Apocrypha. CHAP. XIII. Apocrypha. 7 And I said, Lord that bearest rule, if I have ness with all the words which thou hast heard ; found grace before thy sight, and if I am justified with thee before many others, and if my prayer indeed be come up before thy face; 8 Comfort me then, and shew me thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this fearful vision, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul. 9 For thou hast judged me worthy to shew me the last times. 10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision: 11 The eagle whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel. 12 But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee. 13 Behold, the days will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it. 14 In the same shall twelve kings reign, one after another : 32 This is the anointed, which the Highest hath kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and shall upbraid them with their cruelty. 33 For he shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them and correct them. 34 For the rest of my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that have been preserved upon my borders, and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment, whereof have spoken unto thee from the beginning. 35 This is the dream that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations. I 36 Thou only hast been meet to know this secret of the Highest. 37 Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them: 38 And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou knowest may comprehend and keep these secrets. 39 But wait thou here thyself yet seven days 15 Whereof the second shall begin to reign, more, that it may be shewed thee, whatsoever and shall have more time than any of the twelve. it pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee. 16 And this do the twelve wings signify, And with that he went his way. which thou sawest. 40 And it came to pass, when all the people 17 As for the voice which thou heardest saw that the seven days were past, and I not speak, and that thou sawest not to go out from come again into the city, they gathered them the heads, but from the midst of the body there- all together, from the least unto the greatest, of, this is the interpretation: and came unto me, and said, 18 That after the time of that kingdom there 41 What have we offended thee? and what shall arise great strivings, and it shall stand in evil have we done against thee, that thou forperil of falling: nevertheless, it shall not then sakest us, and sittest here in this place? fall, but shall be restored again to his beginning. 19 And whereas thou sawest the eight small under-feathers sticking to her wings, this is the interpretation: 20 That in him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be but small, and their years swift. 21 And two of them shall perish, the middle time approaching four shall be kept until their end begin to approach: but two shall be kept unto the end. 22 And whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation: 23 In his last days shall the Most High raise up three kingdoms, and renew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the earth, 24 And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were before them therefore are they called the heads of the eagle. 25 For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last end. 26 And whereas thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain. 27 For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword. 28 For the sword of the one shall devour the other but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself. 42 For of all the prophets thou only art left us, as a cluster of the vintage, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven or ship preserved from the tempest. 43 Are not the evils which are come to us sufficient? 44 If thou shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been burned in the midst of Sion? 45 For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said, 46 Be of good comfort, O Israel, and be not heavy, thou house of Jacob: 47 For the Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not forgotten you in temp tation. 48 As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion, and that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your sanctuary. 49 And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you. 50 So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded them: 51 But I remained still in the field seven days, as the angel commanded me; and did eat only in those days of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of the herbs. CHAP. XIII. 29 And whereas thou sawest two feathers AND it came to pass after seven days, I under the wings passing over the head that is on the right side; dreamed a dream by night: 2 And lo, there arose a wind from the sea, that it moved all the waves thereof. 30 It signifieth that these are they whom the 3 And I beheld, and lo, that man waxed Highest hath kept unto their end: this is the strong with the thousands of heaven: and when small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou sawest. he turned his countenance to look, all the things 31 And the lion, whom thou sawest rising up trembled that were seen under him. out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to 4 And whensoever the voice went out of the eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteous- his mouth, all they burned that heard his Apocrypha. II. ESDRAS. Аростурка. voice, like as the earth faileth when it feeleth shall deliver his creature: and he shall order the fire. them that are left behind. 5 And after this I beheld, and lo, there was gathered together a multitude of men, out of number, from the four winds of the heaven, to subdue the man that came out of the sea. 6 But I beheld, and lo, he had graved him self a great mountain, and flew up upon it. 7 But I would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was graven, and I could not. 8 And after this I beheld, and lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight. 9 And lo, as he saw the violence of the multitude that came, he neither lifted up his hand, nor held sword, nor any instrument of war: 10 But only I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a blast of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he cast out sparks and tempests. 11 And they were all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming breath, and the great tempest; and fell with violence upon the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burned them up every one, so that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing was to be perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was afraid. 12 Afterward I saw the same man come down from the mountain, and call unto him another peaceable multitude. 