Forbidden Gospels and Epistles, Complete

CHAPTER III.

1 An­na per­ceiv­ing a spar­row’s nest in the lau­rels be­moans her bar­ren­ness.

AND as she was look­ing to­wards heav­en she per­ceive a spar­row’s nest in the lau­rel,

2 And mourn­ing with­in her­self, she said, Wo is me, who be­gat me? and what womb did bear me, that I should be thus ac­cursed be­fore the chil­dren of Is­rael, and that they should re­proach and de­ride me in the tem­ple of my God: Wo is me, to what can I be com­pared?

3 I am not com­pa­ra­ble to the very beasts of the earth, for even the beasts of the earth are fruit­ful be­fore thee, O Lord! Wo is me, to what can I be com­pared?

4 I am not com­pared to the brute an­imal, for even the brute an­imals are fruit­ful be­fore thee, O Lord! Wo is me, to what am I com­pa­ra­ble?

5 I can­not be com­pa­ra­ble to these wa­ters, for even the wa­ters are fruit­ful be­fore thee, O Lord! Wo is me, to what can I be com­pared?

6 I am not com­pa­ra­ble to the waves of the sea; for these, whether they are calm, or in mo­tion, with the fish­es which are in them, praise thee, O Lord! Wo is me to what can I be com­pared?

7 I am not com­pa­ra­ble to the very earth, for the earth pro­duces its fruits, and prais­es thee, O Lord!