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:

1  Y he aquí, aconteció que cuando Nefi hubo hablado estas palabras, ciertos hombres que estaban entre ellos corrieron al asiento judicial; sí, y eran cinco los que fueron, y decían entre sí, mientras iban:

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.

2  He aquí, ahora sabremos con certeza si este hombre es profeta y si Dios le ha mandado que nos profetice cosas tan maravillosas. He aquí, nosotros no creemos que lo haya hecho; ni creemos que sea profeta; no obstante, si resulta cierto lo que ha dicho concerniente al juez superior, que está muerto, entonces creeremos que las otras palabras que ha hablado son también verdaderas.

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.

3  Y ocurrió que corrieron con todas sus fuerzas, y llegaron al asiento judicial; y he aquí, el juez superior había caído a tierra, y yacía en su propia sangre.

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.

4  Y he aquí, cuando vieron esto, se asombraron en extremo, a tal grado que cayeron al suelo; porque no habían creído las palabras de Nefi concernientes al juez superior.

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.

5  Pero ahora, cuando vieron, creyeron; y se apoderó de ellos el temor de que descendieran sobre el pueblo todos los castigos que Nefi había declarado; por tanto, temblaron y cayeron al suelo.

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;

6  E inmediatamente después que el juez fue asesinado —y su hermano, disfrazado, lo había apuñalado y había huido—, los siervos del juez corrieron y avisaron al pueblo, pregonando el asesinato entre ellos;

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.

7  y he aquí, el pueblo se juntó en el sitio del asiento judicial; y he aquí, para su asombro vieron a aquellos cinco hombres que habían caído al suelo.

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.

8  Y he aquí, el pueblo no sabía nada acerca de la multitud que se había reunido en el jardín de Nefi; por tanto, dijeron entre sí: Estos hombres son los que han asesinado al juez, y Dios los ha herido para que no huyan de nosotros.

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.

9  Y aconteció que se apoderaron de ellos, y los ataron y los encarcelaron. Y se expidió una proclamación de que el juez había sido asesinado, y que se había aprehendido y encarcelado a los homicidas.

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.

10  Y sucedió que a la mañana siguiente, el pueblo se juntó para hacer duelo y para ayunar en el sepelio del gran juez superior que había sido asesinado.

11 And thus also those judges who were at the garden of Nephi, and heard his words, were also gathered together at the burial.

11  Y asimismo, aquellos jueces que estuvieron presentes en el jardín de Nefi y oyeron sus palabras también asistieron al sepelio.

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.

12  Y sucedió que inquirieron entre el pueblo, diciendo: ¿Dónde están los cinco que fueron enviados para indagar concerniente a que si estaba muerto el juez superior? Y contestaron y dijeron: Respecto de esos cinco hombres que decís que habéis enviado, nada sabemos; pero hay cinco que son los asesinos, a quienes hemos echado en la cárcel.

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:

13  Y aconteció que los jueces pidieron que los trajeran; y los trajeron, y he aquí, eran los cinco que fueron enviados; y he aquí, los jueces los interrogaron para saber concerniente al asunto, y ellos les refirieron todo cuanto habían hecho, diciendo:

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.

14  Corrimos y llegamos al sitio del asiento judicial, y cuando vimos todas las cosas, precisamente cual Nefi las había testificado, nos asombramos a tal grado que caímos al suelo; y cuando nos recobramos de nuestro asombro, he aquí, nos encerraron en la prisión.

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.

15  Ahora bien, en cuanto al asesinato de este hombre, no sabemos quién lo habrá hecho; y sólo sabemos esto, que corrimos y vinimos, según vuestros deseos, y he aquí, estaba muerto, según las palabras de Nefi.

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.

16  Aconteció, entonces, que los jueces explicaron el asunto al pueblo, y clamaron contra Nefi, diciendo: He aquí, sabemos que este Nefi debe haberse convenido con alguien para matar al juez, y luego divulgárnoslo, a fin de convertirnos a su fe, para enaltecerse como un gran hombre, elegido de Dios y un profeta.

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.

17  Y he aquí, ahora descubriremos a este hombre, y confesará su delito, y nos hará saber el verdadero asesino de este juez.

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.

18  Y ocurrió que el día del sepelio pusieron en libertad a aquellos cinco. No obstante, éstos riñeron a los jueces por las palabras que habían proferido contra Nefi, y contendieron con ellos, uno por uno, al grado de que los confundieron.

