THE BOOK OF JACOB
THE BROTHER OF NEPHI
The words of his preaching unto his brethren.
He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of
Christ. A few words concerning the history of the people of
Nephi.
Chapter 1
Jacob 1:Verse 1
1 FOR behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years
had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore,
Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates,
upon which these things are engraven.
Jacob 1:Verse 2
2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should
write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to
be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly,
concerning the history of this people which are called the people
of Nephi.
Jacob 1:Verse 3
3 For he said that the history of his people should be
engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these
plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to
generation.
Jacob 1:Verse 4
4 And if there were preaching which was sacred, or
revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven
the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as
it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our
people.
Jacob 1:Verse 5
5 For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had
been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things
should happen unto them.
Jacob 1:Verse 6
6 And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of
much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which
should come.
Jacob 1:Verse 7
7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people,
that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the
goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any
means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in
the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of
Israel were in the wilderness.
Jacob 1:Verse 8
8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all
men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all
men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his
cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it
upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.
Jacob 1:Verse 9
9 Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must
soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler
over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.
Jacob 1:Verse 10
10 The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having
been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban
in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their
welfare--
Jacob 1:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in
remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were
called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth,
according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by
the people, let them be of whatever name they would.
Jacob 1:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that Nephi died.
Jacob 1:Verse 13
13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were
Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites,
Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and
Ishmaelites.
Jacob 1:Verse 14
14 But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them
by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to
destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I
shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the
reigns of the kings.
Jacob 1:Verse 15
15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi,
under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their
hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such
as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and
also Solomon, his son.
Jacob 1:Verse 16
16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and
silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.
Jacob 1:Verse 17
17 Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I
taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from
the Lord.
Jacob 1:Verse 18
18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been
consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of
Nephi.
Jacob 1:Verse 19
19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking
upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon
our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all
diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might
not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon
our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last
day.
Chapter 2
Jacob 2:Verse 1
1 THE words which Jacob, the brother of Nephi, spake
unto the people of Nephi, after the death of Nephi:
Jacob 2:Verse 2
2 Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the
responsibility which I am under to God, to magnify mine office with
soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up
into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of
God.
Jacob 2:Verse 3
3 And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been
diligent in the office of my calling; but I this day am weighed
down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your
souls than I have hitherto been.
Jacob 2:Verse 4
4 For behold, as yet, ye have been obedient unto the
word of the Lord, which I have given unto you.
Jacob 2:Verse 5
5 But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the
help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you
concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in
sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and
abominable unto God.
Jacob 2:Verse 6
6 Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink
with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I must testify
unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts.
Jacob 2:Verse 7
7 And also it grieveth me that I must use so much
boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your
children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste
and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;
Jacob 2:Verse 8
8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to
hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the
wounded soul.
Jacob 2:Verse 9
9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be
constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have
received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to
enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of
consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been
wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have
daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate
minds.
Jacob 2:Verse 10
10 But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I
must do according to the strict commands of God, and tell you
concerning your wickedness and abominations, in the presence of the
pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the
piercing eye of the Almighty God.
Jacob 2:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to
the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the
Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into
the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give
thee unto this people.
Jacob 2:Verse 12
12 And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which
I declare unto you, that many of you have begun to search for gold,
and for silver, and for all manner of precious ores, in the which
this land, which is a land of promise unto you and to your seed,
doth abound most plentifully.
Jacob 2:Verse 13
13 And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most
pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of
you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are
lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and
high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute
your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than
they.
Jacob 2:Verse 14
14 And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God
justifieth you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he
condemneth you, and if ye persist in these things his judgments
must speedily come unto you.
Jacob 2:Verse 15
15 O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and
with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!
Jacob 2:Verse 16
16 O that he would rid you from this iniquity and
abomination. And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his
commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your
souls!
Jacob 2:Verse 17
17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be
familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be
rich like unto you.
Jacob 2:Verse 18
18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the
kingdom of God.
Jacob 2:Verse 19
19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall
obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the
intent to do good--to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and
to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the
afflicted.
Jacob 2:Verse 20
20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you
concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your
neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts,
of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it?
Jacob 2:Verse 21
21 Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable
unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in
his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the
selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his
commandments and glorify him forever.
Jacob 2:Verse 22
22 And now I make an end of speaking unto you
concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you
concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly
because of you.
Jacob 2:Verse 23
23 But the word of God burdens me because of your
grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin
to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they
seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the
things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his
son.
