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Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible

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Title: Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible

Author: Anonymous


        
Release date: April 1, 1994 [eBook #124]
                Most recently updated: August 26, 2021

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/124

Credits: Robert Kraft


*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ***




Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible


Contents

 The First Book of Esdras
 The Second Book of Esdras [sometimes Fourth Book of Ezra]
 The Book of Tobit
 The Book of Judith
 The Greek Additions to Esther
 The Wisdom of Solomon
 The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
 The Book of Baruch
 The Epistle (or letter) of Jeremiah
 The Song of the Three Holy Children
 The Book of Susanna (in Daniel)
 The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon
 The Prayer of Manasses
 The First Book of the Maccabees
 The Second Book of the Maccabees




The First Book of Esdras


1:1 And Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his
Lord, and offered the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;

1:2 Having set the priests according to their daily courses, being
arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.

1:3 And he spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel, that
they should hallow themselves unto the Lord, to set the holy ark of the
Lord in the house that king Solomon the son of David had built:

1:4 And said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders: now
therefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his people Israel,
and prepare you after your families and kindreds,

1:5 According as David the king of Israel prescribed, and according to
the magnificence of Solomon his son: and standing in the temple
according to the several dignity of the families of you the Levites,
who minister in the presence of your brethren the children of Israel,

1:6 Offer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your
brethren, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the
Lord, which was given unto Moses.

1:7 And unto the people that was found there Josias gave thirty
thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves: these things were
given of the king’s allowance, according as he promised, to the people,
to the priests, and to the Levites.

1:8 And Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple,
gave to the priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred
sheep, and three hundred calves.

1:9 And Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias,
and Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for
the passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.

1:10 And when these things were done, the priests and Levites, having
the unleavened bread, stood in very comely order according to the
kindreds,

1:11 And according to the several dignities of the fathers, before the
people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses:
and thus did they in the morning.

1:12 And they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth: as for
the sacrifices, they sod them in brass pots and pans with a good
savour,

1:13 And set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared
for themselves, and for the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.

1:14 For the priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites
prepared for themselves, and the priests their brethren, the sons of
Aaron.

1:15 The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order,
according to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and
Jeduthun, who was of the king’s retinue.

1:16 Moreover the porters were at every gate; it was not lawful for any
to go from his ordinary service: for their brethren the Levites
prepared for them.

1:17 Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord
accomplished in that day, that they might hold the passover,

1:18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the
commandment of king Josias.

1:19 So the children of Israel which were present held the passover at
that time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days.

1:20 And such a passover was not kept in Israel since the time of the
prophet Samuel.

1:21 Yea, all the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias,
and the priests, and the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel
that were found dwelling at Jerusalem.

1:22 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover
kept.

1:23 And the works or Josias were upright before his Lord with an heart
full of godliness.

1:24 As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written
in former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against
the Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him
exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel.

1:25 Now after all these acts of Josias it came to pass, that Pharaoh
the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis upon Euphrates: and
Josias went out against him.

1:26 But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with
thee, O king of Judea?

1:27 I am not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war is
upon Euphrates: and now the Lord is with me, yea, the Lord is with me
hasting me forward: depart from me, and be not against the Lord.

1:28 Howbeit Josias did not turn back his chariot from him, but
undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet
Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:

1:29 But joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the
princes came against king Josias.

1:30 Then said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the
battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants took him away
out of the battle.

1:31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to
Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father’s sepulchre.

1:32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet
lamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation
for him unto this day: and this was given out for an ordinance to be
done continually in all the nation of Israel.

1:33 These things are written in the book of the stories of the kings
of Judah, and every one of the acts that Josias did, and his glory, and
his understanding in the law of the Lord, and the things that he had
done before, and the things now recited, are reported in the book of
the kings of Israel and Judea.

1:34 And the people took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king
instead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three years old.

1:35 And he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and then
the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.

1:36 And he set a tax upon the land of an hundred talents of silver and
one talent of gold.

1:37 The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of Judea
and Jerusalem.

1:38 And he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he
apprehended, and brought him out of Egypt.

1:39 Five and twenty years old was Joacim when he was made king in the
land of Judea and Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord.

1:40 Wherefore against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up,
and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon.

1:41 Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and
carried them away, and set them in his own temple at Babylon.

1:42 But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleaness
and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings.

1:43 And Joacim his son reigned in his stead: he was made king being
eighteen years old;

1:44 And reigned but three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did
evil before the Lord.

1:45 So after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought
into Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord;

1:46 And made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was one
and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years:

1:47 And he did evil also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for
the words that were spoken unto him by the prophet Jeremy from the
mouth of the Lord.

1:48 And after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the
name of the Lord, he forswore himself, and rebelled; and hardening his
neck, his heart, he transgressed the laws of the Lord God of Israel.

1:49 The governors also of the people and of the priests did many
things against the laws, and passed all the pollutions of all nations,
and defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem.

1:50 Nevertheless the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to
call them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.

1:51 But they had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the Lord
spake unto them, they made a sport of his prophets:

1:52 So far forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great
ungodliness, commanded the kings of the Chaldees to come up against
them;

1:53 Who slew their young men with the sword, yea, even within the
compass of their holy temple, and spared neither young man nor maid,
old man nor child, among them; for he delivered all into their hands.

1:54 And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and
small, with the vessels of the ark of God, and the king’s treasures,
and carried them away into Babylon.

1:55 As for the house of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down the
walls of Jerusalem, and set fire upon her towers:

1:56 And as for her glorious things, they never ceased till they had
consumed and brought them all to nought: and the people that were not
slain with the sword he carried unto Babylon:

1:57 Who became servants to him and his children, till the Persians
reigned, to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:

1:58 Until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her
desolation shall she rest, until the full term of seventy years.

2:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of
the Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of
Jeremy;

2:2 The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians,
and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,

2:3 Saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel,
the most high Lord, hath made me king of the whole world,

2:4 And commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.

2:5 If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the
Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that
is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the
Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.

2:6 Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those,
I say, that are his neighbours, with gold, and with silver,

2:7 With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which
have been set forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.

2:8 Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of
Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they
whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an house for the
Lord at Jerusalem,

2:9 And they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things
with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free
gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto.

2:10 King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which
Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his
temple of idols.

2:11 Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he
delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer:

2:12 And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of
Judea.

2:13 And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a
thousand of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold
thirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten, and a thousand
other vessels.

2:14 So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away,
were five thousand four hundred threescore and nine.

2:15 These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the
captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.

2:16 But in the time of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and
Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and
Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission with them,
dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against them that
dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following;

2:17 To king Artexerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the
storywriter, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council,
and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice.

2:18 Be it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from
you to us, being come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city,
do build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the
foundation of the temple.

2:19 Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will
not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.

2:20 And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in
hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,

2:21 But to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be
thy pleasure it may be sought out in the books of thy fathers:

2:22 And thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning
these things, and shalt understand that that city was rebellious,
troubling both kings and cities:

2:23 And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein;
for the which cause even this city was made desolate.

2:24 Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if
this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt
from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice.

2:25 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to
Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in
commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice, after this
manner;

2:26 I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore I
commanded to make diligent search, and it hath been found that that
city was from the beginning practising against kings;

2:27 And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that
mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted
tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.

2:28 Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building
the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it;

2:29 And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance
of kings,

2:30 Then king Artexerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and
Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them,
removing in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a
multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and
the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of
the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

3:1 Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his
subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media
and Persia,

3:2 And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were
under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven
provinces.

3:3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone
home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and
soon after awaked.

3:4 Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king’s
body, spake one to another;

3:5 Let every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and
whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall the
king Darius give great gifts, and great things in token of victory:

3:6 As, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon
gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine
linen, and a chain about his neck:

3:7 And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be
called Darius his cousin.

3:8 And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under
king Darius his pillow;

3:9 And said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the
writings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia
shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory
be given, as was appointed.

3:10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.

3:11 The second wrote, The king is strongest.

3:12 The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth
beareth away the victory.

3:13 Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and
delivered them unto him, and so he read them:

3:14 And sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and Media,
and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief
officers;

3:15 And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings
were read before them.

3:16 And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own
sentences. So they were called, and came in.

3:17 And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the
writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine;

3:18 And he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it
causeth all men to err that drink it:

3:19 It maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be
all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the
rich:

3:20 It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a
man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt:

3:21 And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither
king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by talents:

3:22 And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to
friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords:

3:23 But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have
done.

3:24 O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus?
And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.

4:1 Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began
to say,

4:2 O ye men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and
land and all things in them?

4:3 But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these
things, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he commandeth them
they do.

4:4 If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: if
he send them out against the enemies, they go, and break down mountains
walls and towers.

4:5 They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king’s commandment:
if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil,
as all things else.

4:6 Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with
wars, but use husbundry, when they have reaped again that which they
had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay
tribute unto the king.

4:7 And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he
command to spare, they spare;

4:8 If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate,
they make desolate; if he command to build, they build;

4:9 If he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant,
they plant.

4:10 So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth
down, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest:

4:11 And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart,
and do his own business, neither disobey they him in any thing.

4:12 O ye men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort
he is obeyed? And he held his tongue.

4:13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this
was Zorobabel) began to speak.

4:14 O ye men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men,
neither is it wine, that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth them, or
hath the lordship over them? are they not women?

4:15 Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea
and land.

4:16 Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted
the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh.

4:17 These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and
without women cannot men be.

4:18 Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any
other goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely in favour
and beauty?

4:19 And letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even with
open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire
unto her than unto silver or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever?

4:20 A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own
country, and cleaveth unto his wife.

4:21 He sticketh not to spend his life with his wife, and remembereth
neither father, nor mother, nor country.

4:22 By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye
not labour and toil, and give and bring all to the woman?

4:23 Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to
steal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;

4:24 And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he
hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.

4:25 Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.

4:26 Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and
become servants for their sakes.

4:27 Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.

4:28 And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power?
do not all regions fear to touch him?

4:29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king’s concubine, the daughter of
the admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king,

4:30 And taking the crown from the king’s head, and setting it upon her
own head; she also struck the king with her left hand.

4:31 And yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open
mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any
displeasure at him, the king was fain to flatter, that she might be
reconciled to him again.

4:32 O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do
thus?

4:33 Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began
to speak of the truth.

4:34 O ye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the
heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens
round about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day.

4:35 Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is the
truth, and stronger than all things.

4:36 All the earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it:
all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing.

4:37 Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the
children of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked works; and
there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall
perish.

4:38 As for the truth, it endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and
conquereth for evermore.

4:39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she
doeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unjust and
wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.

4:40 Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the
strength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God
of truth.

4:41 And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted,
and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.

4:42 Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is
appointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou art
found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my
cousin.

4:43 Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast
vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,

4:44 And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of
Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and
to send them again thither.

4:45 Thou also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites
burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldees.

4:46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which
I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality proceeding from
thyself: I desire therefore that thou make good the vow, the
performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast vowed to the King of
heaven.

4:47 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters
for him unto all the treasurers and lieutenants and captains and
governors, that they should safely convey on their way both him, and
all those that go up with him to build Jerusalem.

4:48 He wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria
and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar
wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city
with him.

4:49 Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up
into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no
lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors;

4:50 And that all the country which they hold should be free without
tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the
Jews which then they held:

4:51 Yea, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the
building of the temple, until the time that it were built;

4:52 And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon
the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen:

4:53 And that all they that went from Babylon to build the city should
have free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests
that went away.

