Page:KJV 1772 Oxford Edition, vol. 2.djvu/41

Apocrypha, do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.

So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,

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.

For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed;

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;

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.

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.

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.

And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.

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,

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.

And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.

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,

What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?

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.

And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.

Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.

For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?

Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.

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.

He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.

This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:

Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:

But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.

And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:

This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,

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.

But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son.

And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.

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.

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.

For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest