The Lost Books of the Bible: The Great Rejected Texts Read online

  9: For ask the earth, and she will tell you, 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 will all others come, and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly pulled up by the roots.

  11: Who then should make more mourning than she, that has lost so great a multitude; and not you, which are sorry but for one?

  12: But if you say to 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 to you, Like as you have brought forth with labor; even so the earth also has given her fruit, namely man, ever since the beginning to him that made her.

  15: Now therefore keep your sorrow to yourself, and bear with a good courage that which has befallen you.

  16: For if you will acknowledge the determination of God to be just, you will both receive your son in time, and will be commended among women.

  17: Go your way then into the city to your husband.

  18: And she said to me, That will I not do, I will not go into the city, but here will I die.

  19: So I proceeded to speak further to her, and said,

  20: Do not so, but be counseled by me; for how many are the adversities of Sion? Be comforted in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem.

  21: For you see that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed;

  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 has now lost her honor; for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us.

  24: And therefore shake off your great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful to you again, and the Highest will give you rest and ease from your labor.

  25: And 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 to me no more, but there was a city built, and a large place showed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,

  28: Where is Uriel the angel, who came to me at the first, for he has caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke?

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

  30: And, lo, I lay as one that was 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 to me,

  31: What ails you? And why are you so disquieted? And why is your understanding troubled, and the thoughts of your heart?

  32: And I said, Because you have forsaken me, and yet I did according to your words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

  33: And he said to me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise you.

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

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

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

  37: Now therefore I beseech you that you will show your servant of this vision.

  38: He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I will inform you, and tell you wherefore you are afraid; for the Highest will reveal many secret things to you.

  39: He has seen that your way is right; for that you sorrow continually for your people, and make great lamentation for Sion.

  40: This therefore is the meaning of the vision which you lately saw:

  41: You saw a woman mourning and you began to comfort her:

  42: But now see you the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared to you a city built.

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

  44: This woman, whom you saw is Sion and whereas she said to you, even she whom you see as a city built,

  45: Whereas, I say, she said to you, that she has been thirty years barren, those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her.

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

  47: And whereas she told you that she nourished him with labor: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.

  48: But whereas she said to you, 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, you saw her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, you began to comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened to you.

  50: For now the most High sees that you are truly grieved, and allow from your whole heart for her, so has he showed you the brightness of her glory, and the pleasantness of her beauty:

  51: And therefore I asked you to remain in the field where no house was built:

  52: For I knew that the Highest would show this to you.

  53: Therefore I commanded you to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.

  54: For in the place wherein the Highest begins to show his city, there can no man’s building be able to stand.

  55: And therefore fear not, let not yours heart be affrighted, but go your way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as yours eyes be able to see:

  56: And then will you hear as much as yours ears may comprehend.

  57: For you are blessed above many other, and are called with the Highest; and so are but few.

  58: But tomorrow at night you will remain here;

  59: And so will the Highest show you visions of the high things, which the most High will do to them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

  4 Ezra Chapter 11

  1: Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings and three heads.

  2: And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.

  3: And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.

  4: But her heads were at rest; the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue.

  5: Moreover I beheld, and lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.

  6: And I saw that all things under heaven were subject to her, and no man spoke against her, no, not one creature upon earth.

  7: And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spoke to her feathers, saying,

  8: Watch not all at once, sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course:

  9: But let the heads be preserved for the last.

  10: And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.

  11: And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.

  12: And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;

>   13: And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more: so the next following stood up. and reigned, and had a great time;

  14: And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.

  15: Then came there a voice to it, and said,

  16: Hear you that have borne rule over the earth so long, this I say to you, before you begin to appear no more,

  17: There will none after you attain to your time, neither to the half thereof.

  18: Then arose the third, and reigned as the others before, and appeared no more also.

  19: So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared no more.

  20: Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:

  21: For some of them were set up, but ruled not.

  22: After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:

  23: And there was no more upon the eagle’s body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.

  24: Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side; for the four continued in their place.

  25: And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.

  26: And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.

  27: And the second was sooner away than the first.

  28: And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign.

  29: And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads.

  30: And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.

  31: And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.

  32: But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it had the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been.

  33: And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.

  34: But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.

  35: And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.

  36: Then I head a voice, which said to me, Look before you, and consider the thing that you see.

