TRANSLATION FROM A SYRIAC

Southland Times, Issue 682, 12 June 1867, Page 2

TRANSLATION FROM A SYRIAC

. I , Chaptee L ._' ' , ■ i 1. : I dreamed- a dream, and lo ! a voice came • unto me as the voice ; of- a- people ..groaning in great tribulation. - ; \.'Q. And the voice- said," Why 1 sleepest thpu, when tribulation is on the land? Take Sip thy parable, and write that which thou seest. • ' : ■*"■■'•' ■•'- " - ■J3-.— And r— l- lifted up mine eyes, andlooked, and behold! a smiling and a feir country^=-a/ country with Many; streams wherewith to fertilize the land, which yielded abundantly. , .; * '4. But there'was desolation over the face of it, and -the, hearts of men were troubled. - - -.. ■... r |5. : For the land had groaned for yearsj yea, even unto four, under evil rulej'for the Tetrarch which had rule over the people was stiff-necked, and hardened I hi^ heart against ithem. •? - - .; ,;; 6; at the- expiration ■of the term, of his rule; Vyeay even at , the day thereof, thb people rebelled againsshiM,, ■<,[ ; ' ' |7. And the Scribes and the tElders of-, the people arose and said as with one voice/we ' will not - have this;iiiaik to rulo over us. ' ■ >; ' "■ ' . \i^''- '.'/.'.^;.... 8 f -And the : Council of Elders chose another Tetrarch, one who.was.not stiffs and- sought not to gratify his pride *at] the expense of the people, and con- ( ceited not himself r to 1 be better than they. |9. But the misrule of the- formerTetrarch', had been such that the land was desolated. «' IIP., Andthe finger of scorn was pointed at; it, by the Aucklanites, the Hawkites, arid the Wellirigites. . ' - 111. The; Tar akites, the -Kelflites^ : the IMOarlites, Canterites, and , the IXunedenites." ;12. But the good Tetrarch strove to redeem his people, yea/ wrestled with the >: mighty ones, until their hearts .were softened, and their wrath waa turned away; an!d J they hearkened unto him. 13. Then- the Council of the Elders of! the people was called together to hear the good tidings which would bring prosperity to the land, and make it smileorice more. _ . : 14. And he sent down unto them, saying "-Lo ! these many months have I striven with the mighty ones, those who sit in high: places, with much travail, and in tribulation have I wrestled with them, and my soul hath been faint within me." 15. But behold ! those who. are in authority have harkened to my supplications, and have granted that which seemetb good in my sight.

• i 16. Bejoice tlier^o^^^ I very glad, v and my people shall rejolc**' with 'an. exceeding^ great gladoesar^ 'ioe • Eerily 'the meal)bi^sliall be . and^he cruise shall be^filled witltirafcr"-- ; 17. And the metal which is base shalt^ have circulation throughout the lengfca and : the breadth of the land, and 4h&~ - fatherless and the widow shall -no moee be ah hungered, for of a veiifgKall thingst shall be~ prosperous in the land. .-. .•»■=,..-,-•-„ pLB. And the shall increase an cl multiply..excejedingly,i andthe landshatt overflow with milk^nAVhoney, .^and $fe^. r hearts of my people Be gladTOtmofc A ' them, andtHe pipe and the4abor shall fe heja-rd amongst them. *-- 19. Then- ,■t he good, thing which tlw» Tqtrarcli had done was expounded untie* them.. 20; J Then the Councillors and theEl2er« - of jthe People Tejbieedj'andiwere glad^anif their faces were bright as- the brightnear oi | a- lake : on -which ; the> morning bu» shineth.: . : ; :....-. : : 2^-^ But tKere,, were .amongst thent -five men like unto five beststs, false Ootiiicillora who desirfed not" the" good of th« p'ejople", for they^ had large 'possessionsi and flocks, aad herdsj and; cattle, on * thjausand hillsi v; ~ "* ? :■■■> ■■■■ >.r _. '2,2. . And. when they heard the tiding* . of j the good Tetrarch r their hearts wer#' jhardened,. against him, and 0 against the pebple, and their faces were ' : dWkeriecl* even as the sun whto the thuuder-cloadl loometh over it. m x 23. And the; first beast's face was as? the face of a bird oi prey ; for of a tratb his npse was like unto the beak of socßt an| one; and in his eyes wa£ a- 1 light wliich was not good for^the people- to look Up|on. % <•■: «■.:-•-..--.■■ ■ < ;:--V .."•■;.,'■;;■;_ |24. -And he was stiff-necked,- ,of * prpud and ... perverse disposition^ andE ' ' crafty., withal, and of. a cunning. abori» : tbkt of his fellows. ' J - ; -j |25. And when* lie heard! the tidingjji; his soul was troabledy-and his heart hardened; ; itself, against, .the people, ..?bofe~ ;hej dissembled hi 3 face, and took counselwith; himself. ,t ... „...} 0 .. . f - „,". J26. .■^v,r!And.he,Vs'a|d,~6f:a\.yeri^/tliw'; thpg is good which the TetearcH hatlt prjopounded ; neverfcheless.it mast not bet : |27. .Eor if the people prosper A^S r multiply exceedingly, there will be m*"ropm on the.--face T of.the land for -oar fldeks and'our ! nerds ;"and the plou^bshare shall invade bur dominions, and the sickle shall reap, where, we hafe- nofe sown... ' \ . ; |28.And the barren .land shall yieKf fo^th good things^ 0 the 1 wjideriiess fInME? become fruitful, and the foot of man r shall tr^T^here-only. ithe^beaßt^of'the field— now seek heritage. '■': y- - ; J ' .•=-' " -' SA JTO '• * r^.O j-"Sjhu-. rift ' ai-rtmi«J+jr -tViia yt-'UmoTafiiiitß^. not be. Lo ! I will .dissemble 5 my facev and by, fair. speech, rmake it appear unto* tije, . people . that L desire tHis tsing whic& ■ thVgood Tetrarciistrivetji for,. and there-^ by will T moiest 'him. ' ""'*... - - !30. And I will call 1 nnto mme 1 assist* ance the son of Cuff, and I will use hini as! a tool, yea, as a s,harp topi and. I will mould him^ in i; mmc T -hands; as ..doth »• potter hif clay, and he, sliall do a^miiMfc^heart desireth, and; shall appear unto 'tlw^ people as the doer thereof. ' 131. For f is hV not delivered ; into mlil# hainds ? Tea as a scapegoat, one. caught: in] thejthicketj :and the: people/shall ciy^-r away -witk-bim^! -,',--,r ; ■ -.•■• -. • , r