Reply maya
PROPHECY OF CHILAM BALAM
Synthesis of Sources
In this page I have collected the translations of the Chilam Balam prophecy from four sources: (1) David Bolles, current web page, (2) Ralph Roys, 1967, (3) Eugene R. Craine and Reginald C. Reindorp, 1979, and (4) Alfred M. Tozzer, 1921. In addition I have given Tozzer's publication of Bernardo de Lizana, originally 1633, and Juan Martinez Hernandez, sometime prior to 1920.
I note here that Tozzer's translation is choppy and sometimes incoherent. It would appear that he translated words, rather than trying to make sense of the passage. He must have felt that his effort was inadequate because he then offers a substitute of a second "Free Translation." I also noted Tozzer's difficulty in the manner in which he showed break down of the words into syllables, sometimes even falsely combining them. All in all, I believe he did not have a good grasp on the language.
David Bolles
http://www.famsi.org/research/bolles/grammar/index.html
http://www.famsi.org/research/bolles/grammar/section29.htm
The prophecy of Chilam Balam, the priest to the chanter of Cabal Ceen Mani
On 13 Ahau the katun will end in the time of the Itza, in the time of Tancah, lord, the sign of one and only god on high. The cross shall return. It shall be shown in the towns. Light (enlightenment) shall happen in the world, lord. Quarreling returns, jealousy returns when the bearers of the sign of god shall come. Then there shall be priests, lord. One shout away, one league away they come. You see the prognostication which appears with the cross. It shall dawn in the north, in the west. Itzam Na Kauil shall awaken. Our lord is coming, men of the Itza. Our older brother is coming, men of Tantun. Receive your guests, the breaded ones, the ones from the eastern lands, the bearers of the sign of god, lord. Will the word of god which comes amongst us be good? The day is coming when we will live. Do not get lost here on earth, lord. You one and only god created us. Will the word of god be good, lord, the guardian of our souls? Whoever is going to receive the true belief in heaven is going with him, but there is the beginning of the two-day men. Then the sign should be set up on high. Then should our vision be set there. Then the cross should be set up on high. Misery of the change comes forth today, the change of the bark of the ceiba (first tree) of the world. It shall be shown today to the world. Thus is the sign of the one and only lord on high. Thus shall you worship Itza. Then you shall worship today the sign of the godly god on high. Then you shall worship thus to the true belief. Then you shall worship thus our true god. Believe in the word of the one and only god. Your commandment came from heaven. Console yourselves Itza. Dawn shall come to them. They believe during the next katun it seems. My word shall augment itself. I Chilam Balam, I have interpreted the word of the true god everywhere here on earth, because I go everywhere in the world. The word of the true god, lord of heaven and earth, in the ninth year of One Ahau Katun it seems. Will the word from heaven be very good lord? We cry the rule, we cry our souls true god. But thus returns lord the three children of lice, the younger sisters of the natives. Be alert! Dead is their heart towards the flower also those who back talk, the captain of the fighters. Nacxit Xuchit is the plumeria of the others, the two day rulers. They will be rabid on their daises, they will be rabid in their plumeria flowers, two day men they say. Two day their chair, their cups, their hats, the rabid day, the rabid night, the hobgoblins of the world. They twist their necks, they close their eyes, they spit out on the rulers of the world lord. Then it comes that there is no truth in the words of the lords of the towns. They shall say very mysterious things, the children of the men of Seven Deserted Houses, the children of the women of Seven Deserted Houses lord. Who will be the prophet? Who will be the priest who will correctly speak the words of the hieroglyphs thus?
Ralph Roys
http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/maya/cbc/index.htm
The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel [translated] by Ralph L. Roys, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 1967.
On <the day> 13 Ahau the katun will end in the time of the Itz¨¢, in the time of Tancah <Mayapan>, lord. Dawn in the north, in the west. There is the sign of Hunab-ku on high. The raised wooden standard shall come. It shall be displayed to the world, that the world may be enlightened, lord. There has been a beginning of strife, there has been a beginning of rivalry, to bring the sign <of God> in time to come when the priestly man shall come, lord. A quarter of a league, a league <away> he comes. You see the mut-bird surmounting the raised wooden standard. A new day shall Itzamn¨¢ Kauil shall rise. Our lord comes, Itz¨¢. Our elder brother comes, <oh> men of Tantun. Receive your guests, the bearded men, the men of the east, the bearers of the sign of God, lord. Good indeed is the word of God that comes to us. The day of our regeneration comes. You do not fear the world, Lord, you are the only God who created us. It is sufficient, then, that the word of God is good, lord. <He is> the guardian of our souls. He who receives him, who has truly believed, he will go to heaven with him. Nevertheless <at> the beginning were the two-day men. Let us exalt his sign on high, let us exalt it <that we may gaze upon it today> with the raised standard. Great is the discord that arises today. The First Tree of the World is restored; it is displayed to the world. This is the sign of Hunab-ku on high. Worship it, Itz¨¢. You shall worship today his sign on high. You shall worship it furthermore with