  37: And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man’s voice to the eagle, and said,

  38: Hear you, I will talk with you, and the Highest will say to you,

  39: Are not you it that remain of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?

  40: And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past, and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.

  41: For the earth have you not judged with truth.

  42: For you have afflicted the meek, you have hurt the peaceable, you have loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and have cast down the walls of such as did you no harm.

  43: Therefore is your wrongful dealing come up to the Highest, and your pride to the Mighty.

  44: The Highest also has looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.

  45: And therefore appear no more, you eagle, nor your horrible wings, nor your wicked feathers nor your malicious heads, nor your hurtful claws, nor all your vain body:

  46: That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being delivered from your violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him that made her.

  4 Ezra Chapter 12

  1: And while the lion spoke these words to the eagle, I saw,

  2: And, behold, the head that remained and the four wings appeared no more, and the two went to it and set themselves up to reign, and their kingdom was small, and fill of uproar.

  3: And I saw, and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked I out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said to my spirit,

  4: Lo, this have you done to me, in that you search out the ways of the Highest.

  5: Lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and little strength is there in me, for the great fear wherewith I was afflicted this night.

  6: Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me to the end.

  7: And I said, Lord that upholds rule, if I have found grace before your sight, and if I am justified with you before many others, and if my prayer indeed be come up before your face;

  8: Comfort me then, and show me your servant the interpretation and plain difference of this fearful vision, that you may perfectly comfort my soul.

  9: For you have judged me worthy to show me the last times.

  10: And he said to me, This is the interpretation of the vision:

  11: The eagle, whom you saw come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of your brother Daniel.

  12: But it was not expounded to him, therefore now I declare it to you.

  13: Behold, the days will come, that there will rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it will be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it.

  14: In the same will twelve kings reign, one after another:

  15: Whereof the second will begin to reign, and will have more time than any of the twelve.

  16: And this do the twelve wings signify, which you saw.

  17: As for the voice which you heard speak, and that you saw not to go out from the heads but from the midst of the body thereof, this is the interpretation:

  18: That after the time of that kingdom there will arise great strivings, and it will stand in peril of failing: nevertheless it will not then fall, but will be restored again to his beginning.

  19: And whereas you saw the eight small under feathers sticking to her wings, this is the interpretation:

  20: That in him there will arise eight kings, whose times will be but small, and their years swift.

  21: And two of them will perish, the middle time approaching: four will be kept until their end begin to approach: but two will be kept to the end.

  22: And whereas you saw three heads resting, this is the interpretation:

  23: In his last days will the most High raise up three kingdoms, and renew many things therein, and they will 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 will accomplish his wickedness, and that will finish his last end.

  26: And whereas you saw that the great head appeared no more, it signifies that one of them will die upon his bed, and yet with pain.

  27: For the two that remain will be slain with the sword.

  28: For the sword of the one will devour the other but at the last will he fall through the sword himself.

  29: And whereas you saw two feathers under the wings passing over the head that is on the right side;

  30: It signifies that these are they, whom the Highest has kept to their end: this is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as you saw.

  31: And the lion, whom you saw rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteousness with all the words which
you have heard;

  32: This is the anointed, which the Highest has kept for them and for their wickedness to the end: he will reprove them, and will upbraid them with their cruelty.

  33: For he will set them before him alive in judgment, and will rebuke them, and correct them.

  34: For the rest of my people will he deliver with mercy, those that have been pressed upon my borders, and he will make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken to you from the beginning.

  35: This is the dream that you saw, and these are the interpretations.

  36: You only have been meet to know this secret of the Highest.

  37: Therefore write all these things that you have seen in a book, and hide them.

  38: And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts you know may comprehend and keep these secrets.

  39: But wait you here yourself yet seven days more, that it may be showed you, whatsoever it pleases the Highest to declare to you. And with that he went his way.

  40: And when all the people saw that the seven days were past, and I had not come again into the city, they gathered them all together, from the least to the greatest, and came to me, and said,

  41: What have we offended you? And what evil have we done against you, that you forsake us, and sit here in this place?

  42: For of all the prophets you only are 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 you will 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 I answered them, and said,

  46: Be of good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, you house of Jacob:

  47: For the Highest has you in remembrance, and the Mighty has not forgotten you in temptation.

  48: As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I left 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 to you.