4:54 He wrote also concerning the charges, and the priests’ vestments
wherein they minister;

4:55 And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them
until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up.

4:56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and
wages.

4:57 He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set
apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he
also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem.

4:58 Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to
heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,

4:59 And said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and
thine is the glory, and I am thy servant.

4:60 Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give
thanks, O Lord of our fathers.

4:61 And so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon,
and told it all his brethren.

4:62 And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given
them freedom and liberty

4:63 To go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called
by his name: and they feasted with instruments of musick and gladness
seven days.

5:1 After this were the principal men of the families chosen according
to their tribes, to go up with their wives and sons and daughters, with
their menservants and maidservants, and their cattle.

5:2 And Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had
brought them back to Jerusalem safely, and with musical [instruments]
tabrets and flutes.

5:3 And all their brethren played, and he made them go up together with
them.

5:4 And these are the names of the men which went up, according to
their families among their tribes, after their several heads.

5:5 The priests, the sons of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the son of
Josedec, the son of Saraias, and Joacim the son of Zorobabel, the son
of Salathiel, of the house of David, out of the kindred of Phares, of
the tribe of Judah;

5:6 Who spake wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the
second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month.

5:7 And these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where
they dwelt as strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had
carried away unto Babylon.

5:8 And they returned unto Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry,
every man to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus,
Nehemias, and Zacharias, and Reesaias, Enenius, Mardocheus, Beelsarus,
Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana, their guides.

5:9 The number of them of the nation, and their governors, sons of
Phoros, two thousand an hundred seventy and two; the sons of Saphat,
four hundred seventy and two:

5:10 The sons of Ares, seven hundred fifty and six:

5:11 The sons of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve:

5:12 The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the sons
of Zathul, nine hundred forty and five: the sons of Corbe, seven
hundred and five: the sons of Bani, six hundred forty and eight:

5:13 The sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three: the sons of
Sadas, three thousand two hundred twenty and two:

5:14 The sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and seven: the sons of
Bagoi, two thousand sixty and six: the sons of Adin, four hundred fifty
and four:

5:15 The sons of Aterezias, ninety and two: the sons of Ceilan and
Azetas threescore and seven: the sons of Azuran, four hundred thirty
and two:

5:16 The sons of Ananias, an hundred and one: the sons of Arom, thirty
two: and the sons of Bassa, three hundred twenty and three: the sons of
Azephurith, an hundred and two:

5:17 The sons of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sons of
Bethlomon, an hundred twenty and three:

5:18 They of Netophah, fifty and five: they of Anathoth, an hundred
fifty and eight: they of Bethsamos, forty and two:

5:19 They of Kiriathiarius, twenty and five: they of Caphira and
Beroth, seven hundred forty and three: they of Pira, seven hundred:

5:20 They of Chadias and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two: they of
Cirama and Gabdes, six hundred twenty and one:

5:21 They of Macalon, an hundred twenty and two: they of Betolius,
fifty and two: the sons of Nephis, an hundred fifty and six:

5:22 The sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred twenty and five:
the sons of Jerechus, two hundred forty and five:

5:23 The sons of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty.

5:24 The priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus among the sons of
Sanasib, nine hundred seventy and two: the sons of Meruth, a thousand
fifty and two:

5:25 The sons of Phassaron, a thousand forty and seven: the sons of
Carme, a thousand and seventeen.

5:26 The Levites: the sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and
Sudias, seventy and four.

5:27 The holy singers: the sons of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.

5:28 The porters: the sons of Salum, the sons of Jatal, the sons of
Talmon, the sons of Dacobi, the sons of Teta, the sons of Sami, in all
an hundred thirty and nine.

5:29 The servants of the temple: the sons of Esau, the sons of Asipha,
the sons of Tabaoth, the sons of Ceras, the sons of Sud, the sons of
Phaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons of Graba,

5:30 The sons of Acua, the sons of Uta, the sons of Cetab, the sons of
Agaba, the sons of Subai, the sons of Anan, the sons of Cathua, the
sons of Geddur,

5:31 The sons of Airus, the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the sons
of Chaseba, the sons of Gazera, the sons of Azia, the sons of Phinees,
the sons of Azare, the sons of Bastai, the sons of Asana, the sons of
Meani, the sons of Naphisi, the sons of Acub, the sons of Acipha, the
sons of Assur, the sons of Pharacim, the sons of Basaloth,

5:32 The sons of Meeda, the sons of Coutha, the sons of Charea, the
sons of Charcus, the sons of Aserer, the sons of Thomoi, the sons of
Nasith, the sons of Atipha.

5:33 The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Azaphion, the
sons of Pharira, the sons of Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the sons of
Israel, the sons of Sapheth,

5:34 The sons of Hagia, the sons of Pharacareth, the sons of Sabi, the
sons of Sarothie, the sons of Masias, the sons of Gar, the sons of
Addus, the sons of Suba, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the
sons of Sabat, the sons of Allom.

5:35 All the ministers of the temple, and the sons of the servants of
Solomon, were three hundred seventy and two.

5:36 These came up from Thermeleth and Thelersas, Charaathalar leading
them, and Aalar;

5:37 Neither could they shew their families, nor their stock, how they
were of Israel: the sons of Ladan, the son of Ban, the sons of Necodan,
six hundred fifty and two.

5:38 And of the priests that usurped the office of the priesthood, and
were not found: the sons of Obdia, the sons of Accoz, the sons of
Addus, who married Augia one of the daughters of Barzelus, and was
named after his name.

5:39 And when the description of the kindred of these men was sought in
the register, and was not found, they were removed from executing the
office of the priesthood:

5:40 For unto them said Nehemias and Atharias, that they should not be
partakers of the holy things, till there arose up an high priest
clothed with doctrine and truth.

5:41 So of Israel, from them of twelve years old and upward, they were
all in number forty thousand, beside menservants and womenservants two
thousand three hundred and sixty.

5:42 Their menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred
forty and seven: the singing men and singing women, two hundred forty
and five:

5:43 Four hundred thirty and five camels, seven thousand thirty and six
horses, two hundred forty and five mules, five thousand five hundred
twenty and five beasts used to the yoke.

5:44 And certain of the chief of their families, when they came to the
temple of God that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in
his own place according to their ability,

5:45 And to give into the holy treasury of the works a thousand pounds
of gold, five thousand of silver, and an hundred priestly vestments.

5:46 And so dwelt the priests and the Levites and the people in
Jerusalem, and in the country, the singers also and the porters; and
all Israel in their villages.

5:47 But when the seventh month was at hand, and when the children of
Israel were every man in his own place, they came all together with one
consent into the open place of the first gate which is toward the east.

5:48 Then stood up Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren the
priests and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and made
ready the altar of the God of Israel,

5:49 To offer burnt sacrifices upon it, according as it is expressly
commanded in the book of Moses the man of God.

5:50 And there were gathered unto them out of the other nations of the
land, and they erected the altar upon his own place, because all the
nations of the land were at enmity with them, and oppressed them; and
they offered sacrifices according to the time, and burnt offerings to
the Lord both morning and evening.

5:51 Also they held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the
law, and offered sacrifices daily, as was meet:

5:52 And after that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifice of the
sabbaths, and of the new moons, and of all holy feasts.

5:53 And all they that had made any vow to God began to offer
sacrifices to God from the first day of the seventh month, although the
temple of the Lord was not yet built.

5:54 And they gave unto the masons and carpenters money, meat, and
drink, with cheerfulness.

5:55 Unto them of Zidon also and Tyre they gave carrs, that they should
bring cedar trees from Libanus, which should be brought by floats to
the haven of Joppa, according as it was commanded them by Cyrus king of
the Persians.

5:56 And in the second year and second month after his coming to the
temple of God at Jerusalem began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and
Jesus the son of Josedec, and their brethren, and the priests, and the
Levites, and all they that were come unto Jerusalem out of the
captivity:

5:57 And they laid the foundation of the house of God in the first day
of the second month, in the second year after they were come to Jewry
and Jerusalem.

5:58 And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the
works of the Lord. Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and
Cadmiel his brother, and the sons of Madiabun, with the sons of Joda
the son of Eliadun, with their sons and brethren, all Levites, with one
accord setters forward of the business, labouring to advance the works
in the house of God. So the workmen built the temple of the Lord.

5:59 And the priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical
instruments and trumpets; and the Levites the sons of Asaph had
cymbals,

5:60 Singing songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, according as
David the king of Israel had ordained.

5:61 And they sung with loud voices songs to the praise of the Lord,
because his mercy and glory is for ever in all Israel.

5:62 And all the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud
voice, singing songs of thanksgiving unto the Lord for the rearing up
of the house of the Lord.

5:63 Also of the priests and Levites, and of the chief of their
families, the ancients who had seen the former house came to the
building of this with weeping and great crying.

5:64 But many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice,

5:65 Insomuch that the trumpets might not be heard for the weeping of
the people: yet the multitude sounded marvellously, so that it was
heard afar off.

5:66 Wherefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin
heard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should mean.

5:67 And they perceived that they that were of the captivity did build
the temple unto the Lord God of Israel.

5:68 So they went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief of the
families, and said unto them, We will build together with you.

5:69 For we likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto
him from the days of Azbazareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought
us hither.

5:70 Then Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief of the families of Israel
said unto them, It is not for us and you to build together an house
unto the Lord our God.

5:71 We ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according
as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us.

5:72 But the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of
Judea, and holding them strait, hindered their building;

5:73 And by their secret plots, and popular persuasions and commotions,
they hindered the finishing of the building all the time that king
Cyrus lived: so they were hindered from building for the space of two
years, until the reign of Darius.

6:1 Now in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias
the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied unto the Jews in Jewry and
Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel, which was upon them.

6:2 Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of
Josedec, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the
prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them.

6:3 At the same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and
Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said unto them,

6:4 By whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and
perform all the other things? and who are the workmen that perform
these things?

6:5 Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the
Lord had visited the captivity;

6:6 And they were not hindered from building, until such time as
signification was given unto Darius concerning them, and an answer
received.

6:7 The copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and
Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in Syria and
Phenice, wrote and sent unto Darius; To king Darius, greeting:

6:8 Let all things be known unto our lord the king, that being come
into the country of Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we
found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the Jews that were of
the captivity

6:9 Building an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly
stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.

6:10 And those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on
prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it
made.

6:11 Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye
this house, and lay the foundations of these works?

6:12 Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by
writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required
of them the names in writing of their principal men.

6:13 So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which
made heaven and earth.

6:14 And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of
Israel great and strong, and was finished.

6:15 But when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned against
the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power
of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the Chaldees;

6:16 Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the
people captives unto Babylon.

6:17 But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of
Babylon Cyrus the king wrote to build up this house.

6:18 And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor
had carried away out of the house at Jerusalem, and had set them in his
own temple those Cyrus the king brought forth again out of the temple
at Babylon, and they were delivered to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus
the ruler,

6:19 With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and
put them in the temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord
should be built in his place.

6:20 Then the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the
foundations of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that time
to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.

6:21 Now therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be made
among the records of king Cyrus:

6:22 And if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord at
Jerusalem hath been done with the consent of king Cyrus, and if our
lord the king be so minded, let him signify unto us thereof.

6:23 Then commanded king Darius to seek among the records at Babylon:
and so at Ecbatane the palace, which is in the country of Media, there
was found a roll wherein these things were recorded.

