth
prophesy so much evil concerning this people, agreed with
thee, in the which ye have murdered Seezoram, who is your
brother? |
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9:28 And behold, he shall say unto you, Nay. |
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9:29 And ye shall say unto him: Have ye murdered
your brother? |
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9:30 And he shall stand with fear, and wist not what
to say. And behold, he shall deny unto you; and he shall
make as if he were astonished; nevertheless, he shall
declare unto you that he is innocent. |
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9:31 But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall
find blood upon the skirts of his cloak. |
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9:32 And when ye have seen this, ye shall say: From
whence cometh this blood? Do we not know that it is the
blood of your brother? |
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9:33 And then shall he tremble, and shall look pale,
even as if death had come upon him. |
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9:34 And then shall ye say: Because of this fear and
this paleness which has come upon your face, behold, we
know that thou art guilty. |
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9:35 And then shall greater fear come upon him; and
then shall he confess unto you, and deny no more that he
has done this murder. |
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9:36 And then shall he say unto you, that I, Nephi,
know nothing concerning the matter save it were given
unto me by the power of God. And then shall ye know that
I am an honest man, and that I am sent unto you from God.
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9:37 And it came to pass that they went and did,
even according as Nephi had said unto them. And behold,
the words which he had said were true; for according to
the words he did deny; and also according to the words he
did confess. |
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9:38 And he was brought to prove that he himself was
the very murderer, insomuch that the five were set at
liberty, and also was Nephi. |
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9:39 And there were some of the Nephites who
believed on the words of Nephi; and there were some also,
who believed because of the testimony of the five, for
they had been converted while they were in prison. |
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9:40 And now there were some among the people, who
said that Nephi was a prophet. |
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9:41 And there were others who said: Behold, he is a
god, for except he was a god he could not know of all
things. For behold, he has told us the thoughts of our
hearts, and also has told us things; and even he has
brought unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chief
judge. |
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