13 And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, some of them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked, and said, 27 And whereas thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wind, and fire, and storm; 28 And that he held neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but that the rushing in of him destroyed the whole multitude that came to subdue him; this is the interpretation: 29 Behold, the days come, when the Most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the earth. 30 And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth. 31 And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place against another, one people against another, and one realm against another. 32 And the time shall be when these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen which I shewed thee before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom thou sawest as a man ascending. 33 And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle they have one against another. 34 And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as thou sawest them, willing to come, and to overcome him by fighting. 35 But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion. 36 And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as thou sawest the hill graven without hands. 37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their 14 Thou hast shewed thy servant these won-wicked life are fallen into the tempest; ders from the beginning, and hast counted me 38 And shall lay before them their evil worthy that thou shouldest receive my prayer: thoughts, and the torments wherewith they 15 Shew me now yet the interpretation of shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto this dream. a flame: and he shall destroy them without la16 For as I conceive in mine understand-bour by the law which is like unto fire. ing, wo unto them that shall be left in those days! and much more wo unto them that are not left behind! 20 Yet is it easier for him that is in danger to come into these things, than to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see the things that happen in the last days. And he answered unto me, and said, 21 The interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee, and I will open unto thee the thing that thou hast required. 22 Whereas thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is the interpretation: 23 He that shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself: they that be fallen into danger are such as have works, and faith toward the Almighty. 24 Know this therefore, that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be dead. 25 This is the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man coming up from the midst of the sea: 26 The same is he whom God the Highest hath kept a great season, which by his own self 39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him; 40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land. 41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt, 42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. 43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow passages of the river. 44 For the Most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. 45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth. 46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come, 47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace. 48 But those that be left behind of thy people, are they that are found within my borders. 49 Now when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, be shall defend his people that remain. 50 And then shall he shew them great wonders. Apocrypha. CHAP. XIV. Apocrypha. 51 Then said I, O Lord that bearest rule, is hard at hand: for now hasteth the vision to shew me this: Wherefore have I seen the man come, which thou hast seen. coming up from the midst of the sea? 52 And he said unto me, Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know the things that are in the deep of the sea: even so can no man upon earth see my Son, or those that be with him, but in the day-time. 53 This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and whereby thou only art here lightened. 54 For thou hast forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence unto my law, and sought it. 55 Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called understanding thy mother. 56 And therefore have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest: after other three days I will speak other things unto thee, and declare unto thee mighty and wondrous things. 57 Then went I forth into the field, giving praise and thanks greatly unto the Most High because of his wonders, which he did in time; 58 And because he governeth the same, and such things as fall in their seasons: and there I sat three days. CHAP. XIV. AND it a voice out of a bush over against me, and said, Esdras, Esdras. 2 And I said, Here am I, Lord. And I stood up upon my feet. 3 Then said he unto me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself unto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in Egypt: 4 And I sent him, and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him up to the mount of Sinai, where I held him by me a long season, 5 And told him many wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of the times, and the end; and commanded him, saying, 19 Then answered I before thee, and said, 20 Behold, Lord, I will go, as thou hast commanded me, and reprove the people which are present: but they that shall be born afterward, who shall admonish them? thus the world is set in darkness, and they that dwell therein are without light. 21 For thy law is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that are done of thee, or the works that shall begin. 22 But if I have found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost into me, and I shall write all that hath been done in the world since the beginning, which were written in thy law, that men may find thy path, and that they which will live in the latter days may live. 23 And he answered me, saying, Go thy way, gather the people together, and say unto them, that they seek thee not for forty days. 24 But look thou prepare thee many boxtrees, and take with thee Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ecanus, and Asiel, these five which are ready to write swiftly; 25 And come hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in thine heart, which shall bill, I not be put out, till the things be performed 6 These words shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide. 7 And now I say unto thee, 8 That thou lay up in thy heart the signs that I have shewed, and the dreams that thou hast seen, and the interpretations which thou hast heard: 9 For thou shalt be taken away from all, and from henceforth thou shalt remain with my Son, and with such as be like thee, until the times be ended. 10 For the world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax old. 11 For the world is divided into twelve parts, and the ten parts of it are gone already, and half of a tenth part: 12 And there remaineth that which is after the half of the tenth part : 13 Now therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people, comfort such of them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption. 