6:24 In the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that
the house of the Lord at Jerusalem should be built again, where they do
sacrifice with continual fire:

6:25 Whose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits,
with three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that
country; and the expences thereof to be given out of the house of king
Cyrus:

6:26 And that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold
and silver, that Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at Jerusalem, and
brought to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and
be set in the place where they were before.

6:27 And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and
Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were
appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should be careful not to meddle
with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and
governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews, to build the house of
the Lord in that place.

6:28 I have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that
they look diligently to help those that be of the captivity of the
Jews, till the house of the Lord be finished:

6:29 And out of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion
carefully to be given these men for the sacrifices of the Lord, that
is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs;

6:30 And also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every
year without further question, according as the priests that be in
Jerusalem shall signify to be daily spent:

6:31 That offerings may be made to the most high God for the king and
for his children, and that they may pray for their lives.

6:32 And he commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or make
light of any thing afore spoken or written, out of his own house should
a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all his goods seized for
the king.

6:33 The Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly
destroy every king and nation, that stretcheth out his hand to hinder
or endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.

6:34 I Darius the king have ordained that according unto these things
it be done with diligence.

7:1 Then Sisinnes the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, and
Sathrabuzanes, with their companions following the commandments of king
Darius,

7:2 Did very carefully oversee the holy works, assisting the ancients
of the Jews and governors of the temple.

7:3 And so the holy works prospered, when Aggeus and Zacharias the
prophets prophesied.

7:4 And they finished these things by the commandment of the Lord God
of Israel, and with the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artexerxes, kings
of Persia.

7:5 And thus was the holy house finished in the three and twentieth day
of the month Adar, in the sixth year of Darius king of the Persians

7:6 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and
others that were of the captivity, that were added unto them, did
according to the things written in the book of Moses.

7:7 And to the dedication of the temple of the Lord they offered an
hundred bullocks two hundred rams, four hundred lambs;

7:8 And twelve goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number
of the chief of the tribes of Israel.

7:9 The priests also and the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments,
according to their kindreds, in the service of the Lord God of Israel,
according to the book of Moses: and the porters at every gate.

7:10 And the children of Israel that were of the captivity held the
passover the fourteenth day of the first month, after that the priests
and the Levites were sanctified.

7:11 They that were of the captivity were not all sanctified together:
but the Levites were all sanctified together.

7:12 And so they offered the passover for all them of the captivity,
and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

7:13 And the children of Israel that came out of the captivity did eat,
even all they that had separated themselves from the abominations of
the people of the land, and sought the Lord.

7:14 And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, making
merry before the Lord,

7:15 For that he had turned the counsel of the king of Assyria toward
them, to strengthen their hands in the works of the Lord God of Israel.

8:1 And after these things, when Artexerxes the king of the Persians
reigned came Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Ezerias, the son of
Helchiah, the son of Salum,

8:2 The son of Sadduc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias, the son
of Ezias, the son of Meremoth, the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias,
the son of Boccas, the son of Abisum, the son of Phinees, the son of
Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.

8:3 This Esdras went up from Babylon, as a scribe, being very ready in
the law of Moses, that was given by the God of Israel.

8:4 And the king did him honour: for he found grace in his sight in all
his requests.

8:5 There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, of
the priest of the Levites, of the holy singers, porters, and ministers
of the temple, unto Jerusalem,

8:6 In the seventh year of the reign of Artexerxes, in the fifth month,
this was the king’s seventh year; for they went from Babylon in the
first day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the
prosperous journey which the Lord gave them.

8:7 For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the
law and commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances
and judgments.

8:8 Now the copy of the commission, which was written from Artexerxes
the king, and came to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the
Lord, is this that followeth;

8:9 King Artexerxes unto Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the
Lord sendeth greeting:

8:10 Having determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that
such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites being
within our realm, as are willing and desirous should go with thee unto
Jerusalem.

8:11 As many therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with
thee, as it hath seemed good both to me and my seven friends the
counsellors;

8:12 That they may look unto the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem,
agreeably to that which is in the law of the Lord;

8:13 And carry the gifts unto the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I
and my friends have vowed, and all the gold and silver that in the
country of Babylon can be found, to the Lord in Jerusalem,

8:14 With that also which is given of the people for the temple of the
Lord their God at Jerusalem: and that silver and gold may be collected
for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things thereunto appertaining;

8:15 To the end that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord upon the
altar of the Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem.

8:16 And whatsoever thou and thy brethren will do with the silver and
gold, that do, according to the will of thy God.

8:17 And the holy vessels of the Lord, which are given thee for the use
of the temple of thy God, which is in Jerusalem, thou shalt set before
thy God in Jerusalem.

8:18 And whatsoever thing else thou shalt remember for the use of the
temple of thy God, thou shalt give it out of the king’s treasury.

8:19 And I king Artexerxes have also commanded the keepers of the
treasures in Syria and Phenice, that whatsoever Esdras the priest and
the reader of the law of the most high God shall send for, they should
give it him with speed,

8:20 To the sum of an hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat
even to an hundred cors, and an hundred pieces of wine, and other
things in abundance.

8:21 Let all things be performed after the law of God diligently unto
the most high God, that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and
his sons.

8:22 I command you also, that ye require no tax, nor any other
imposition, of any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or
porters, or ministers of the temple, or of any that have doings in this
temple, and that no man have authority to impose any thing upon them.

8:23 And thou, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and
justices, that they may judge in all Syria and Phenice all those that
know the law of thy God; and those that know it not thou shalt teach.

8:24 And whosoever shall transgress the law of thy God, and of the
king, shall be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other
punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.

8:25 Then said Esdras the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord God of my
fathers, who hath put these things into the heart of the king, to
glorify his house that is in Jerusalem:

8:26 And hath honoured me in the sight of the king, and his
counsellors, and all his friends and nobles.

8:27 Therefore was I encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and
gathered together men of Israel to go up with me.

8:28 And these are the chief according to their families and several
dignities, that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of king
Artexerxes:

8:29 Of the sons of Phinees, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of
the sons of David, Lettus the son of Sechenias:

8:30 Of the sons of Pharez, Zacharias; and with him were counted an
hundred and fifty men:

8:31 Of the sons of Pahath Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias, and
with him two hundred men:

8:32 Of the sons of Zathoe, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him
three hundred men: of the sons of Adin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and
with him two hundred and fifty men:

8:33 Of the sons of Elam, Josias son of Gotholias, and with him seventy
men:

8:34 Of the sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with him
threescore and ten men:

8:35 Of the sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two
hundred and twelve men:

8:36 Of the sons of Banid, Assalimoth son of Josaphias, and with him an
hundred and threescore men:

8:37 Of the sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty
and eight men:

8:38 Of the sons of Astath, Johannes son of Acatan, and with him an
hundred and ten men:

8:39 Of the sons of Adonikam the last, and these are the names of them,
Eliphalet, Jewel, and Samaias, and with them seventy men:

8:40 Of the sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him
seventy men.

8:41 And these I gathered together to the river called Theras, where we
pitched our tents three days: and then I surveyed them.

8:42 But when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,

8:43 Then sent I unto Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,

8:44 And Alnathan, and Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan,
Zacharias, and Mosollamon, principal men and learned.

8:45 And I bade them that they should go unto Saddeus the captain, who
was in the place of the treasury:

8:46 And commanded them that they should speak unto Daddeus, and to his
brethren, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as
might execute the priests’ office in the house of the Lord.

8:47 And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought unto us skilful
men of the sons of Moli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Asebebia,
and his sons, and his brethren, who were eighteen.

8:48 And Asebia, and Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of
Channuneus, and their sons, were twenty men.

8:49 And of the servants of the temple whom David had ordained, and the
principal men for the service of the Levites to wit, the servants of
the temple two hundred and twenty, the catalogue of whose names were
shewed.

8:50 And there I vowed a fast unto the young men before our Lord, to
desire of him a prosperous journey both for us and them that were with
us, for our children, and for the cattle:

8:51 For I was ashamed to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and
conduct for safeguard against our adversaries.

8:52 For we had said unto the king, that the power of the Lord our God
should be with them that seek him, to support them in all ways.

8:53 And again we besought our Lord as touching these things, and found
him favourable unto us.

8:54 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Esebrias, and
Assanias, and ten men of their brethren with them:

8:55 And I weighed them the gold, and the silver, and the holy vessels
of the house of our Lord, which the king, and his council, and the
princes, and all Israel, had given.

8:56 And when I had weighed it, I delivered unto them six hundred and
fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of an hundred talents, and
an hundred talents of gold,

8:57 And twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of
fine brass, glittering like gold.

8:58 And I said unto them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord, and the
vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver is a vow unto the Lord,
the Lord of our fathers.

8:59 Watch ye, and keep them till ye deliver them to the chief of the
priests and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of
Israel, in Jerusalem, into the chambers of the house of our God.

8:60 So the priests and the Levites, who had received the silver and
the gold and the vessels, brought them unto Jerusalem, into the temple
of the Lord.

8:61 And from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first
month, and came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was
with us: and from the beginning of our journey the Lord delivered us
from every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem.

8:62 And when we had been there three days, the gold and silver that
was weighed was delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day
unto Marmoth the priest the son of Iri.

8:63 And with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were
Josabad the son of Jesu and Moeth the son of Sabban, Levites: all was
delivered them by number and weight.

8:64 And all the weight of them was written up the same hour.

8:65 Moreover they that were come out of the captivity offered
sacrifice unto the Lord God of Israel, even twelve bullocks for all
Israel, fourscore and sixteen rams,

8:66 Threescore and twelve lambs, goats for a peace offering, twelve;
all of them a sacrifice to the Lord.

8:67 And they delivered the king’s commandments unto the king’s
stewards’ and to the governors of Celosyria and Phenice; and they
honoured the people and the temple of God.

8:68 Now when these things were done, the rulers came unto me, and
said,

8:69 The nation of Israel, the princes, the priests and Levites, have
not put away from them the strange people of the land, nor the
pollutions of the Gentiles to wit, of the Canaanites, Hittites,
Pheresites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.

8:70 For both they and their sons have married with their daughters,
and the holy seed is mixed with the strange people of the land; and
from the beginning of this matter the rulers and the great men have
been partakers of this iniquity.

8:71 And as soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and
the holy garment, and pulled off the hair from off my head and beard,
and sat me down sad and very heavy.

8:72 So all they that were then moved at the word of the Lord God of
Israel assembled unto me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat
still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.

8:73 Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and the holy garment
rent, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands unto the Lord,

8:74 I said, O Lord, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face;

8:75 For our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our ignorances
have reached up unto heaven.

8:76 For ever since the time of our fathers we have been and are in
great sin, even unto this day.

8:77 And for our sins and our fathers’ we with our brethren and our
kings and our priests were given up unto the kings of the earth, to the
sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, unto this day.

8:78 And now in some measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from thee,
O Lord, that there should be left us a root and a name in the place of
thy sanctuary;

8:79 And to discover unto us a light in the house of the Lord our God,
and to give us food in the time of our servitude.

8:80 Yea, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord;
but he made us gracious before the kings of Persia, so that they gave
us food;

8:81 Yea, and honoured the temple of our Lord, and raised up the
desolate Sion, that they have given us a sure abiding in Jewry and
Jerusalem.

8:82 And now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we
have transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of
thy servants the prophets, saying,

8:83 That the land, which ye enter into to possess as an heritage, is a
land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and
they have filled it with their uncleanness.

