BoM Translation Guide



Jacob 1

Jacob 1:1 [LDS 1:1]
For behold, [it came to pass] [that fifty] [and five] years [had passed away,] [from the time] [that Lehi] left Jerusalem; [wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} Nephi] gave me, Jacob, [a commandment] concerning these small plates, [upon which] these things [are engraven.]

Jacob 1:2 [LDS 1:2] [Note]
[And he gave <me,>{incorrect punctuation} <Jacob,>{incorrect punctuation} 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 1:3 [LDS 1:3]
[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 1:4 [LDS 1:4] [Note]
[And if] [there were preaching] [which was sacred,] [or revelation] [which was great,] [or prophesying,] [that I should engrave] [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 1:5 [LDS 1:5]
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 1:6 [LDS 1:6]
[And we <also> had many] revelations, [and the spirit] [of <much> prophecy;] [wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} we knew] [of Christ] [and his kingdom,] which [should come.]

Jacob 1:7 [LDS 1:7]
[Wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} 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 1:8 [LDS 1:8]
[Wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} 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 fulfill] [the commandment] [of my brother] Nephi.

Jacob 1:9 [LDS 1:9]
[Now Nephi] began [to be] old, [and he saw] that [he must <soon> die;] [wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} he anointed] [a man] [to be a king] [and a ruler] over [his people] now, [according to the reigns] [of the kings.]

Jacob 1:10 [LDS 1:10]
[The people] [having loved] Nephi exceedingly, he [having been] [a <great> protector] [for them,] [having wielded] [the sword] [of Laban] [in their defense,] [and having labored] [in all] [his days] [for their welfare;] [wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} the people] [were desirous] [to retain] [in remembrance] [his name.]

Jacob 1:11 [LDS 1:11]
[And whoso] [should reign] [in his stead,] [were called] [by the people,] second Nephi, third Nephi, etc., [according to the reigns] [of the kings;] [and thus] [they were called] [by the people,] [let them be] [of whatever] name [they would.]

Jacob 1:12 [LDS 1:12]
[And it came to pass] [that Nephi] died.

Jacob 1:13 [LDS 1:13]
[Now the people] [which were] not Lamanites, [were Nephites;] nevertheless, [they were called] Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, [and Ishmaelites.]

Jacob 1:14 [LDS 1:14]
[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 1:15 [LDS 1:15]
[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 1:16 [LDS 1:16]
Yea, [and they <also> began] [to search] much gold [and silver,] [and began] [to be lifted up somewhat] [in pride;]

Jacob 1:17 [LDS 1:17]
Wherefore, I, Jacob, gave [unto them] these words [as I taught them] [in the temple,] [having <firstly> obtained] [mine errand] [from the Lord.]

Jacob 1:18 [LDS 1:18]
For I, Jacob, [and my brother] Joseph, [had been consecrated] priests, [and teachers] [of <this> people] [by the hand] [of Nephi.]

Jacob 1:19 [LDS 1:19] [Note]
[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;

Jacob 1:20 [LDS 1:19]
[Wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} by laboring] [with our mights,] [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.