AlmaChapter4

Now it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla;

In the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no conflicts or wars in the land of Zarahemla.

But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trodden under foot and destroyed by the Lamanites.

But the people were grieving, and grieving deeply, over the loss of their brothers, flocks and herds, and fields of grain, which the Lamanites had trampled down and destroyed.

And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.

Their suffering was so great that everyone had reason to mourn. They believed it was the judgments of God sent on them because of their wickedness and abominations, so they were awakened to remember their duty.

And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma.

They began establishing the church more fully. Many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and joined the church of God. They were baptized by Alma, who had been consecrated high priest over the people of the church by his father Alma.

And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus endeth the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time.

In the seventh year of the reign of the judges, about three thousand five hundred people joined the church of God and were baptized. And so ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges. There was continual peace that whole time.

And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly apparel.

In the eighth year of the reign of the judges, the people of the church grew proud because of their great riches: their fine silks and expensive fabrics, many flocks and herds, gold and silver, and all kinds of valuables they had gotten by their own hard work. All of it made them proud, because they had started wearing very expensive clothes.

Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people whom Alma had consecrated to be teachers, and priests, and elders over the church; yea, many of them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to be among their people.

Now this caused Alma much distress, and many of the people he had consecrated as teachers, priests, and elders over the church felt it too. Many of them were deeply grieved by the wickedness they saw starting among their people.

For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure.

They saw with great sorrow what was happening to the people of the church: they were growing proud, setting their hearts on riches and the empty things of the world. They were growing scornful of one another, and they had started persecuting anyone who didn't believe just as they wanted them to.

And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God.

And so, in this eighth year, serious conflicts broke out among the people of the church. There was envy, strife, malice, persecution, and a pride that outdid even the pride of those who didn't belong to the church of God.

And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.

And so ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges. The wickedness of the church was a serious stumbling block to those who didn't belong to it, and so the church started losing ground.

And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.

At the beginning of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw too that its example was leading unbelievers on from one sin to another, and so bringing destruction on the people.

Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.

He saw great inequality among the people: some lifted themselves up in their pride, looking down on others, turning their backs on the needy, the naked, the hungry, the thirsty, and the sick and suffering.

Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy;

Now this gave the people great cause to mourn. Meanwhile others were humbling themselves and helping those who needed their help: sharing what they had with the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all kinds of hardships for Christ's sake, who would come according to the spirit of prophecy.

Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.

They were looking forward to that day, and so they held on to forgiveness of their sins, filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, by the will, power, and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the chains of death.

And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.

Now Alma had seen the suffering of the humble followers of God, the persecution heaped on them by the rest of his people, and all their inequality, and he grew very sad. Still, the Spirit of the Lord didn't fail him.

And he selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people.

He chose a wise man from among the elders of the church and gave him power by the voice of the people, so that he could make laws according to the laws that had been given and enforce them according to the wickedness and crimes of the people.

Now this man’s name was Nephihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment-seat to judge and to govern the people.

This man's name was Nephihah. He was appointed chief judge, and he sat in the judgment seat to judge and govern the people.

Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah.

Alma didn't give him the office of high priest over the church. He kept that office himself, but he handed the judgment seat over to Nephihah.

And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.

He did this so that he could go out among his own people, the people of Nephi, and preach the word of God to them, to keep reminding them of their duty, and to tear down by the word of God all the pride, craftiness, and quarreling among them. He saw no way to reclaim them except by bearing down in pure testimony against them.

And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment-seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.

And so, at the beginning of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma gave up the judgment seat to Nephihah and devoted himself entirely to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.