8:84 Therefore now shall ye not join your daughters unto their sons,
neither shall ye take their daughters unto your sons.

8:85 Moreover ye shall never seek to have peace with them, that ye may
be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that ye may leave
the inheritance of the land unto your children for evermore.

8:86 And all that is befallen is done unto us for our wicked works and
great sins; for thou, O Lord, didst make our sins light,

8:87 And didst give unto us such a root: but we have turned back again
to transgress thy law, and to mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of
the nations of the land.

8:88 Mightest not thou be angry with us to destroy us, till thou hadst
left us neither root, seed, nor name?

8:89 O Lord of Israel, thou art true: for we are left a root this day.

8:90 Behold, now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot
stand any longer by reason of these things before thee.

8:91 And as Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and
lying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered unto him
from Jerusalem a very great multitude of men and women and children:
for there was great weeping among the multitude.

8:92 Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel,
called out, and said, O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we
have married strange women of the nations of the land, and now is all
Israel aloft.

8:93 Let us make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our
wives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their children,

8:94 Like as thou hast decreed, and as many as do obey the law of the
Lord.

8:95 Arise and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter
appertain, and we will be with thee: do valiantly.

8:96 So Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and
Levites of all Israel to do after these things; and so they sware.

9:1 Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber
of Joanan the son of Eliasib,

9:2 And remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning
for the great iniquities of the multitude.

9:3 And there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them
that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at
Jerusalem:

9:4 And that whosoever met not there within two or three days according
as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized
to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from them that were of
the captivity.

9:5 And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin
gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.

9:6 And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the
temple because of the present foul weather.

9:7 So Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the
law in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.

9:8 And now by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,

9:9 And do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the
land, and from the strange women.

9:10 Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like
as thou hast spoken, so will we do.

9:11 But forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather, so
that we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of a day or two,
seeing our sin in these things is spread far:

9:12 Therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them
of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,

9:13 And with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn
away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.

9:14 Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus
accordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and
Sabbatheus helped them.

9:15 And they that were of the captivity did according to all these
things.

9:16 And Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their
families, all by name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat
together to examine the matter.

9:17 So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in
the first day of the first month.

9:18 And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives,
there were found:

9:19 Of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren;
Matthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and Joadanus.

9:20 And they gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer
rams to make reconcilement for their errors.

9:21 And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and
Sameius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.

9:22 And of the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and
Nathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas.

9:23 And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called
Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.

9:24 Of the holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.

9:25 Of the porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.

9:26 Of them of Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and
Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias.

9:27 Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and
Hieremoth, and Aedias.

9:28 And of the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth,
and Sabatus, and Sardeus.

9:29 Of the sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and
Amatheis.

9:30 Of the sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael,
and Hieremoth.

9:31 And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and
Naidus, and Mathanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.

9:32 And of the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and
Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.

9:33 And of the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia,
Eliphalet, and Manasses, and Semei.

9:34 And of the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai,
and Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus,
Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of
Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambis, Josephus.

9:35 And of the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel,
Banaias.

9:36 All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with
their children.

9:37 And the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt
in Jerusalem, and in the country, in the first day of the seventh
month: so the children of Israel were in their habitations.

9:38 And the whole multitude came together with one accord into the
broad place of the holy porch toward the east:

9:39 And they spake unto Esdras the priest and reader, that he would
bring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel.

9:40 So Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole
multitude from man to woman, and to all the priests, to hear law in the
first day of the seventh month.

9:41 And he read in the broad court before the holy porch from morning
unto midday, before both men and women; and the multitude gave heed
unto the law.

9:42 And Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon a pulpit
of wood, which was made for that purpose.

9:43 And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias,
Urias, Ezecias, Balasamus, upon the right hand:

9:44 And upon his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias,
Lothasubus, and Nabarias.

9:45 Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he
sat honourably in the first place in the sight of them all.

9:46 And when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras
blessed the Lord God most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.

9:47 And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they
fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.

9:48 Also Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas,
Maianeas, and Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the
Levites, taught the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand
it.

9:49 Then spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest and reader, and
to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying,

9:50 This day is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard
the law:)

9:51 Go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to
them that have nothing;

9:52 For this day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the
Lord will bring you to honour.

9:53 So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This
day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.

9:54 Then went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make
merry, and to give part to them that had nothing, and to make great
cheer;

9:55 Because they understood the words wherein they were instructed,
and for the which they had been assembled.




The Second Book of Esdras


1:1 The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son
of Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the sou of Sadoc,
the son of Achitob,

1:2 The son of Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of
Amarias, the son of Aziei, the son of Marimoth, the son of And he spake
unto the of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of
Eleazar,

1:3 The son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; which was captive in the
land of the Medes, in the reign of Artexerxes king of the Persians.

1:4 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

1:5 Go thy way, and shew my people their sinful deeds, and their
children their wickedness which they have done against me; that they
may tell their children’s children:

1:6 Because the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they
have forgotten me, and have offered unto strange gods.

1:7 Am not I even he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from
the house of bondage? but they have provoked me unto wrath, and
despised my counsels.

1:8 Pull thou off then the hair of thy head, and cast all evil upon
them, for they have not been obedient unto my law, but it is a
rebellious people.

1:9 How long shall I forbear them, into whom I have done so much good?

1:10 Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his
servants and all his power have I smitten down.

1:11 All the nations have I destroyed before them, and in the east I
have scattered the people of two provinces, even of Tyrus and Sidon,
and have slain all their enemies.

1:12 Speak thou therefore unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord,

1:13 I led you through the sea and in the beginning gave you a large
and safe passage; I gave you Moses for a leader, and Aaron for a
priest.

1:14 I gave you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I
done among you; yet have ye forgotten me, saith the Lord.

1:15 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I
gave you tents for your safeguard: nevertheless ye murmured there,

1:16 And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies,
but ever to this day do ye yet murmur.

1:17 Where are the benefits that I have done for you? when ye were
hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, did ye not cry unto me,

1:18 Saying, Why hast thou brought us into this wilderness to kill us?
it had been better for us to have served the Egyptians, than to die in
this wilderness.

1:19 Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so
ye did eat angels’ bread.

1:20 When ye were thirsty, did I not cleave the rock, and waters flowed
out to your fill? for the heat I covered you with the leaves of the
trees.

1:21 I divided among you a fruitful land, I cast out the Canaanites,
the Pherezites, and the Philistines, before you: what shall I yet do
more for you? saith the Lord.

1:22 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, When ye were in the wilderness, in
the river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my name,

1:23 I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the
water, and made the river sweet.

1:24 What shall I do unto thee, O Jacob? thou, Juda, wouldest not obey
me: I will turn me to other nations, and unto those will I give my
name, that they may keep my statutes.

1:25 Seeing ye have forsaken me, I will forsake you also; when ye
desire me to be gracious unto you, I shall have no mercy upon you.

1:26 Whensoever ye shall call upon me, I will not hear you: for ye have
defiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit
manslaughter.

1:27 Ye have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the
Lord.

1:28 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father
his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes,

1:29 That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye
would be my children, and I should be your father?

1:30 I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her
wings: but now, what shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my
face.

1:31 When ye offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your
solemn feastdays, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I
forsaken.

1:32 I sent unto you my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and
slain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of
your hands, saith the Lord.

1:33 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast
you out as the wind doth stubble.

1:34 And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my
commandment, and done the thing that is an evil before me.

1:35 Your houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not
having heard of me yet shall believe me; to whom I have shewed no
signs, yet they shall do that I have commanded them.

1:36 They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to
remembrance, and acknowledge them.

1:37 I take to witness the grace of the people to come, whose little
ones rejoice in gladness: and though they have not seen me with bodily
eyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say.

1:38 And now, brother, behold what glory; and see the people that come
from the east:

1:39 Unto whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonas,

1:40 Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachy, which
is called also an angel of the Lord.

2:1 Thus saith the Lord, I brought this people out of bondage, and I
gave them my commandments by menservants the prophets; whom they would
not hear, but despised my counsels.

2:2 The mother that bare them saith unto them, Go your way, ye
children; for I am a widow and forsaken.

2:3 I brought you up with gladness; but with sorrow and heaviness have
I lost you: for ye have sinned before the Lord your God, and done that
thing that is evil before him.

2:4 But what shall I now do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go
your way, O my children, and ask mercy of the Lord.

2:5 As for me, O father, I call upon thee for a witness over the mother
of these children, which would not keep my covenant,

2:6 That thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil,
that there may be no offspring of them.

2:7 Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be
put out of the earth: for they have despised my covenant.

2:8 Woe be unto thee, Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous in thee!
O thou wicked people, remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrha;

2:9 Whose land lieth in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also
will I do unto them that hear me not, saith the Almighty Lord.

2:10 Thus saith the Lord unto Esdras, Tell my people that I will give
them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I would have given unto Israel.

2:11 Their glory also will I take unto me, and give these the
everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.

2:12 They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour;
they shall neither labour, nor be weary.

2:13 Go, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they
may be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.

2:14 Take heaven and earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in
pieces, and created the good: for I live, saith the Lord.

2:15 Mother, embrace thy children, and bring them up with gladness,
make their feet as fast as a pillar: for I have chosen thee, saith the
Lord.

2:16 And those that be dead will I raise up again from their places,
and bring them out of the graves: for I have known my name in Israel.

2:17 Fear not, thou mother of the children: for I have chosen thee,
saith the Lord.

2:18 For thy help will I send my servants Esau and Jeremy, after whose
counsel I have sanctified and prepared for thee twelve trees laden with
divers fruits,

2:19 And as many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven
mighty mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will
fill thy children with joy.

2:20 Do right to the widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor,
defend the orphan, clothe the naked,

2:21 Heal the broken and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn,
defend the maimed, and let the blind man come into the sight of my
clearness.

2:22 Keep the old and young within thy walls.

2:23 Wheresoever thou findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I
will give thee the first place in my resurrection.

2:24 Abide still, O my people, and take thy rest, for thy quietness
still come.

2:25 Nourish thy children, O thou good nurse; stablish their feet.

2:26 As for the servants whom I have given thee, there shall not one of
them perish; for I will require them from among thy number.

2:27 Be not weary: for when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh,
others shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry and have
abundance.

2:28 The heathen shall envy thee, but they shall be able to do nothing
against thee, saith the Lord.

2:29 My hands shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see
hell.

2:30 Be joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will deliver
thee, saith the Lord.

2:31 Remember thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of
the sides of the earth, and shew mercy unto them: for I am merciful,
saith the Lord Almighty.

2:32 Embrace thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my
wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.

2:33 I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I
should go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they set me at
nought, and despised the commandment of the Lord.

2:34 And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and
understand, look for your Shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest;
for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world.

2:35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light
shall shine upon you for evermore.

2:36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your
glory: I testify my Saviour openly.

2:37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks
unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.

2:38 Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in
the feast of the Lord;

2:39 Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received
glorious garments of the Lord.

2:40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are
clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.

2:41 The number of thy children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled:
beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called
from the beginning, may be hallowed.

2:42 I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not
number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.

2:43 And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature,
taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set
crowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled at greatly.

2:44 So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these?

2:45 He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the
mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name
of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms.

2:46 Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth
them, and giveth them palms in their hands?

2:47 So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they
have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that
stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.

2:48 Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what
manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast
seen.

3:1 In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon,
and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart:

3:2 For I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt
at Babylon.

