And now it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and third year,16 the Nefites did go up with their armies to battle against the Lamanites, out of the land of Desolation. And it came to pass that the armies of the Nefites were driven back again to the land of Desolation. And while they were yet weary, a fresh army of the Lamanites did come upon them. And they had a sore battle, insomuch that the Lamanites did take possession of the city Desolation, and did slay many of the Nefites, and did take many prisoners; and the remainder did flee and join the inhabitants of the city Teancum. Now the city Teancum lay in the borders by the seashore, and it was also near the city Desolation. And it was because the armies of the Nefites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be slain — for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them. But behold, the judgments of Elohim will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished, for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed. And it came to pass that the Lamanites did make preparations to come against the city Teancum.
And it came to pass in the three hundred and sixty and fourth year, the Lamanites did come against the city Teancum, that they might take possession of the city Teancum also. And it came to pass that they were repulsed and driven back by the Nefites. And when the Nefites saw that they had driven the Lamanites, they did again boast of their own strength; and they went forth in their own might and took possession again of the city Desolation. And now all these things had been done, and there had been thousands slain on both sides, both the Nefites and the Lamanites. And it came to pass that the three hundred and sixty and sixth year had passed away. And the Lamanites came again upon the Nefites to battle, and yet the Nefites repented not of the evil they had done, but persisted in their wickedness continually. And it is impossible for the tongue to describe or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nefites and of the Lamanites. And every heart was hardened so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually. And there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lechi, nor even among all the house of Isra’el (according to the words of yhwh), as were among this people.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did take possession of the city Desolation, and this because their number did exceed the number of the Nefites. And they did also march forward against the city Teancum, and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take many prisoners of women and of children, and did offer them up as sacrifices unto their idol gods. And it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and seventh year, the Nefites being angry because the Lamanites had sacrificed their women and their children, that they did go against the Lamanites with exceedingly great anger, insomuch that they did beat again the Lamanites and drive them out of their lands. And the Lamanites did not come again against the Nefites until the three hundred and seventy and fifth year.17 And in this year they did come down against the Nefites with all their powers, and they were not numbered because of the greatness of their number. And from this time forth did the Nefites gain no power over the Lamanites, but began to be swept off by them, even as dew before the sun. And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come down against the city Desolation, and there was an exceedingly sore battle fought in the land Desolation, in the which they did beat the Nefites. And they fled again from before them, and they came to the city Boaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites with exceeding boldness, insomuch that the Lamanites did not beat them until they had come again the second time. And when they had come the second time, the Nefites were driven and slaughtered with an exceedingly great slaughter; their women and their children were again sacrificed unto idols. And it came to pass that the Nefites did again flee from before them, taking all the inhabitants with them, both in towns and villages. And now I, M’raman, seeing that the Lamanites were about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim and did take up all the records which Ammaron18 had hidden up unto yhwh.
And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nefites and did turn from the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them. And they gave me command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions. But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of yhwh which should come upon them; for they turned not from their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who had created them. And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come against us as we had fled to the city of Yarden, but behold, they were driven back that they did not take the city at that time. And it came to pass that they came against us again, and we did maintain the city. And there were also other cities which were maintained by the Nefites, which strongholds did cut them off, that they could not get into the country which lay before us to destroy the inhabitants of our land. But it came to pass that whatsoever lands we had passed by and the inhabitants thereof were not gathered in were destroyed by the Lamanites; and their towns, and villages, and cities were burned with fire. And thus three hundred and seventy and nine years passed away. And it came to pass that in the three hundred and eightieth year,19 the Lamanites did come again against us to battle, and we did stand against them boldly; but it was all in vain, for so great were their numbers that they did tread the people of the Nefites under their feet. And it came to pass that we did again take flight, and those whose flight was swifter than the Lamanites did escape, and those whose flight did not exceed the Lamanites were swept down and destroyed.
And now behold, I, M’raman, do not desire to torment the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before my eyes. But I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the housetops,20 and also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of this people, and also unto the Goyim which yhwh has said should scatter this people — and this people should be counted as nothing among them — therefore I write a small abridgement, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that you might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.
And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Goyim who have care for the house of Isra’el, that realize and know from where their blessings come. For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Isra’el, yes, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people. They will sorrow that this people had not repented, that they might have been clasped in the arms of Yeshua. Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Ya’akov, and they are written after this manner because it is known of Elohim that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them. And they are to be hid up unto yhwh, that they may come forth in his own due time. And this is the commandment which I have received. And behold, they shall come forth according to the mitzvah of yhwh, when he shall see fit in his wisdom. And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Y’hudim. And for this intent shall they go, that they may be persuaded that Yeshua is the Mashiach, the Son of the living Elohim; that the Father may bring about, through his Most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose in restoring the Y’hudim, or all the house of Isra’el, to the land of their inheritance which yhwh their Elohim has given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant; and also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his besorah which shall go forth unto them from the Goyim. For this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, an unclean, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever has been among us, yes, even that which has been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry. For behold, the spirit of yhwh has already ceased to strive with their fathers, and they are without Mashiach and Elohim in the world, and they are driven about as chaff before the wind. They were once a delightful people, and they had Mashiach for their shepherd. Yes, they were led even by Elohim the Father. But now behold, they are led about by HaSatan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves without sail or anchor, or without anything with which to steer her; and even as she is, so are they. And behold, yhwh has reserved their blessing, which they might have received in the land, for the Goyim who shall possess the land. But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Goyim. And after they have been driven and scattered by the Goyim, behold, then will yhwh remember the covenant which he made unto Avraham and unto all the house of Isra’el. And also yhwh will remember the prayers of the righteous which have been put up unto him for them.
And then, O you Goyim, how can you stand before the power of Elohim except you shall repent and turn from your evil ways? Do you not know that you are in the hands of Elohim? Do you not know that he has all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?21 Therefore, repent, and humble yourselves before him, or he shall come out in justice against you, and a remnant of the seed of Ya’akov shall go forth among you as a lion and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.22