10
1 And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died.
2 Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto
the second day at night.
3 And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet; then rose
I up by night and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest.
4 And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but
continually to mourn and to fast until I die.
8 And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?
9 For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of so many
that grow upon her.
10 For out of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and, behold, they walk almost
all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly rooted out.
11 Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude; and not thou, which
art sorry but for one?
12 But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth’s, because I have lost the fruit of
my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;
13 But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth is gone, as
it came:
14 Then say I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with labour; even so the earth also hath given
her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her.
15 Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which hath befallen thee.
16 For if thou shalt acknowledge the determination of God to be just, thou shalt both receive thy son in
time, and shalt be commended among women.
20 Do not so, but be counselled. by me: for how many are the adversities of Sion? be comforted in regard
of the sorrow of Jerusalem.
22 Our psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end, the light
of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the
name that is called upon us is almost profaned: our children are put to shame, our priests are burnt,
our Levites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men
carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are
become weak;
23 And, which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost her honour; for she is delivered into
the hands of them that hate us.
24 And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may
be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labour.
25 And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly,
and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.
26 And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the
woman.
27 And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large
place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,
28 Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into many trances,
and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.
30 And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me: and he took me by
the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me,
31 What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts
of thine heart?
32 And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the
field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.
38 He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid:
for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.
39 He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great
lamentation for Sion.
42 But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.
44 This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city
builded,
45 Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years
wherein there was no offering made in her.
46 But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son.
47 And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.
48 But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have a fail,
and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem.
49 And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou begannest to comfort
her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened unto thee.
50 For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart for
her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty:
54 For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man’s building be able
to stand.