3:3 And my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full
of fear to the most High, and said,

3:4 O Lord, who bearest rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou
didst plant the earth, and that thyself alone, and commandedst the
people,

3:5 And gavest a body unto Adam without soul, which was the workmanship
of thine hands, and didst breathe into him the breath of life, and he
was made living before thee.

3:6 And thou leadest him into paradise, which thy right hand had
planted, before ever the earth came forward.

3:7 And unto him thou gavest commandment to love thy way: which he
transgressed, and immediately thou appointedst death in him and in his
generations, of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds, out of
number.

3:8 And every people walked after their own will, and did wonderful
things before thee, and despised thy commandments.

3:9 And again in process of time thou broughtest the flood upon those
that dwelt in the world, and destroyedst them.

3:10 And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam,
so was the flood to these.

3:11 Nevertheless one of them thou leftest, namely, Noah with his
household, of whom came all righteous men.

3:12 And it happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to
multiply, and had gotten them many children, and were a great people,
they began again to be more ungodly than the first.

3:13 Now when they lived so wickedly before thee, thou didst choose
thee a man from among them, whose name was Abraham.

3:14 Him thou lovedst, and unto him only thou shewedst thy will:

3:15 And madest an everlasting covenant with him, promising him that
thou wouldest never forsake his seed.

3:16 And unto him thou gavest Isaac, and unto Isaac also thou gavest
Jacob and Esau. As for Jacob, thou didst choose him to thee, and put by
Esau: and so Jacob became a great multitude.

3:17 And it came to pass, that when thou leadest his seed out of Egypt,
thou broughtest them up to the mount Sinai.

3:18 And bowing the heavens, thou didst set fast the earth, movedst the
whole world, and madest the depths to tremble, and troubledst the men
of that age.

3:19 And thy glory went through four gates, of fire, and of earthquake,
and of wind, and of cold; that thou mightest give the law unto the seed
of Jacob, and diligence unto the generation of Israel.

3:20 And yet tookest thou not away from them a wicked heart, that thy
law might bring forth fruit in them.

3:21 For the first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was
overcome; and so be all they that are born of him.

3:22 Thus infirmity was made permanent; and the law (also) in the heart
of the people with the malignity of the root; so that the good departed
away, and the evil abode still.

3:23 So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end:
then didst thou raise thee up a servant, called David:

3:24 Whom thou commandedst to build a city unto thy name, and to offer
incense and oblations unto thee therein.

3:25 When this was done many years, then they that inhabited the city
forsook thee,

3:26 And in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had
done: for they also had a wicked heart:

3:27 And so thou gavest thy city over into the hands of thine enemies.

3:28 Are their deeds then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they
should therefore have the dominion over Sion?

3:29 For when I came thither, and had seen impieties without number,
then my soul saw many evildoers in this thirtieth year, so that my
heart failed me.

3:30 For I have seen how thou sufferest them sinning, and hast spared
wicked doers: and hast destroyed thy people, and hast preserved thine
enemies, and hast not signified it.

3:31 I do not remember how this way may be left: Are they then of
Babylon better than they of Sion?

3:32 Or is there any other people that knoweth thee beside Israel? or
what generation hath so believed thy covenants as Jacob?

3:33 And yet their reward appeareth not, and their labour hath no
fruit: for I have gone here and there through the heathen, and I see
that they flow in wealth, and think not upon thy commandments.

3:34 Weigh thou therefore our wickedness now in the balance, and theirs
also that dwell the world; and so shall thy name no where be found but
in Israel.

3:35 Or when was it that they which dwell upon the earth have not
sinned in thy sight? or what people have so kept thy commandments?

3:36 Thou shalt find that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts; but
not the heathen.

4:1 And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me
an answer,

4:2 And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest
thou to comprehend the way of the most High?

4:3 Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent
to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before
thee:

4:4 Whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way
that thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked
heart cometh.

4:5 And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way,
weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind,
or call me again the day that is past.

4:6 Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou
shouldest ask such things of me?

4:7 And he said unto me, If I should ask thee how great dwellings are
in the midst of the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of
the deep, or how many springs are above the firmament, or which are the
outgoings of paradise:

4:8 Peradventure thou wouldest say unto me, I never went down into the
deep, nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven.

4:9 Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind,
and of the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which
thou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of
them.

4:10 He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown
up with thee, canst thou not know;

4:11 How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the
Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the
corruption that is evident in my sight?

4:12 Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than
that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know
wherefore.

4:13 He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and
the trees took counsel,

4:14 And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may
depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.

4:15 The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said,
Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also
we may make us another country.

4:16 The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and
consumed it.

4:17 The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for
the sand stood up and stopped them.

4:18 If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin
to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?

4:19 I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both
have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also
hath his place to bear his floods.

4:20 Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment,
but why judgest thou not thyself also?

4:21 For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his
floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing
but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the
heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the
heavens.

4:22 Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have
understanding:

4:23 For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of
such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a
reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast
loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our
forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to
none effect,

4:24 And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is
astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.

4:25 What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these
things have I asked.

4:26 Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more
thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,

4:27 And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the
righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness
and infirmities.

4:28 But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell
thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet
come.

4:29 If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if
the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come
that is sown with good.

4:30 For the grain of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam
from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto
this time? and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of
threshing come?

4:31 Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of
evil seed hath brought forth.

4:32 And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how
great a floor shall they fill?

4:33 Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to
pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?

4:34 And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most
Highest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much
exceeded.

4:35 Did not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these
things in their chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this
fashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?

4:36 And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and
said, Even when the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath
weighed the world in the balance.

4:37 By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he
numbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said
measure be fulfilled.

4:38 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all
are full of impiety.

4:39 And for our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the
righteous are not filled, because of the sins of them that dwell upon
the earth.

4:40 So he answered me, and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and
ask of her when she hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may
keep the birth any longer within her.

4:41 Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In
the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:

4:42 For like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the
necessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver
those things that are committed unto them.

4:43 From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be
shewed thee.

4:44 Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and
if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,

4:45 Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more
past than is to come.

4:46 What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.

4:47 And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall
expound the similitude unto thee.

4:48 So I stood, and saw, and, behold, an hot burning oven passed by
before me: and it happened that when the flame was gone by I looked,
and, behold, the smoke remained still.

4:49 After this there passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down
much rain with a storm; and when the stormy rain was past, the drops
remained still.

4:50 Then said he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more
than the drops, and as the fire is greater than the smoke; but the
drops and the smoke remain behind: so the quantity which is past did
more exceed.

4:51 Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that
time? or what shall happen in those days?

4:52 He answered me, and said, As for the tokens whereof thou askest
me, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not
sent to shew thee; for I do not know it.

5:1 Nevertheless as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come,
that they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in a great number, and
the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of
faith.

5:2 But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or
that thou hast heard long ago.

5:3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see
wasted suddenly.

5:4 But if the most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the
third trumpet that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and
the moon thrice in the day:

5:5 And blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his
voice, and the people shall be troubled:

5:6 And even he shall rule, whom they look not for that dwell upon the
earth, and the fowls shall take their flight away together:

5:7 And the Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise in the
night, which many have not known: but they shall all hear the voice
thereof.

5:8 There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall
be oft sent out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places,
and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters:

5:9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall
destroy one another; then shall wit hide itself, and understanding
withdraw itself into his secret chamber,

5:10 And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall
unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied upon earth.

5:11 One land also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that
maketh a man righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, No.

5:12 At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall
labour, but their ways shall not prosper.

5:13 To shew thee such tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray
again, and weep as now, and fast even days, thou shalt hear yet greater
things.

5:14 Then I awaked, and an extreme fearfulness went through all my
body, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.

5:15 So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me,
and set me up upon my feet.

5:16 And in the second night it came to pass, that Salathiel the
captain of the people came unto me, saying, Where hast thou been? and
why is thy countenance so heavy?

5:17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of
their captivity?

5:18 Up then, and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that
leaveth his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.

5:19 Then said I unto him, Go thy ways from me, and come not nigh me.
And he heard what I said, and went from me.

5:20 And so I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, like as Uriel
the angel commanded me.

5:21 And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were
very grievous unto me again,

5:22 And my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to
talk with the most High again,

5:23 And said, O Lord that bearest rule, of every wood of the earth,
and of all the trees thereof, thou hast chosen thee one only vine:

5:24 And of all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit:
and of all the flowers thereof one lily:

5:25 And of all the depths of the sea thou hast filled thee one river:
and of all builded cities thou hast hallowed Sion unto thyself:

5:26 And of all the fowls that are created thou hast named thee one
dove: and of all the cattle that are made thou hast provided thee one
sheep:

5:27 And among all the multitudes of people thou hast gotten thee one
people: and unto this people, whom thou lovedst, thou gavest a law that
is approved of all.

5:28 And now, O Lord, why hast thou given this one people over unto
many? and upon the one root hast thou prepared others, and why hast
thou scattered thy only one people among many?

5:29 And they which did gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy
covenants, have trodden them down.

5:30 If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish
them with thine own hands.

5:31 Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the
night afore was sent unto me,

5:32 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to
the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.

5:33 And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore
troubled in mind for Israel’s sake: lovest thou that people better than
he that made them?

5:34 And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my
reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the
most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.

5:35 And he said unto me, Thou canst not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord?
whereunto was I born then? or why was not my mother’s womb then my
grave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the
wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?

5:36 And he said unto me, Number me the things that are not yet come,
gather me together the dross that are scattered abroad, make me the
flowers green again that are withered,

5:37 Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds
that in them are shut up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will
declare to thee the thing that thou labourest to know.

5:38 And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, who may know these things,
but he that hath not his dwelling with men?

5:39 As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things
whereof thou askest me?

5:40 Then said he unto me, Like as thou canst do none of these things
that I have spoken of, even so canst thou not find out my judgment, or
in the end the love that I have promised unto my people.

5:41 And I said, Behold, O Lord, yet art thou nigh unto them that be
reserved till the end: and what shall they do that have been before me,
or we that be now, or they that shall come after us?

5:42 And he said unto me, I will liken my judgment unto a ring: like as
there is no slackness of the last, even so there is no swiftness of the
first.

5:43 So I answered and said, Couldest thou not make those that have
been made, and be now, and that are for to come, at once; that thou
mightest shew thy judgment the sooner?

5:44 Then answered he me, and said, The creature may not haste above
the maker; neither may the world hold them at once that shall be
created therein.

5:45 And I said, As thou hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which
givest life to all, hast given life at once to the creature that thou
hast created, and the creature bare it: even so it might now also bear
them that now be present at once.

5:46 And he said unto me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If
thou bringest forth children, why dost thou it not together, but one
after another? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.

5:47 And I said, She cannot: but must do it by distance of time.

5:48 Then said he unto me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth
to those that be sown in it in their times.

5:49 For like as a young child may not bring forth the things that
belong to the aged, even so have I disposed the world which I created.

5:50 And I asked, and said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I
will proceed to speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast
told me that she is young, draweth now nigh unto age.

5:51 He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that beareth children, and
she shall tell thee.

5:52 Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now brought
forth like those that were before, but less of stature?

5:53 And she shall answer thee, They that be born in the strength of
youth are of one fashion, and they that are born in the time of age,
when the womb faileth, are otherwise.

5:54 Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than
those that were before you.

5:55 And so are they that come after you less than ye, as the creatures
which now begin to be old, and have passed over the strength of youth.

5:56 Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy
sight, shew thy servant by whom thou visitest thy creature.

