3 Nephi 7 – 3 Nefi 7

1 Now behold, I will show unto you that they did not establish a king over the land; but in this same year, yea, the thirtieth year, they did destroy upon the judgment-seat, yea, did murder the chief judge of the land.

1  Ahora bien, he aquí, os mostraré que no establecieron rey en la tierra; pero en este mismo año, sí, en el año treinta, destruyeron sobre el asiento judicial, sí, asesinaron al juez superior de la tierra.

2 And the people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and friends; and thus they did destroy the government of the land.

2  Y hubo división entre el pueblo, unos en contra de otros; y se separaron los unos de los otros en tribus, cada hombre según su familia y sus parientes y amigos; y así destruyeron el gobierno de la tierra.

3 And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over them; and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes.

3  Y cada tribu nombró a un jefe o caudillo para que la gobernase; y así se convirtieron en tribus y jefes de tribus.

4 Now behold, there was no man among them save he had much family and many kindreds and friends; therefore their tribes became exceedingly great.

4  Y he aquí, no había hombre entre ellos que no tuviese mucha familia y muchos parientes y amigos; por tanto, sus tribus llegaron a ser sumamente grandes.

5 Now all this was done, and there were no wars as yet among them; and all this iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan.

5  Y se hizo todo esto, y aún no había guerras entre ellos; y toda esta iniquidad había venido sobre el pueblo porque se había entregado al poder de Satanás.

6 And the regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets.

6  Y fueron destruidos los reglamentos del gobierno, debido a las combinaciones secretas de los amigos y parientes de aquellos que habían asesinado a los profetas.

7 And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them.

7  Y causaron una fuerte contención en la tierra, al grado de que casi toda la parte más justa del pueblo se había vuelto inicua; sí, entre ellos no había sino unos pocos hombres justos.

8 And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.

8  Y así, no habían transcurrido ni seis años, cuando ya la mayor parte del pueblo se había apartado de su rectitud, como el perro que vuelve a su vómito, o la puerca a revolcarse en el fango.

9 Now this secret combination, which had brought so great iniquity upon the people, did gather themselves together, and did place at their head a man whom they did call Jacob;

9  Y los de esta combinación secreta, que habían traído tan grande iniquidad sobre el pueblo, se reunieron y pusieron a la cabeza de ellos a un hombre que llamaban Jacob;

10 And they did call him their king; therefore he became a king over this wicked band; and he was one of the chiefest who had given his voice against the prophets who testified of Jesus.

10  y lo llamaron su rey; por tanto, quedó constituido en rey de esta banda perversa; y era uno de los principales que habían alzado la voz contra los profetas que testificaron de Jesús.

11 And it came to pass that they were not so strong in number as the tribes of the people, who were united together save it were their leaders did establish their laws, every one according to his tribe; nevertheless they were enemies; notwithstanding they were not a righteous people, yet they were united in the hatred of those who had entered into a covenant to destroy the government.

11  Y sucedió que no eran tan fuertes en número como lo eran las tribus del pueblo, que se mantenían unidas, salvo que eran sus jefes los que establecían sus leyes, cada cual según su tribu; no obstante, eran enemigos; pero a pesar de que no eran una gente justa, estaban unidos, sin embargo, en su odio por los que habían hecho pacto para destruir el gobierno.

12 Therefore, Jacob seeing that their enemies were more numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore he commanded his people that they should take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters) and they become sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people; and they did so.

12  Por lo que Jacob, viendo que sus enemigos eran más numerosos que ellos, siendo rey de la banda, mandó, por tanto, a los de su pueblo que huyeran a la parte más lejana del norte, y allí establecieran un reino para sí mismos, hasta que se unieran a ellos los disidentes (porque los halagó, diciéndoles que habría muchos disidentes), y tuvieran la fuerza suficiente para luchar contra las tribus del pueblo; y así lo hicieron.

13 And so speedy was their march that it could not be impeded until they had gone forth out of the reach of the people. And thus ended the thirtieth year; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi.

13  Y fue tan rápida su marcha, que no se pudo impedir hasta que ya habían avanzado fuera del alcance del pueblo. Y así concluyó el año treinta; y así se hallaban los asuntos del pueblo de Nefi.