Jacob 2:Verse 24
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and
concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the
Lord.
Jacob 2:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this
people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine
arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the
fruit of the loins of Joseph.
Jacob 2:Verse 26
26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this
people shall do like unto them of old.
Jacob 2:Verse 27
27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the
word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save
it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
Jacob 2:Verse 28
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of
women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the
Lord of Hosts.
Jacob 2:Verse 29
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments,
saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their
sakes.
Jacob 2:Verse 30
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up
seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall
hearken unto these things.
Jacob 2:Verse 31
31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and
heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of
Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the
wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
Jacob 2:Verse 32
32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that
the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led
out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men
of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Jacob 2:Verse 33
33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters
of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them
with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit
whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Jacob 2:Verse 34
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these
commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have
known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye
have done these things which ye ought not to have done.
Jacob 2:Verse 35
35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the
Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender
wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your
bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend
up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of
God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with
deep wounds.
Chapter 3
Jacob 3:Verse 1
1 BUT behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are
pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto
him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your
afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice
upon those who seek your destruction.
Jacob 3:Verse 2
2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads
and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for
ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.
Jacob 3:Verse 3
3 But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart,
that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent the land
is cursed for your sakes; and the Lamanites, which are not filthy
like unto you, nevertheless they are cursed with a sore cursing,
shall scourge you even unto destruction.
Jacob 3:Verse 4
4 And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent
they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God
will lead away the righteous out from among you.
Jacob 3:Verse 5
5 Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate
because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon
their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not
forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our
father--that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines
they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed
among them.
Jacob 3:Verse 6
6 And now, this commandment they observe to keep;
wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment,
the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them;
and one day they shall become a blessed people.
Jacob 3:Verse 7
7 Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their
wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love
their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is
because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much
better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?
Jacob 3:Verse 8
8 O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of
your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall
be brought with them before the throne of God.
Jacob 3:Verse 9
9 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is
the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the
darkness of their skins; neither shall ye revile against them
because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember your own
filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of
their fathers.
Jacob 3:Verse 10
10 Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that
ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have
set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your
filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be
heaped upon your heads at the last day.
Jacob 3:Verse 11
11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the
faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from
the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell
that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that
lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death.
Jacob 3:Verse 12
12 And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the
people of Nephi, warning them against fornication and
lasciviousness, and every kind of sin, telling them the awful
consequences of them.
Jacob 3:Verse 13
13 And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this
people, which now began to be numerous, cannot be written upon
these plates; but many of their proceedings are written upon the
larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and the
reigns of their kings.
Jacob 3:Verse 14
14 These plates are called the plates of Jacob, and
they were made by the hand of Nephi. And I make an end of speaking
these words.
Chapter 4
Jacob 4:Verse 1
1 NOW behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having
ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a
little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our
words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon
plates must remain;
Jacob 4:Verse 2
2 But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it
be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few
words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our
beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or
concerning their fathers--
Jacob 4:Verse 3
3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor
diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our
beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful
hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not
with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first
parents.
Jacob 4:Verse 4
4 For, for this intent have we written these things,
that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his
glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we
ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets
which were before us.
Jacob 4:Verse 5
5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the
Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And
for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to
him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness,
even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be
obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac,
which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.
Jacob 4:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many
revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these
witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken,
insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the
very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the
sea.
Jacob 4:Verse 7
7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness
that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great
condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do
these things.
Jacob 4:Verse 8
8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the
Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and
it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man
knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore,
brethren, despise not the revelations of God.
Jacob 4:Verse 9
9 For behold, by the power of his word man came upon
the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his
word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and
to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the
earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it,
according to his will and pleasure?
Jacob 4:Verse 10
10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord,
but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know
that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy,
over all his works.
Jacob 4:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him
through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may
obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection
which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ
unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him
before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.
Jacob 4:Verse 12
12 And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these
things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to
a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a
resurrection and the world to come?
Jacob 4:Verse 13
13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him
prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the
truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they
really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these
things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our
souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for
God also spake them unto prophets of old.
Jacob 4:Verse 14
14 But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and
they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and
sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore,
because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond
the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his
plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they
cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they
desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.
Jacob 4:Verse 15
15 And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto
prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is
in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone
upon which they might build and have safe foundation.
Jacob 4:Verse 16
16 But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone
shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation,
upon which the Jews can build.