6:1 And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made,
before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew,

6:2 Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of
paradise were laid,

6:3 Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were
established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered
together,

6:4 Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures
of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,

6:5 And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the
inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed
that have gathered faith for a treasure:

6:6 Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me
alone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by
none other.

6:7 Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder of the
times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it
that followeth?

6:8 And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau
were born of him, Jacob’s hand held first the heel of Esau.

6:9 For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it
that followeth.

6:10 The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question,
Esdras, ask thou not.

6:11 I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have
found favour in thy sight,

6:12 I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof
thou shewedst me part the last night.

6:13 So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear
a mighty sounding voice.

6:14 And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where
thou standest shall not be moved.

6:15 And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of
the end, and the foundation of the earth is understood.

6:16 And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is
moved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.

6:17 And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet,
and hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice that spake, and the sound
of it was like the sound of many waters.

6:18 And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw
nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,

6:19 And will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have
hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of
Sion shall be fulfilled;

6:20 And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be
finished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened
before the firmament, and they shall see all together:

6:21 And the children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the
women with child shall bring forth untimely children of three or four
months old, and they shall live, and be raised up.

6:22 And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full
storehouses shall suddenly be found empty:

6:23 And tha trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth,
they shall be suddenly afraid.

6:24 At that time shall friends fight one against another like enemies,
and the earth shall stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the
springs of the fountains shall stand still, and in three hours they
shall not run.

6:25 Whosoever remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall
escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world.

6:26 And the men that are received shall see it, who have not tasted
death from their birth: and the heart of the inhabitants shall be
changed, and turned into another meaning.

6:27 For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.

6:28 As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and
the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.

6:29 And when he talked with me, behold, I looked by little and little
upon him before whom I stood.

6:30 And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time
of the night to come.

6:31 If thou wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall
tell thee greater things by day than I have heard.

6:32 For thy voice is heard before the most High: for the Mighty hath
seen thy righteous dealing, he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou
hast had ever since thy youth.

6:33 And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and
to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not

6:34 And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things,
that thou mayest not hasten from the latter times.

6:35 And it came to pass after this, that I wept again, and fasted
seven days in like manner, that I might fulfil the three weeks which he
told me.

6:36 And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I
began to speak before the most High.

6:37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in
distress.

6:38 And I said, O Lord, thou spakest from the beginning of the
creation, even the first day, and saidst thus; Let heaven and earth be
made; and thy word was a perfect work.

6:39 And then was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every
side; the sound of man’s voice was not yet formed.

6:40 Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures,
that thy work might appear.

6:41 Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and
commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the
waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.

6:42 Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be
gathered in the seventh part of the earth: six pats hast thou dried up,
and kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God
and tilled might serve thee.

6:43 For as soon as thy word went forth the work was made.

6:44 For immediately there was great and innumerable fruit, and many
and divers pleasures for the taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour,
and odours of wonderful smell: and this was done the third day.

6:45 Upon the fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine,
and the moon give her light, and the stars should be in order:

6:46 And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be
made.

6:47 Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the
waters were gathered that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls
and fishes: and so it came to pass.

6:48 For the dumb water and without life brought forth living things at
the commandment of God, that all people might praise thy wondrous
works.

6:49 Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst
Enoch, and the other Leviathan;

6:50 And didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part,
namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them
both.

6:51 Unto Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day,
that he should dwell in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills:

6:52 But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the
moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.

6:53 Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that
before thee it should bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:

6:54 And after these, Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy
creatures: of him come we all, and the people also whom thou hast
chosen.

6:55 All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest
the world for our sakes

6:56 As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said
that they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the
abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel.

6:57 And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been
reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.

6:58 But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only
begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.

6:59 If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an
inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?

7:1 And when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent
unto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore:

7:2 And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come
to tell thee.

7:3 And I said, Speak on, my God. Then said he unto me, The sea is set
in a wide place, that it might be deep and great.

7:4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;

7:5 Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if
he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?

7:6 There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a
broad field, and is full of all good things:

7:7 The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to
fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a
deep water:

7:8 And one only path between them both, even between the fire and the
water, so small that there could but one man go there at once.

7:9 If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he
never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this
inheritance?

7:10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is
Israel’s portion.

7:11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam
transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.

7:12 Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow
and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils,: and very
painful.

7:13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and
brought immortal fruit.

7:14 If then they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain
things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.

7:15 Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a
corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?

7:16 Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to
come, rather than that which is present?

7:17 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast
ordained in thy law, that the righteous should inherit these things,
but that the ungodly should perish.

7:18 Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope
for wide: for they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait
things, and yet shall not see the wide.

7:19 And he said unto me. There is no judge above God, and none that
hath understanding above the Highest.

7:20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise
the law of God that is set before them.

7:21 For God hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they
should do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to
avoid punishment.

7:22 Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against
him, and imagined vain things;

7:23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the
most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:

7:24 But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his
statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.

7:25 And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the
full are the full things.

7:26 Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told
thee shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming
forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth.

7:27 And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my
wonders.

7:28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him,
and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.

7:29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have
life.

7:30 And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days,
like as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain.

7:31 And after seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be
raised up, and that shall die that is corrupt

7:32 And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so
shall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall
deliver those souls that were committed unto them.

7:33 And the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and
misery shall pass away, and the long suffering shall have an end:

7:34 But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall
wax strong:

7:35 And the work shall follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and the
good deeds shall be of force, and wicked deeds shall bear no rule.

7:36 Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for
the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:

7:37 And Jesus after him for Israel in the time of Achan:

7:38 And Samuel and David for the destruction: and Solomon for them
that should come to the sanctuary:

7:39 And Helias for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he
might live:

7:40 And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many
for many.

7:41 Even so now, seeing corruption is grown up, and wickedness
increased, and the righteous have prayed for the ungodly: wherefore
shall it not be so now also?

7:42 He answered me, and said, This present life is not the end where
much glory doth abide; therefore have they prayed for the weak.

7:43 But the day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the
beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is past,

7:44 Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is
grown, and truth is sprung up.

7:45 Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to
oppress him that hath gotten the victory.

7:46 I answered then and said, This is my first and last saying, that
it had been better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when
it was given him, to have restrained him from sinning.

7:47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in
heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?

7:48 O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that
sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.

7:49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal
time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?

7:50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas
ourselves being most wicked are made vain?

7:51 And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety,
whereas we have lived wickedly?

7:52 And that the glory of the most High is kept to defend them which
have led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of
all?

7:53 And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth
for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter
into it?

7:54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.)

7:55 And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine
above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?

7:56 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that
we should begin to suffer for it after death.

7:57 Then answered he me, and said, This is the condition of the
battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;

7:58 That, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if
he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.

7:59 For this is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he
lived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live.

7:60 Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after
him, no nor me which have spoken unto them,

7:61 That there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as
shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.

7:62 I answered then, and said, I know, Lord, that the most High is
called merciful, in that he hath mercy upon them which are not yet come
into the world,

7:63 And upon those also that turn to his law;

7:64 And that he is patient, and long suffereth those that have sinned,
as his creatures;

7:65 And that he is bountiful, for he is ready to give where it
needeth;

7:66 And that he is of great mercy, for he multiplieth more and more
mercies to them that are present, and that are past, and also to them
which are to come.

7:67 For if he shall not multiply his mercies, the world would not
continue with them that inherit therein.

7:68 And he pardoneth; for if he did not so of his goodness, that they
which have committed iniquities might be eased of them, the ten
thousandth part of men should not remain living.

7:69 And being judge, if he should not forgive them that are cured with
his word, and put out the multitude of contentions,

7:70 There should be very few left peradventure in an innumerable
multitude.

8:1 And he answered me, saying, The most High hath made this world for
many, but the world to come for few.

8:2 I will tell thee a similitude, Esdras; As when thou askest the
earth, it shall say unto thee, that it giveth much mould whereof
earthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold cometh of: even so
is the course of this present world.

8:3 There be many created, but few shall be saved.

8:4 So answered I and said, Swallow then down, O my soul,
understanding, and devour wisdom.

8:5 For thou hast agreed to give ear, and art willing to prophesy: for
thou hast no longer space than only to live.

8:6 O Lord, if thou suffer not thy servant, that we may pray before
thee, and thou give us seed unto our heart, and culture to our
understanding, that there may come fruit of it; how shall each man live
that is corrupt, who beareth the place of a man?

8:7 For thou art alone, and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like
as thou hast said.

8:8 For when the body is fashioned now in the mother’s womb, and thou
givest it members, thy creature is preserved in fire and water, and
nine months doth thy workmanship endure thy creature which is created
in her.

8:9 But that which keepeth and is kept shall both be preserved: and
when the time cometh, the womb preserved delivereth up the things that
grew in it.

8:10 For thou hast commanded out of the parts of the body, that is to
say, out of the breasts, milk to be given, which is the fruit of the
breasts,

8:11 That the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time,
till thou disposest it to thy mercy.

8:12 Thou broughtest it up with thy righteousness, and nurturedst it in
thy law, and reformedst it with thy judgment.

8:13 And thou shalt mortify it as thy creature, and quicken it as thy
work.

8:14 If therefore thou shalt destroy him which with so great labour was
fashioned, it is an easy thing to be ordained by thy commandment, that
the thing which was made might be preserved.

8:15 Now therefore, Lord, I will speak; touching man in general, thou
knowest best; but touching thy people, for whose sake I am sorry;

8:16 And for thine inheritance, for whose cause I mourn; and for
Israel, for whom I am heavy; and for Jacob, for whose sake I am
troubled;

8:17 Therefore will I begin to pray before thee for myself and for
them: for I see the falls of us that dwell in the land.

8:18 But I have heard the swiftness of the judge which is to come.

8:19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I shall
speak before thee. This is the beginning of the words of Esdras, before
he was taken up: and I said,

8:20 O Lord, thou that dwellest in everlastingness which beholdest from
above things in the heaven and in the air;

8:21 Whose throne is inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended;
before whom the hosts of angels stand with trembling,

8:22 Whose service is conversant in wind and fire; whose word is true,
and sayings constant; whose commandment is strong, and ordinance
fearful;

8:23 Whose look drieth up the depths, and indignation maketh the
mountains to melt away; which the truth witnesseth:

8:24 O hear the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of
thy creature.

8:25 For while I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding
I will answer.

8:26 O look not upon the sins of thy people; but on them which serve
thee in truth.

8:27 Regard not the wicked inventions of the heathen, but the desire of
those that keep thy testimonies in afflictions.

8:28 Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee: but
remember them, which according to thy will have known thy fear.

8:29 Let it not be thy will to destroy them which have lived like
beasts; but to look upon them that have clearly taught thy law.

8:30 Take thou no indignation at them which are deemed worse than
beasts; but love them that always put their trust in thy righteousness
and glory.

8:31 For we and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because
of us sinners thou shalt be called merciful.

8:32 For if thou hast a desire to have mercy upon us, thou shalt be
called merciful, to us namely, that have no works of righteousness.

8:33 For the just, which have many good works laid up with thee, shall
out of their own deeds receive reward.

8:34 For what is man, that thou shouldest take displeasure at him? or
what is a corruptible generation, that thou shouldest be so bitter
toward it?

8:35 For in truth them is no man among them that be born, but he hath
dealt wickedly; and among the faithful there is none which hath not
done amiss.

8:36 For in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and thy goodness shall be
declared, if thou be merciful unto them which have not the confidence
of good works.

