The Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 3:11

1830 Edition

And now it came to pass when Lachoneus received this epistle, he was exceedingly astonished, because of the boldness of Giddianhi, demanding the possession of the land of the Nephites, and also of threatening the people, and avenging the wrongs of those that had received no wrong, save it were they had wronged themselves, by dissenting away unto those wicked and abominable robbers.

Changes

And now it came to pass when Lachoneus received this epistle, he was exceedingly astonished, because of the boldness of Giddianhi, demanding the possession of the land of the Nephites, and also of threatening the people, and avenging the wrongs of those that had received no wrong, save it were they had wronged themselves, by dissenting away unto those wicked and abominable robbers.

Simple English

When Lachoneus got this letter, he was shocked. Giddianhi was very bold. He demanded the Nephite land. He also threatened the people. He said he would pay them back for wrongs against people who had no wrongs done to them. The only wrong was that they hurt themselves by leaving to join those wicked robbers.

Paraphrase

When Lachoneus read this letter, he was stunned by Giddianhi’s boldness—demanding Nephite land, threatening the people, and claiming to avenge wrongs that had never been done. The only ones wronged were those who had betrayed their own people by joining these wicked robbers.