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—

19  No obstante, los jueces hicieron que Nefi fuese aprehendido y atado y llevado ante la multitud; y empezaron a interrogarlo de diferentes maneras, a fin de hacerle contradecirse para condenarlo a muerte;

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.

20  y le dijeron: Tú eres cómplice; ¿quién es el hombre que ha cometido este asesinato? Dínoslo, y reconoce tu delito; he aquí este dinero, y además, te perdonaremos la vida, si nos lo haces saber y admites el pacto que has hecho con él.

21 But Nephi said unto them: O ye fools, ye uncircumcised 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?

21  Pero Nefi les dijo: ¡Oh insensatos, incircuncisos de corazón, pueblo ciego y duro de cerviz! ¿Sabéis cuánto tiempo el Señor vuestro Dios os permitirá que continuéis en vuestro estado pecaminoso?

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.

22  Ya deberíais empezar a gritar y a lamentaros a causa de la gran destrucción que ahora mismo os espera, a menos que os arrepintáis.

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.

23  He aquí, decís que me he puesto de acuerdo con un hombre para que asesinara a Seezóram, nuestro juez superior. Mas he aquí, os digo que esto se debe a que os he testificado para que supieseis de este asunto; sí, como testimonio a vosotros de que tenía conocimiento de la perversidad y las abominaciones que hay entre vosotros.

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.

24  Y porque he hecho esto, decís que me he puesto de acuerdo con un hombre para que hiciera esta cosa; sí, porque os he mostrado esta señal, estáis enojados conmigo, y procuráis destruir mi vida.

25 And now behold, I will show unto you another sign, and see if ye will in this thing seek to destroy me.

25  Y he aquí, ahora os mostraré otra señal, y veré si en esto procuraréis destruirme.

26 Behold I say unto you: Go to the house of Seantum, who is the brother of Seezoram, and say unto him—

26  He aquí, os digo: Id a la casa de Seántum, que es el hermano de Seezóram, y decidle:

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?

27  ¿Se ha puesto de acuerdo contigo Nefi, el profeta fingido, que profetiza tanto mal sobre este pueblo, para asesinar a Seezóram, tu hermano?

28 And behold, he shall say unto you, Nay.

28  Y he aquí, él os dirá: No.

29 And ye shall say unto him: Have ye murdered your brother?

29  Entonces le diréis: ¿Has asesinado tú a tu hermano?

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.

30  Y se llenará de miedo, y no sabrá qué responder. Y he aquí, os lo negará; y aparentará estar asombrado y os declarará que es inocente.

31 But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall find blood upon the skirts of his cloak.

31  Mas he aquí, lo examinaréis, y hallaréis sangre en las faldas de su manto.

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?

32  Y cuando hayáis visto esto, diréis: ¿De dónde viene esta sangre? ¿Acaso no sabemos que es la sangre de tu hermano?

33 And then shall he tremble, and shall look pale, even as if death had come upon him.

33  Entonces temblará, y se pondrá pálido, como si le hubiese llegado la muerte.

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.

34  Y luego diréis vosotros: Por este temor y esta palidez que ha venido a tu semblante, he aquí, sabemos que eres culpable.

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.

35  Y entonces vendrá sobre él mayor temor; y luego os confesará, y no negará más que él ha cometido este asesinato.

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.

36  Y luego os dirá que yo, Nefi, no sé nada concerniente al asunto a menos que me haya sido dado por el poder de Dios. Y entonces sabréis que soy un hombre honrado, y que soy enviado de Dios a vosotros.

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.

37  Y aconteció que fueron e hicieron de acuerdo con lo que Nefi les había dicho. Y he aquí, las palabras que él había dicho resultaron ciertas; pues según las palabras, Seántum negó; y también según las palabras, él confesó.

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.

38  Y fue traído para comprobar que él era el verdadero asesino, de modo que dieron su libertad a los cinco, lo mismo que a Nefi.

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.

39  Y hubo algunos de los nefitas que creyeron en las palabras de Nefi; y hubo también algunos que creyeron por causa del testimonio de los cinco, porque éstos se habían convertido mientras estuvieron en la prisión.

40 And now there were some among the people, who said that Nephi was a prophet.

40  Y hubo algunos de los del pueblo que dijeron que Nefi era profeta.

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.

41  Y hubo otros que dijeron: He aquí, es un dios; porque si no fuera un dios, no podría saber de todas las cosas; pues he aquí, nos ha declarado los pensamientos de nuestros corazones, y también nos ha dicho cosas; y aun ha traído a nuestro conocimiento el verdadero asesino de nuestro juez superior.