8:37 Then answered he me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken
aright, and according unto thy words it shall be.

8:38 For indeed I will not think on the disposition of them which have
sinned before death, before judgment, before destruction:

8:39 But I will rejoice over the disposition of the righteous, and I
will remember also their pilgrimage, and the salvation, and the reward,
that they shall have.

8:40 Like as I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.

8:41 For as the husbandman soweth much seed upon the ground, and
planteth many trees, and yet the thing that is sown good in his season
cometh not up, neither doth all that is planted take root: even so is
it of them that are sown in the world; they shall not all be saved.

8:42 I answered then and said, If I have found grace, let me speak.

8:43 Like as the husbandman’s seed perisheth, if it come not up, and
receive not thy rain in due season; or if there come too much rain, and
corrupt it:

8:44 Even so perisheth man also, which is formed with thy hands, and is
called thine own image, because thou art like unto him, for whose sake
thou hast made all things, and likened him unto the husbandman’s seed.

8:45 Be not wroth with us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon
thine own inheritance: for thou art merciful unto thy creature.

8:46 Then answered he me, and said, Things present are for the present,
and things to cometh for such as be to come.

8:47 For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my
creature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and
unto it, but never to the unrighteous.

8:48 In this also thou art marvellous before the most High:

8:49 In that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast
not judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.

8:50 For many great miseries shall be done to them that in the latter
time shall dwell in the world, because they have walked in great pride.

8:51 But understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such
as be like thee.

8:52 For unto you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the
time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is
builded, and rest is allowed, yea, perfect goodness and wisdom.

8:53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is
hid from you, and corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten:

8:54 Sorrows are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of
immortality.

8:55 And therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude
of them that perish.

8:56 For when they had taken liberty, they despised the most High,
thought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways.

8:57 Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,

8:58 And said in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that
knowing they must die.

8:59 For as the things aforesaid shalt receive you, so thirst and pain
are prepared for them: for it was not his will that men should come to
nought:

8:60 But they which be created have defiled the name of him that made
them, and were unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.

8:61 And therefore is my judgment now at hand.

8:62 These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a
few like thee. Then answered I and said,

8:63 Behold, O Lord, now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the
wonders, which thou wilt begin to do in the last times: but at what
time, thou hast not shewed me.

9:1 He answered me then, and said, Measure thou the time diligently in
itself: and when thou seest part of the signs past, which I have told
thee before,

9:2 Then shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein
the Highest will begin to visit the world which he made.

9:3 Therefore when there shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of the
people in the world:

9:4 Then shalt thou well understand, that the most High spake of those
things from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.

9:5 For like as all that is made in the world hath a beginning and an
end, and the end is manifest:

9:6 Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in
wonder and powerful works, and endings in effects and signs.

9:7 And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by
his works, and by faith, whereby ye have believed,

9:8 Shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my salvation
in my land, and within my borders: for I have sanctified them for me
from the beginning.

9:9 Then shall they be in pitiful case, which now have abused my ways:
and they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell in torments.

9:10 For such as in their life have received benefits, and have not
known me;

9:11 And they that have loathed my law, while they had yet liberty,
and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood
not, but despised it;

9:12 The same must know it after death by pain.

9:13 And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be
punished, and when: but enquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose
the world is, and for whom the world is created.

9:14 Then answered I and said,

9:15 I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also
hereafter, that there be many more of them which perish, than of them
which shall be saved:

9:16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop.

9:17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the
seed; as the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as the workman
is, such also is the work; and as the husbandman is himself, so is his
husbandry also: for it was the time of the world.

9:18 And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even
for them to dwell in that now live, no man spake against me.

9:19 For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are
created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed,
and by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves.

9:20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of
the devices that were come into it.

9:21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the
cluster, and a plant of a great people.

9:22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my
grape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I made it
perfect.

9:23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou
shalt not fast in them,

9:24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat
only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat
flowers only;)

9:25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk
with thee.

9:26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he
commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the
herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me.

9:27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed
within me, like as before:

9:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and
said,

9:29 O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto
our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a
barren place, when they came out of Egypt.

9:30 And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words,
thou seed of Jacob.

9:31 For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you,
and ye shall be honoured in it for ever.

9:32 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed
not thy ordinances: and though the fruit of thy law did not perish,
neither could it, for it was thine;

9:33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the
thing that was sown in them.

9:34 And, lo, it is a custom, when the ground hath received seed, or
the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished
wherein it was sown or cast into,

9:35 That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, doth
perish, and remaineth not with us: but with us it hath not happened so.

9:36 For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart
also which received it

9:37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.

9:38 And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked back with mine
eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned
and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in heart, and her
clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.

9:39 Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and turned me unto her,

9:40 And said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so grieved
in thy mind?

9:41 And she said unto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail myself,
and add unto my sorrow, for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought
very low.

9:42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me.

9:43 She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no
child, though I had an husband thirty years,

9:44 And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every
hour, but make my, prayer to the Highest.

9:45 After thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my
misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I was very glad
of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbours: and we gave
great honour unto the Almighty.

9:46 And I nourished him with great travail.

9:47 So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a
wife, I made a feast.

10:1 And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his
wedding chamber, he fell down, and died.

10:2 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.

10:3 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.

10:4 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.

10:5 Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in
anger, saying,

10:6 Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning,
and what happeneth unto us?

10:7 How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much
humbled, mourning very sore?

10:8 And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in
heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?

10:9 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.

10:10 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.

10:11 Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so
great a multitude; and not thou, which art sorry but for one?

10:12 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;

10:13 But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according
to the course of the earth is gone, as it came:

10:14 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.

10:15 Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good
courage that which hath befallen thee.

10:16 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.

10:17 Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.

10:18 And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the
city, but here will I die.

10:19 So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,

10:20 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.

10:21 For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken
down, our temple destroyed;

10:22 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;

10:23 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.

10:24 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.

10:25 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.

10:26 And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that
the earth shook at the noise of the woman.

10:27 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,

10:28 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.

10:29 And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and
looked upon me.

10:30 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,

10:31 What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is
thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?

10:32 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.

10:33 And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.

10:34 Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest
I die frustrate of my hope.

10:35 For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

10:36 Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?

10:37 Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of
this vision.

10:38 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.

10:39 He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest
continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.

10:40 This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately
sawest:

10:41 Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:

10:42 But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there
appeared unto thee a city builded.

10:43 And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the
solution:

10:44 This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto
thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,

10:45 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.

10:46 But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered
offerings: and then bare the barren a son.

10:47 And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour:
that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.

10:48 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.

10:49 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.

10:50 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:

10:51 And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was
builded:

10:52 For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.

10:53 Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no
foundation of any building was.

10:54 For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city,
there can no man’s building be able to stand.

10:55 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:

10:56 And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.

10:57 For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the
Highest; and so are but few.

10:58 But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;

10:59 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.

11:1 Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an
eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.

11:2 And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth,
and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.

11:3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary
feathers; and they became little feathers and small.

11:4 But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than
the other, yet rested it with the residue.

11:5 Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and
reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.

11:6 And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and
no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.

11:7 And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake
to her feathers, saying,

11:8 Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch
by course:

11:9 But let the heads be preserved for the last.

11:10 And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but
from the midst of her body.

11:11 And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were
eight of them.

11:12 And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one
feather, and reigned over all the earth;

11:13 And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the
place thereof appeared no more: so the next following stood up, and
reigned, and had a great time;

11:14 And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also,
like as the first, so that it appeared no more.

11:15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said,

11:16 Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say
unto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,

11:17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto
the half thereof.

11:18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and
appeared no more also.

11:19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every
one reigned, and then appeared no more.

11:20 Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that
followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and
some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:

11:21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not.

11:22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no
more, nor the two little feathers:

11:23 And there was no more upon the eagle’s body, but three heads that
rested, and six little wings.

11:24 Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from
the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side: for
the four continued in their place.

11:25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing
thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.

11:26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it
appeared no more.

11:27 And the second was sooner away than the first.

11:28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in
themselves to reign:

11:29 And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads
that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was
greater than the two other heads.

11:30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.

11:31 And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and
did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.

11:32 But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it
over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it
had the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been.

11:33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst
suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.

11:34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled
upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.

11:35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it
that was upon the left side.

11:36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and
consider the thing that thou seest.

11:37 And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the
wood: and I saw that he sent out a man’s voice unto the eagle, and
said,

11:38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto
thee,

11:39 Art not thou it that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made to
reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?

11:40 And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past,
and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole
compass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time
dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.

11:41 For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.

11:42 For thou hast afflicted the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable,
thou hast loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought
forth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm.

11:43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and
thy pride unto the Mighty.

11:44 The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold,
they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.

11:45 And therefore appear no more, thou eagle, nor thy horrible wings,
nor thy wicked feathers nor thy malicious heads, nor thy hurtful claws,
nor all thy vain body:

11:46 That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being
delivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and
mercy of him that made her.

12:1 And it came to pass, whiles the lion spake these words unto the
eagle, I saw,

12:2 And, behold, the head that remained and the four wings appeared no
more, and the two went unto it and set themselves up to reign, and
their kingdom was small, and fill of uproar.

12:3 And I saw, and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body
of the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked
I out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and
said unto my spirit,

12:4 Lo, this hast thou done unto me, in that thou searchest out the
ways of the Highest.

12:5 Lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and
little strength is there in me, for the great fear wherewith I was
afflicted this night.

12:6 Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me
unto the end.

12:7 And I said, Lord that bearest rule, if I have found grace before
thy sight, and if I am justified with thee before many others, and if
my prayer indeed be come up before thy face;

12:8 Comfort me then, and shew me thy servant the interpretation and
plain difference of this fearful vision, that thou mayest perfectly
comfort my soul.

12:9 For thou hast judged me worthy to shew me the last times.

12:10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision:

12:11 The eagle, whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom
which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel.

12:12 But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it
unto thee.

12:13 Behold, the days will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom
upon earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were
before it.

12:14 In the same shall twelve kings reign, one after another:

12:15 Whereof the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time
than any of the twelve.

12:16 And this do the twelve wings signify, which thou sawest.

12:17 As for the voice which thou heardest speak, and that thou sawest
not to go out from the heads but from the midst of the body thereof,
this is the interpretation:

12:18 That after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great
strivings, and it shall stand in peril of failing: nevertheless it
shall not then fall, but shall be restored again to his beginning.

12:19 And whereas thou sawest the eight small under feathers sticking
to her wings, this is the interpretation:

12:20 That in him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be
but small, and their years swift.

12:21 And two of them shall perish, the middle time approaching: four
shall be kept until their end begin to approach: but two shall be kept
unto the end.

12:22 And whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the
interpretation:

12:23 In his last days shall the most High raise up three kingdoms, and
renew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the
earth,

12:24 And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all
those that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the
eagle.

12:25 For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that
shall finish his last end.

12:26 And whereas thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it
signifieth that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain.

12:27 For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword.

12:28 For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last
shall he fall through the sword himself.

12:29 And whereas thou sawest two feathers under the wings passing over
the head that is on the right side;

12:30 It signifieth that these are they, whom the Highest hath kept
unto their end: this is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou
sawest.

12:31 And the lion, whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and
roaring, and speaking to the eagle, and rebuking her for her
unrighteousness with all the words which thou hast heard;

12:32 This is the anointed, which the Highest hath kept for them and
for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and shall
upbraid them with their cruelty.