26 And when thou hast done, some things shalt thou publish, and some things shalt thou shew secretly to the wise: to-morrow this hour shalt thou begin to write. 27 Then went I forth as he commanded, and gathered all the people together, and said, 28 Hear these words, O Israel. 29 Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were delivered: 30 And received the law of life, which they kept not, which ye also have transgressed after them. 31 Then was the land, even the land of Sion, parted among you by lot: but your fathers, and ye yourselves, have done unrighteousness, and have not kept the ways which the Highest commanded you. 32 And forasmuch as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that he had given you. 33 And now are ye here, and your brethren among you. 34 Therefore if so be that ye will subdue your own understanding, and reform your hearts, ye shall be kept alive, and after death ye shall obtain mercy. 35 For after death shall the judgment come, when we shall live again: and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the works of the ungodly shall be declared. 36 Let no man therefore come unto me now, nor seek after me these forty days. 37 So I took the five men, as he commanded 14 Let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast me, and we went into the field, and remained away the burdens of man, put off now the weak there. nature, 38 And the next day, behold, a voice called 15 And set aside the thoughts that are most me, saying, Esdras, open thy mouth, and drink heavy unto thee, and haste thee to flee from that I give thee to drink. these times. 16 For yet greater evils than those which thou hast seen happen shall be done hereafter. 17 For look how much the world shall be weaker through age, so much the more shall evils increase upon them that dwell therein. 18 For the truth is fled far away, and leasing 39 Then opened I my mouth, and behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full as it were with water, but the colour of it was like fire. 40 And I took it, and drank: and when I had drunk of it, my heart uttered understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast, for my spirit strengthened my memory: Apocrypha. more. 41 And my mouth was opened, and shut no 18 For because of their pride the cities shall be troubled, the houses shall be destroyed, and 42 The Highest gave understanding unto the men shall be afraid. five men, and they wrote the wonderful visions of the night that were told, which they knew not and they sat forty days, and they wrote in the day, and at night they ate bread. 43 As for me, I spake in the day, and I held not my tongue by night. 44 In forty days they wrote two hundred and four books. 45 And it came to pass, when the forty days were fulfilled, that the Highest spake, saying, The first that thou hast written publish openly, that the worthy and unworthy may read it: 46 But keep the seventy last, that thou mayest deliver them only to such as be wise among the people: 19 A man shall have no pity upon his neighbour, but shall destroy their houses with the sword, and spoil their goods, because of the lack of bread, and for great tribulation. 20 Behold, saith God, I will call together all the kings of the earth to reverence me, which are from the rising of the sun, from the south, from the east, and Libanus; to turn themselves one against another, and repay the things that they have done to them. 21 Like as they do yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also, and recompense in their bosom. Thus saith the Lord God; 22 My right hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them that 47 For in them is the spring of understand-shed innocent blood upon the earth. ing, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge. 48 And I did so. CHAP. XV. 23 The fire is gone forth from his wrath, and hath consumed the foundations of the earth, and the sinners, like the straw that is kindled. 24 Wo to them that sin, and keep not my Be the words of prophecy, which I will put EHOLD, speak thou in the ears of my peo- commandments! saith the Lord : ple in thy mouth, saith the Lord: 2 And cause them to be written in paper for they are faithful and true. 3 Fear not the imaginations against thee: let not the incredulity of them trouble thee, that speak against thee. 4 For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness. 5 Behold, saith the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world; the sword, famine, death, and destruction. 6 For wickedness hath exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and their hurtful works are fulfilled. 7 Therefore saith the Lord, 25 I will not spare them: go your way, ye children, from the power, defile not my sanctuary. 26 For the Lord knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore delivereth he them unto death and destruction. 27 For now are the plagues come upon the whole earth, and ye shall remain in them: for God shall not deliver you, because ye have sinned against him. 28 Behold an horrible vision, and the appearance thereof from the east: 29 Where the nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, and the multitude of them shall be carried as the wind upon earth, that all they which hear them may 8 I will hold my tongue no more as touching fear and tremble. their wickedness, which they profanely com- 30 Also the Carmanians raging in wrath shall mit, neither will I suffer them in those things go forth as the wild boars of the wood, and with in which they wickedly exercise themselves: great power shall they come, and join battle behold, the innocent and righteous blood crieth with them, and shall waste a portion of the land unto me, and the souls of the just complain con- of the Assyrians. tinually. 9 And therefore, saith the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and receive unto me all the innocent blood from among them. 10 Behold, my people is led as a flock to the slaughter: I will not suffer them now to dwell in the land of Egypt: 11 But I will bring them with a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, and smite Egypt with plagues, as before, and will destroy all the land thereof. 12 Egypt shall mourn, and the foundation of it shall be smitten with the plague and punishment that God shall bring upon it. 13 They that till the ground shall mourn for their seeds shall fail through the blasting and hail, and with a fearful constellation. 14 Wo to the world, and them that dwell therein! 15 For the sword and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people shall stand up to fight against another, and swords in their hands. 16 For there shall be sedition among men, and invading one another; they shall not regard their kings nor princes, and the course of their actions shall stand in their power. 