14 And it came to pass in the thirty and first year that they were divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred and friends; nevertheless they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with another; but they were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish very strict laws that one tribe should not trespass against another, insomuch that in some degree they had peace in the land; nevertheless, their hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone the prophets and did cast them out from among them.

14  Y aconteció que en el año treinta y uno se hallaban divididos en tribus, cada hombre según su familia, parientes y amigos; no obstante, habían llegado a un acuerdo de que no irían a la guerra unos contra otros; pero no estaban unidos en lo que concernía a sus leyes y su sistema de gobierno, porque se habían establecido según la voluntad de los que eran sus jefes y sus caudillos. Pero sí establecieron leyes muy estrictas de que una tribu no debía agraviar a otra; de modo que hasta cierto punto tuvieron paz en la tierra; no obstante, sus corazones se apartaron del Señor su Dios, y apedreaban a los profetas y los echaban fuera de entre ellos.

15 And it came to pass that Nephi—having been visited by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations;

15  Y sucedió que Nefi —habiéndolo visitado ángeles, y también la voz del Señor; por tanto, habiendo visto ángeles, y siendo testigo ocular, y habiéndosele dado poder para saber concerniente al ministerio de Cristo, y siendo también testigo ocular del rápido retroceso del pueblo de la rectitud a sus iniquidades y abominaciones;

16 Therefore, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds—went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

16  afligido, pues, por la dureza de sus corazones y la ceguedad de sus mentes— salió entre ellos ese mismo año, y empezó a proclamar, osadamente, el arrepentimiento y la remisión de los pecados por medio de la fe en el Señor Jesucristo.

17 And he did minister many things unto them; and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did minister with power and with great authority.

17  Y les ministró muchas cosas a ellos; y no todas se pueden escribir, y parte de ellas no bastaría; por tanto, no se escriben en este libro. Y Nefi ministró con poder y gran autoridad.

18 And it came to pass that they were angry with him, even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily.

18  Y aconteció que se enojaron con él, sí, porque tenía mayor poder que ellos; pues no era posible que descreyeran sus palabras, pues tan grande era su fe en el Señor Jesucristo que ángeles le ministraban diariamente.

19 And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.

19  Y en el nombre de Jesús echaba fuera demonios y espíritus inmundos; y aun levantó a un hermano suyo de los muertos, después que el pueblo lo hubo apedreado y matado.

20 And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus.

20  Y el pueblo lo vio y lo presenció, y se irritó contra él a causa de su poder; y también obró él muchos otros milagros en el nombre de Jesús a la vista del pueblo.

21 And it came to pass that the thirty and first year did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed.

21  Y aconteció que concluyó el año treinta y uno, y no hubo sino unos pocos que se convirtieron al Señor; pero cuantos se convirtieron, manifestaron en verdad al pueblo que los había visitado el poder y el Espíritu de Dios que había en Jesucristo, en quien creían.

22 And as many as had devils cast out from them, and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people.

22  Y todos aquellos de quienes echaron demonios, y fueron sanados de sus enfermedades y sus dolencias, manifestaron con toda verdad al pueblo que el Espíritu de Dios había obrado en ellos, y que habían sido sanados; y también mostraron señales y efectuaron algunos milagros entre el pueblo.

23 Thus passed away the thirty and second year also. And Nephi did cry unto the people in the commencement of the thirty and third year; and he did preach unto them repentance and remission of sins.

23  Y así concluyó el año treinta y dos también. Y al principiar el año treinta y tres, Nefi clamó a los del pueblo, y les predicó el arrepentimiento y la remisión de pecados.

24 Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water.

24  Ahora bien, quisiera que recordaseis también, que no hubo ni uno de los que llegaron a arrepentirse que no fuese bautizado en el agua.

25 Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.

25  Por tanto, Nefi ordenó a hombres a este ministerio, a fin de que cuantos viniesen a ellos fuesen bautizados en el agua; y esto como atestación y testimonio ante Dios, y para el pueblo, de que se habían arrepentido y habían recibido la remisión de sus pecados.

26 And there were many in the commencement of this year that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the year did pass away.

26  Y hubo muchos, al comenzar este año, que se bautizaron para arrepentimiento; y así pasó la mayor parte del año.