The Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 18:20

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~591–589 BC

1830 Edition

and there was nothing, save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea, they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.

Influences

Matthew 22:29 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Changes

aAnd there was nothing, save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea, they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.

Simple English

Nothing could soften their hearts except God’s power, which threatened them with destruction. So when they saw they were about to be swallowed up in the deep sea, they repented of what they had done. They untied me.

Paraphrase

Only the threat of God’s power destroying them could change their minds. When they saw they were about to be swallowed by the sea, they finally repented and untied me.