Jacob 4:Verse 17
17 And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these,
after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it,
that it may become the head of their corner?
Jacob 4:Verse 18
18 Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this
mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my
firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for
you.
Chapter 5
Jacob 5:Verse 1
1 Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read
the words of the prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of
Israel, saying:
Jacob 5:Verse 2
2 Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of
me, a prophet of the Lord.
Jacob 5:Verse 3
3 For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O
house of Israel, like unto a tame olive-tree, which a man took and
nourished in his vineyard; and it grew, and waxed old, and began to
decay.
Jacob 5:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard
went forth, and he saw that his olive-tree began to decay; and he
said: I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that
perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish
not.
Jacob 5:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that he pruned it, and digged
about it, and nourished it according to his word.
Jacob 5:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that after many days it began to
put forth somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold,
the main top thereof began to perish.
Jacob 5:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard
saw it, and he said unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should
lose this tree; wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a wild
olive-tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off
those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will
cast them into the fire that they may be burned.
Jacob 5:Verse 8
8 And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take
away many of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them
whithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that if it so be that
the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof
unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and tender
branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will.
Jacob 5:Verse 9
9 Take thou the branches of the wild olive-tree, and
graft them in, in the stead thereof; and these which I have plucked
off I will cast into the fire and burn them, that they may not
cumber the ground of my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of
the vineyard did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard,
and grafted in the branches of the wild olive-tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 11
11 And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should
be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his
servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore,
that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish
not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this
thing.
Jacob 5:Verse 12
12 Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish
it, according to my words.
Jacob 5:Verse 13
13 And these will I place in the nethermost part of my
vineyard, whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I
do it that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the
tree; and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season,
unto myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and
the fruit thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
went his way, and hid the natural branches of the tame olive-tree
in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in
another, according to his will and pleasure.
Jacob 5:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that a long time passed away,
and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go
down into the vineyard, that we may labor in the vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard,
and also the servant, went down into the vineyard to labor. And it
came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Behold, look
here; behold the tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
looked and beheld the tree in the which the wild olive branches had
been grafted; and it had sprung forth and begun to bear fruit. And
he beheld that it was good; and the fruit thereof was like unto the
natural fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 18
18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches
of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root
thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength;
and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild
branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted
in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now,
behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath
brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the
season, unto mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto the servant: Come, let us go to the nethermost part of
the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches of the tree have
not brought forth much fruit also, that I may lay up of the fruit
thereof against the season, unto mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that they went forth whither the
master had hid the natural branches of the tree, and he said unto
the servant: Behold these; and he beheld the first that it had
brought forth much fruit; and he beheld also that it was good. And
he said unto the servant: Take of the fruit thereof, and lay it up
against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self; for
behold, said he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath
brought forth much fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his
master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch
of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of
thy vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 22
22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel
me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said
unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest
that it hath brought forth much fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto his servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another
branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground
was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished
it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore,
gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it
unto mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said again unto his servant: Look hither, and behold another branch
also, which I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also,
and it hath brought forth fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 25
25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold
the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and
I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree
hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath
brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like
unto the others.
Jacob 5:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto the servant: Pluck off the branches that have not brought
forth good fruit, and cast them into the fire.
Jacob 5:Verse 27
27 But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune
it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps
it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up
against the season.
Jacob 5:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
and the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did nourish all the
fruit of the vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that a long time had passed
away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let
us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor again in the
vineyard. For behold, the time draweth near, and the end soon
cometh; wherefore, I must lay up fruit against the season, unto
mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
and the servant went down into the vineyard; and they came to the
tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild
branches had been grafted in; and behold all sorts of fruit did
cumber the tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
did taste of the fruit, every sort according to its number. And the
Lord of the vineyard said: Behold, this long time have we nourished
this tree, and I have laid up unto myself against the season much
fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 32
32 But behold, this time it hath brought forth much
fruit, and there is none of it which is good. And behold, there are
all kinds of bad fruit; and it profiteth me nothing,
notwithstanding all our labor; and now it grieveth me that I should
lose this tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 33
33 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant:
What shall we do unto the tree, that I may preserve again good
fruit thereof unto mine own self?
Jacob 5:Verse 34
34 And the servant said unto his master: Behold,
because thou didst graft in the branches of the wild olive-tree
they have nourished the roots, that they are alive and they have
not perished; wherefore thou beholdest that they are yet
good.
