1 “On the wedding night when my son entered the bedroom, he dropped dead. 2 So we put out all the wedding lamps, and all my neighbors came to comfort me. I remained in control of myself until the evening of the second day, 3 when they all left. That night I got up and came out to this field, as you see. 4 I have decided never to return to that town. I am going to stay here in constant mourning, neither eating nor drinking anything until I die.”
5 When she told me this, I put aside my own thoughts and spoke sharply to her: 6 “You are the most foolish woman I ever met. Don't you see what our people are suffering? Don't you know all that has happened to us? 7 Jerusalem, the mother of us all, is overcome with grief and shame. You ought to be mourning for her 8 and sharing the grief and sorrow of all of us. But you are mourning for that one son of yours. 9 Ask the earth; let her tell you that she is the one who ought to be mourning for the vast multitudes of people that she has brought to birth. 10 All of us who are living came originally from her, and there are more to come. Almost all of us go straight to destruction—the vast multitude of earth's children are lost. 11 So who has more right to mourn, you for your one son, or the earth, which has lost so many? 12-13 I know what you are thinking; you think that your sorrow is worse than the earth's. You think that it is only natural for earth's multitudes to live and then die, but you have lost your own flesh and blood which you brought to birth with such trouble and pain. But let me tell you 14 that from the time God created the earth she has suffered as much in producing human beings for God as you did in childbirth. 15 So keep your tears to yourself, and be brave about what has happened to you. 16 If you will accept God's decision as just, you will get your son back at the right time, and you will receive the praise due a mother. 17 Go back to the city and to your husband.”
18 “No,” she answered, “I will never go back; I am going to stay here and die.”
19-20 “Don't do that,” I continued. “Consider the misfortunes and sorrows of Jerusalem, and you won't feel so sorry for yourself. 21 You can see that our place of worship is in ruins, our altar has been torn down, our Temple has been destroyed, 22 our musical instruments lie quiet, our hymns have been silenced, our joy has ended, the light of the sacred lamp has been put out, our Covenant Box has been carried off, our sacred utensils have been desecrated, the name of our God has been profaned, our leaders have been dishonored, our priests have been burned to death, our Levites have been taken captive, our virgins have been raped, our wives have been violated, our devout men have been carried off, our children have been abandoned, our young people have been made slaves, and our strong soldiers have been made helpless. 23 Worst of all, Jerusalem, once marked as God's own city, has lost its glory and has been handed over to our enemies. 24 So put aside all your sorrow and grief. May God Most High, the Almighty, be merciful to you and give you peace. May he give you rest from your troubles.”
25 While I was speaking to the woman, her face suddenly began to shine with a light that flashed like lightning. I was afraid to stand near her and wondered what all this meant. 26 Suddenly she let out a loud and terrifying cry that shook the earth. 27 When I looked up, I could no longer see the woman, but there was a city built on huge foundations. I was afraid and shouted, 28 “Where is the angel Uriel, who came to me earlier? It is his fault that I am so confused. My prayer is useless, and I have nothing to hope for but death.”
Uriel's Interpretation of the Vision
29 I was still speaking when the angel Uriel appeared again. He saw me 30 lying there unconscious like a corpse, so he took hold of my right hand, gave me strength, and stood me on my feet. Then he asked, 31 “What's the matter? Why are you so disturbed and confused?”
32 I answered, “You abandoned me completely! I did as you told me and came out to this field, but I cannot explain what I am seeing.”
33 “Stand up straight,” he answered, “and I will explain it to you.”
34 “Sir,” I answered, “please explain it to me. I will die in my frustration if you leave me, 35 for I cannot understand what I have seen and heard. 36 Or is my mind playing tricks on me, and is this just a bad dream? 37 I beg you, sir, tell me what this vision means.”
38 The angel said, “Now listen closely, and I will explain the meaning of these things that you fear. God Most High has revealed many secrets to you 39 because he has seen that you have lived a righteous life and have always grieved and mourned for your people and for Jerusalem. 40 This is what the vision means: A woman appeared to you a little while ago, 41 and when you saw that she was mourning, you tried to console her. 42-43 The woman told you about the death of her son. Then she vanished from your sight, and a whole city appeared. This is the meaning: 44 The woman you saw is Jerusalem, which you now see as a completed city. 45 When she told you that for thirty years she had had no children, it meant that for three thousand years no offerings had yet been made there. 46 Then Solomon built the city, and sacrifices began to be offered there. At that time the childless woman gave birth to her son. 47 When she told you that she took great care in bringing the son up, that referred to the period when Jerusalem was inhabited. 48 When she told you of the death of her son on his wedding day, that meant the destruction of Jerusalem. 49 So in the vision you saw how she mourned for her son, and you tried to console her for what had happened—this is what was to be revealed to you. 50 When God Most High saw that you were grieving for the woman with all your heart and soul, he showed you all her glory and majestic beauty. 51 That is why I told you to go and stay in the field where no one had ever lived, 52 for I knew that God Most High was going to show you these things. 53 I told you to go to the field where no foundation had ever been built, 54 because nothing built by human hands could stand in the place where the city of God Most High was about to be revealed.
55 “So don't be afraid. Go into the city and look at its beautiful and majestic buildings. See as much as you can. 56 After that, you will hear as much as you can. 57 You are more fortunate than most people, and only a few have the reputation with God Most High that you have. 58 Remain here until tomorrow night, 59 and he will show you in dreams and visions what he plans to do for those who will be living on the earth in the last days.” So I slept there that night and the next, as I had been told.
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.
5 Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,
6 Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?
7 How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?
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.
17 Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.
18 And she said unto 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 unto her, and said,
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.
21 For thou seest 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 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.
29 And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.
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.
33 And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.
34 Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate 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 thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.
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.
40 This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:
41 Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:
42 But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.
43 And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:
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:
51 And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:
52 For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.
53 Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.
54 For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man’s building be able to stand.
55 And therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see:
56 And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.
57 For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but few.
58 But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;
59 And so shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.