17 A man shall desire to go into a city, and shall not be able. 31 And then shall the dragons have the upper hand, remembering their nature; and if they shall turn themselves, conspiring together in great power to persecute them, 32 Then these shall be troubled, and keep silence through their power, and shall flee. 33 And from the land of the Assyrians shall the enemy besiege them, and consume some of them, and in their host shall be fear and dread, and strife among their kings. 34 Behold clouds from the east and from the north unto the south, and they are very horrible to look upon, full of wrath and storm. 35 They shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite down a great multitude of stars upon the earth, even their own star; and blood shall be from the sword unto the belly, 36 And dung of men unto the camel's hough. 37 And there shall be great fearfulness and trembling upon earth: and they that see the wrath shall be afraid, and trembling shall come upon them. 38 And then shall there come great storms from the south, and from the north, and another part from the west. 39 And strong winds shall arise from the east, and shall open it; and the cloud which he raised up in wrath, and the star stirred to cause fear toward the east and west wind, shall be destroyed. Apocrypha. CHAP. XVI. Apocrypha. 40 The great and mighty clouds shall be 2 Gird up yourselves with cloths of sack and lifted up full of wrath, and the star, that they hair, bewail your children, and be sorry; for may make all the earth afraid, and them that your destruction is at hand. dwell therein; and they shall pour out over every high and eminent place an horrible star, 41 Fire, and hail, and flying swords, and many waters, that all fields may be full, and all rivers, with the abundance of great waters. 3 A sword is sent upon you, and who may turn it back? 4 A fire is sent among you, and who may quench it? 5 Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that may drive them away? 42 And they shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees of the wood, 6 May any man drive away an hungry lion and grass of the meadows, and their corn. in the wood? or may any one quench the fire 43 And they shall go steadfastly unto Baby-in stubble, when it hath begun to burn? lon, and make her afraid. 44 They shall come to her, and besiege her, the star and all wrath shall they pour out upon her then shall the dust and smoke go up unto the heaven, and all they that be about her shall bewail her. 45 And they that remain under her shall do service unto them that have put her in fear. 7 May one turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer? 8 The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues, and who is he that can drive them away? 9 A fire shall go forth from his wrath, and who is he that may quench it? 10 He shall cast lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid? 46 And thou, Asia, that art partaker of the hope of Babylon, and art the glory of her person: 11 The Lord shall threaten, and who shall 47 Wo be unto thee, thou wretch, because not be utterly beaten to powder at his prethou hast made thyself like unto her; and hast sence? decked thy daughters in whoredom, that they might please and glory in thy lovers, which have always desired to commit whoredom with thee! 48 Thou hast followed her that is hated in all her works and inventions: therefore saith God, 49 I will send plagues upon thee; widowhood, poverty, famine, sword, and pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death. 50 And the glory of thy power shall be dried up as a flower, when the heat shall arise that is sent over thee. 51 Thou shalt be weakened as a poor woman with stripes, and as one chastised with wounds, so that the mighty and lovers shall not be able to receive thee. 52 Would I with jealousy have so proceeded against thee, saith the Lord, 53 If thou hadst not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of thine hands, and saying over their dead, when thou wast drunken, 54 Set forth the beauty of thy countenance? 55 The reward of thy whoredom shall be in thy bosom, therefore shalt thou receive recompense. 56 Like as thou hast done unto my chosen, saith the Lord, even so shall God do unto thee, and shall deliver thee into mischief. 57 Thy children shall die of hunger, and thou shalt fall through the sword: thy cities shall be broken down, and all thine shall perish with the sword in the field. 12 The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the fishes thereof also, before the Lord, and before the glory of his power: 13 For strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world. 14 Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the earth. 15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the earth. 16 Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again. 17 Wo is me! wo is me who will deliver me in those days? 18 The beginning, of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of famine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning of evils! what shall I do when these evils shall come? 19 Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment. 20 But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of thy scourges. 21 Behold, victuals shall be so good, cheap 58 They that be in the mountains shall die upon earth, that they shall think themselves to of hunger, and eat their own flesh, and drink be in good case, and even then shall evils grow their own blood, for very hunger of bread, and thirst of water. 59 Thou as unhappy shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues again. upon earth, sword, famine, and great confusion. 22 For many of them that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine; and the others that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy. 60 And in the passage they shall rush on the 23 And the dead shall be cast out as dung, idle city, and shall destroy some portion of thy and there shall be no man to comfort them: for land, and consume part of thy glory, and shall the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be return to Babylon that was destroyed. 61 And thou shalt be cast down by them as stubble, and they shall be unto thee as fire; 62 And shall consume thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy mountains; all thy woods and thy fruitful trees shall they burn up with fire. 63 Thy children shall they carry away captive, and look, what thou hast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face. CHAP. XVI. cast down. 24 There shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it. 25 The trees shall give fruit, and who shall gather them? 26 The grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? for all places shall be desolate of men: 27 So that one man shall desire to see another, and to hear his voice. 28 For of a city there shall be ten left, and Wo be unto thee, Babylon, and Asia! wo two of the field, which shall hide themselves in be unto thee, Egypt, and Syria! the thick groves, and in the clefts of the rocks. |