Jacob 5:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto his servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots
thereof profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil
fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 36
36 Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good, and
for mine own purpose I have preserved them; and because of their
much strength they have hitherto brought forth, from the wild
branches, good fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 37
37 But behold, the wild branches have grown and have
overrun the roots thereof; and because that the wild branches have
overcome the roots thereof it hath brought forth much evil fruit;
and because that it hath brought forth so much evil fruit thou
beholdest that it beginneth to perish; and it will soon become
ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do
something for it to preserve it.
Jacob 5:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto his servant: Let us go down into the nethermost parts of
the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches have also brought
forth evil fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 39
39 And it came to pass that they went down into the
nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they
beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt
also; yea, the first and the second and also the last; and they had
all become corrupt.
Jacob 5:Verse 40
40 And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that
part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the
branch had withered away and died.
Jacob 5:Verse 41
41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my
vineyard?
Jacob 5:Verse 42
42 Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard,
save it were these, had become corrupted. And now these which have
once brought forth good fruit have also become corrupted; and now
all the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing save it be to be
hewn down and cast into the fire.
Jacob 5:Verse 43
43 And behold this last, whose branch hath withered
away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which
was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 44
44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which
cumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the
stead thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 45
45 And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth
good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and
because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the
fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath
withered away.
Jacob 5:Verse 46
46 And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which
we have taken of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become
corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit; and these I had
hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof against the
season, unto mine own self. But, behold, they have become like unto
the wild olive-tree, and they are of no worth but to be hewn down
and cast into the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose
them.
Jacob 5:Verse 47
47 But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have
I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have
nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and
I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all
the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I
should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into
the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted
my vineyard?
Jacob 5:Verse 48
48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his
master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard--have not the
branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the
branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster
than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves.
Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard
have become corrupted?
Jacob 5:Verse 49
49 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the
vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber
the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have
done more for my vineyard?
Jacob 5:Verse 50
50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the
vineyard: Spare it a little longer.
Jacob 5:Verse 51
51 And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little
longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 52
52 Wherefore, let us take of the branches of these
which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and
let us graft them into the tree from whence they came; and let us
pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and
graft in the natural branches of the tree in the stead
thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 53
53 And this will I do that the tree may not perish,
that, perhaps, I may preserve unto myself the roots thereof for
mine own purpose.
Jacob 5:Verse 54
54 And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of
the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive;
wherefore, that I may preserve them also for mine own purpose, I
will take of the branches of this tree, and I will graft them in
unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their
mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self,
that when they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring
forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of
my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 55
55 And it came to pass that they took from the natural
tree which had become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees,
which also had become wild.
Jacob 5:Verse 56
56 And they also took of the natural trees which had
become wild, and grafted into their mother tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 57
57 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant:
Pluck not the wild branches from the trees, save it be those which
are most bitter; and in them ye shall graft according to that which
I have said.
Jacob 5:Verse 58
58 And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard,
and we will trim up the branches thereof; and we will pluck from
the trees those branches which are ripened, that must perish, and
cast them into the fire.
Jacob 5:Verse 59
59 And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may
take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change
of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil.
Jacob 5:Verse 60
60 And because that I have preserved the natural
branches and the roots thereof, and that I have grafted in the
natural branches again into their mother tree, and have preserved
the roots of their mother tree, that, perhaps, the trees of my
vineyard may bring forth again good fruit and that I may have joy
again in the fruit of my vineyard, and, perhaps, that I may rejoice
exceedingly that I have preserved the roots and the branches of the
first fruit--
Jacob 5:Verse 61
61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may
labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may
prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit,
which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other
fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 62
62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might
this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for
the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 63
63 Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they
may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the
trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and
the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last
time.
Jacob 5:Verse 64
64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung
them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if
it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the
natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they
may grow.
Jacob 5:Verse 65
65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the
branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength
of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the
bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too
strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I
lose the trees of my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 66
66 For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of
my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the
good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in
strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be
hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground
of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 67
67 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft in
again into the natural tree;
Jacob 5:Verse 68
68 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft
into the natural branches of the tree; and thus will I bring them
together again, that they shall bring forth the natural fruit, and
they shall be one.
Jacob 5:Verse 69
69 And the bad shall be cast away, yea, even out of all
the land of my vineyard; for behold, only this once will I prune my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 70
70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had
commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.
Jacob 5:Verse 71
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to,
and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the
last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at
hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your
might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up
unto myself against the time which will soon come.
Jacob 5:Verse 72
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and
labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also
with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the
vineyard in all things.
Jacob 5:Verse 73
73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the
vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive
exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to
be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal,
according to the strength thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 74
74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according
to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad
had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved
unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and
they became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal; and the
Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit,
which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
Jacob 5:Verse 75
75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the
vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no
more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them:
Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou
beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have
preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was
in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been
diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my
commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit,
that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away,
behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 76
76 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the
fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which
speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my
vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore
I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time,
according to that which I have spoken.
Jacob 5:Verse 77
77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again
come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be
gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad
will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and
the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire.
Chapter 6
Jacob 6:Verse 1
1 AND now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that
I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy--that the things
which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in
the which he likened them unto a tame olive-tree, must surely come
to pass.
Jacob 6:Verse 2
2 And the day that he shall set his hand again the
second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last
time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to
nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon
cometh.
Jacob 6:Verse 3
3 And how blessed are they who have labored diligently
in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into
their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire.
Jacob 6:Verse 4
4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he
remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he
stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are
a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not
harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
Jacob 6:Verse 5
5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in
words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose
of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while
his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day,
harden not your hearts.
Jacob 6:Verse 6
6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts; for why will ye die?
Jacob 6:Verse 7
7 For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good
word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that
ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?
Jacob 6:Verse 8
8 Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject
the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which
have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken
concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of
God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit,
and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been
laid for you?
Jacob 6:Verse 9
9 Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the
power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ,
will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar
of God?
Jacob 6:Verse 10
10 And according to the power of justice, for justice
cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and
brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth
up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless
torment.
Jacob 6:Verse 11
11 O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in
at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until
ye shall obtain eternal life.
Jacob 6:Verse 12
12 O be wise; what can I say more?
Jacob 6:Verse 13
13 Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you
before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with
awful dread and fear. Amen.
Chapter 7
Jacob 7:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass after some years had passed
away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was
Sherem.
Jacob 7:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among the
people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ.
And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people;
and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of
Christ.
Jacob 7:Verse 3
3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the
hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts;
and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come,
he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.
Jacob 7:Verse 4
4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge
of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much
flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the
devil.
Jacob 7:Verse 5
5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith,
notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I
had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and
they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the
Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I
could not be shaken.
Jacob 7:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this
wise did he speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought
much opportunity that I might speak unto you; for I have heard and
also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call
the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ.
Jacob 7:Verse 7
7 And ye have led away much of this people that they
pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which
is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of
a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now
behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no
man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come.
And after this manner did Sherem contend against me.
Jacob 7:Verse 8
8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my
soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.
Jacob 7:Verse 9
9 And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who
shall come? And he said: If there should be a Christ, I would not
deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor
ever will be.
Jacob 7:Verse 10
10 And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures?
And he said, Yea.
Jacob 7:Verse 11
11 And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them;
for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none
of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken
concerning this Christ.
Jacob 7:Verse 12
12 And this is not all--it has been made manifest unto
me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest
unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there
should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.
Jacob 7:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a
sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so
much.
Jacob 7:Verse 14
14 And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt
God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be
true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil.
Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let
that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in
earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be
done, and not mine.
Jacob 7:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken
these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he
fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for
the space of many days.
Jacob 7:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that he said unto the people:
Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire
to speak unto the people before I shall die.
Jacob 7:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude
were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied
the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and
the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.
Jacob 7:Verse 18
18 And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been
deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of
eternity, and of eternal punishment.
Jacob 7:Verse 19
19 And he said: I fear lest I have committed the
unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the
Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly
testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God I greatly
fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God.
Jacob 7:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that when he had said these
words he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost.
Jacob 7:Verse 21
21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake
these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were
astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down
upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the
earth.
Jacob 7:Verse 22
22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I
had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard
my cry and answered my prayer.
Jacob 7:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God
was restored again among the people; and they searched the
scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked
man.
Jacob 7:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that many means were devised to
reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth;
but it all was vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and
they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they
sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually.
Jacob 7:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against
them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God
and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet,
conquerors of their enemies.
Jacob 7:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old;
and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of
Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have
written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the
time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it
were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people,
wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a
wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and
contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.
Jacob 7:Verse 27
27 And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my
grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I
told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he
promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my
writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the
reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my
words. Brethren, adieu.