12:33 For he shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall
rebuke them, and correct them.

12:34 For the rest of my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that
have been pressed upon my borders, and he shall make them joyful until
the coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken unto thee from
the beginning.

12:35 This is the dream that thou sawest, and these are the
interpretations.

12:36 Thou only hast been meet to know this secret of the Highest.

12:37 Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book,
and hide them:

12:38 And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou
knowest may comprehend and keep these secrets.

12:39 But wait thou here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be
shewed thee, whatsoever it pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee.
And with that he went his way.

12:40 And it came to pass, when all the people saw that the seven days
were past, and I not come again into the city, they gathered them all
together, from the least unto the greatest, and came unto me, and said,

12:41 What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against
thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?

12:42 For of all the prophets thou only art left us, as a cluster of
the vintage, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven or ship
preserved from the tempest.

12:43 Are not the evils which are come to us sufficient?

12:44 If thou shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if
we also had been burned in the midst of Sion?

12:45 For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept
with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said,

12:46 Be of good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of
Jacob:

12:47 For the Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not
forgotten you in temptation.

12:48 As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from
you: but am come into this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion,
and that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your sanctuary.

12:49 And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I
come unto you.

12:50 So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded
them:

12:51 But I remained still in the field seven days, as the angel
commanded me; and did eat only in those days of the flowers of the
field, and had my meat of the herbs

13:1 And it came to pass after seven days, I dreamed a dream by night:

13:2 And, lo, there arose a wind from the sea, that it moved all the
waves thereof.

13:3 And I beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of
heaven: and when he turned his countenance to look, all the things
trembled that were seen under him.

13:4 And whensoever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned
that heard his voice, like as the earth faileth when it feeleth the
fire.

13:5 And after this I beheld, and, lo, there was gathered together a
multitude of men, out of number, from the four winds of the heaven, to
subdue the man that came out of the sea

13:6 But I beheld, and, lo, he had graved himself a great mountain, and
flew up upon it.

13:7 But I would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was
graven, and I could not.

13:8 And after this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered
together to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.

13:9 And, lo, as he saw the violence of the multitude that came, he
neither lifted up his hand, nor held sword, nor any instrument of war:

13:10 But only I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a
blast of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his
tongue he cast out sparks and tempests.

13:11 And they were all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming
breath, and the great tempest; and fell with violence upon the
multitude which was prepared to fight, and burned them up every one, so
that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing was to be
perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was
afraid.

13:12 Afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and
call unto him another peaceable Multitude.

13:13 And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some
were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them
that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked,
and said,

13:14 Thou hast shewed thy servant these wonders from the beginning,
and hast counted me worthy that thou shouldest receive my prayer:

13:15 Shew me now yet the interpretation of this dream.

13:16 For as I conceive in mine understanding, woe unto them that shall
be left in those days and much more woe unto them that are not left
behind!

13:17 For they that were not left were in heaviness.

13:18 Now understand I the things that are laid up in the latter days,
which shall happen unto them, and to those that are left behind.

13:19 Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities,
like as these dreams declare.

13:20 Yet is it easier for him that is in danger to come into these
things, than to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see
the things that happen in the last days. And he answered unto me, and
said,

13:21 The interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee, and I will
open unto thee the thing that thou hast required.

13:22 Whereas thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is
the interpretation:

13:23 He that shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself:
they that be fallen into danger are such as have works, and faith
toward the Almighty.

13:24 Know this therefore, that they which be left behind are more
blessed than they that be dead.

13:25 This is the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man
coming up from the midst of the sea:

13:26 The same is he whom God the Highest hath kept a great season,
which by his own self shall deliver his creature: and he shall order
them that are left behind.

13:27 And whereas thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a
blast of wind, and fire, and storm;

13:28 And that he held neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but
that the rushing in of him destroyed the whole multitude that came to
subdue him; this is the interpretation:

13:29 Behold, the days come, when the most High will begin to deliver
them that are upon the earth.

13:30 And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the
earth.

13:31 And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city
against another, one place against another, one people against another,
and one realm against another.

13:32 And the time shall be when these things shall come to pass, and
the signs shall happen which I shewed thee before, and then shall my
Son be declared, whom thou sawest as a man ascending.

13:33 And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their
own land leave the battle they have one against another.

13:34 And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as thou
sawest them, willing to come, and to overcome him by fighting.

13:35 But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion.

13:36 And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being
prepared and builded, like as thou sawest the hill graven without
hands.

13:37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those
nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest;

13:38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments
wherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a
flame: and he shall destroy them without labour by the law which is
like unto me.

13:39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable
multitude unto him;

13:40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out
of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the
king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters,
and so came they into another land.

13:41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would
leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further
country, where never mankind dwelt,

13:42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept
in their own land.

13:43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the
river.

13:44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the
flood, till they were passed over.

13:45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of
a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.

13:46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they
shall begin to come,

13:47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they
may go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace.

13:48 But those that be left behind of thy people are they that are
found within my borders.

13:49 Now when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are
gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain.

13:50 And then shall he shew them great wonders.

13:51 Then said I, O Lord that bearest rule, shew me this: Wherefore
have I seen the man coming up from the midst of the sea?

13:52 And he said unto me, Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know
the things that are in the deep of the sea: even so can no man upon
earth see my Son, or those that be with him, but in the day time.

13:53 This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and
whereby thou only art here lightened.

13:54 For thou hast forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence
unto my law, and sought it.

13:55 Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called
understanding thy mother.

13:56 And therefore have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest:
after other three days I will speak other things unto thee, and declare
unto thee mighty and wondrous things.

13:57 Then went I forth into the field, giving praise and thanks
greatly unto the most High because of his wonders which he did in time;

13:58 And because he governeth the same, and such things as fall in
their seasons: and there I sat three days.

14:1 And it came to pass upon the third day, I sat under an oak, and,
behold, there came a voice out of a bush over against me, and said,
Esdras, Esdras.

14:2 And I said, Here am I, Lord And I stood up upon my feet.

14:3 Then said he unto me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself
unto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in Egypt:

14:4 And I sent him and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him up
to the mount of where I held him by me a long season,

14:5 And told him many wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of
the times, and the end; and commanded him, saying,

14:6 These words shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.

14:7 And now I say unto thee,

14:8 That thou lay up in thy heart the signs that I have shewed, and
the dreams that thou hast seen, and the interpretations which thou hast
heard:

14:9 For thou shalt be taken away from all, and from henceforth thou
shalt remain with my Son, and with such as be like thee, until the
times be ended.

14:10 For the world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax
old.

14:11 For the world is divided into twelve parts, and the ten parts of
it are gone already, and half of a tenth part:

14:12 And there remaineth that which is after the half of the tenth
part.

14:13 Now therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people,
comfort such of them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption,

14:14 Let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man,
put off now the weak nature,

14:15 And set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and
haste thee to flee from these times.

14:16 For yet greater evils than those which thou hast seen happen
shall be done hereafter.

14:17 For look how much the world shall be weaker through age, so much
the more shall evils increase upon them that dwell therein.

14:18 For the time is fled far away, and leasing is hard at hand: for
now hasteth the vision to come, which thou hast seen.

14:19 Then answered I before thee, and said,

14:20 Behold, Lord, I will go, as thou hast commanded me, and reprove
the people which are present: but they that shall be born afterward,
who shall admonish them? thus the world is set in darkness, and they
that dwell therein are without light.

14:21 For thy law is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that
are done of thee, or the work that shall begin.

14:22 But if I have found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost into
me, and I shall write all that hath been done in the world since the
beginning, which were written in thy law, that men may find thy path,
and that they which will live in the latter days may live.

14:23 And he answered me, saying, Go thy way, gather the people
together, and say unto them, that they seek thee not for forty days.

14:24 But look thou prepare thee many box trees, and take with thee
Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ecanus, and Asiel, these five which are ready
to write swiftly;

14:25 And come hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in
thine heart, which shall not be put out, till the things be performed
which thou shalt begin to write.

14:26 And when thou hast done, some things shalt thou publish, and some
things shalt thou shew secretly to the wise: to morrow this hour shalt
thou begin to write.

14:27 Then went I forth, as he commanded, and gathered all the people
together, and said,

14:28 Hear these words, O Israel.

14:29 Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence
they were delivered:

14:30 And received the law of life, which they kept not, which ye also
have transgressed after them.

14:31 Then was the land, even the land of Sion, parted among you by
lot: but your fathers, and ye yourselves, have done unrighteousness,
and have not kept the ways which the Highest commanded you.

14:32 And forasmuch as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in
time the thing that he had given you.

14:33 And now are ye here, and your brethren among you.

14:34 Therefore if so be that ye will subdue your own understanding,
and reform your hearts, ye shall be kept alive and after death ye shall
obtain mercy.

14:35 For after death shall the judgment come, when we shall live
again: and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the
works of the ungodly shall be declared.

14:36 Let no man therefore come unto me now, nor seek after me these
forty days.

14:37 So I took the five men, as he commanded me, and we went into the
field, and remained there.

14:38 And the next day, behold, a voice called me, saying, Esdras, open
thy mouth, and drink that I give thee to drink.

14:39 Then opened I my mouth, and, behold, he reached me a full cup,
which was full as it were with water, but the colour of it was like
fire.

14:40 And I took it, and drank: and when I had drunk of it, my heart
uttered understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast, for my spirit
strengthened my memory:

14:41 And my mouth was opened, and shut no more.

14:42 The Highest gave understanding unto the five men, and they wrote
the wonderful visions of the night that were told, which they knew not:
and they sat forty days, and they wrote in the day, and at night they
ate bread.

14:43 As for me. I spake in the day, and I held not my tongue by night.

14:44 In forty days they wrote two hundred and four books.

14:45 And it came to pass, when the forty days were filled, that the
Highest spake, saying, The first that thou hast written publish openly,
that the worthy and unworthy may read it:

14:46 But keep the seventy last, that thou mayest deliver them only to
such as be wise among the people:

14:47 For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of
wisdom, and the stream of knowledge.

14:48 And I did so.

15:1 Behold, speak thou in the ears of my people the words of prophecy,
which I will put in thy mouth, saith the Lord:

15:2 And cause them to be written in paper: for they are faithful and
true.

15:3 Fear not the imaginations against thee, let not the incredulity of
them trouble thee, that speak against thee.

15:4 For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness.

15:5 Behold, saith the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world; the
sword, famine, death, and destruction.

15:6 For wickedness hath exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and
their hurtful works are fulfilled.

15:7 Therefore saith the Lord,

15:8 I will hold my tongue no more as touching their wickedness, which
they profanely commit, neither will I suffer them in those things, in
which they wickedly exercise themselves: behold, the innocent and
righteous blood crieth unto me, and the souls of the just complain
continually.

15:9 And therefore, saith the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and
receive unto me all the innocent blood from among them.

15:10 Behold, my people is led as a flock to the slaughter: I will not
suffer them now to dwell in the land of Egypt:

15:11 But I will bring them with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm,
and smite Egypt with plagues, as before, and will destroy all the land
thereof.

15:12 Egypt shall mourn, and the foundation of it shall be smitten with
the plague and punishment that God shall bring upon it.

15:13 They that till the ground shall mourn: for their seeds shall fail
through the blasting and hail, and with a fearful constellation.

15:14 Woe to the world and them that dwell therein!

15:15 For the sword and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people
shall stand up and fight against another, and swords in their hands.

15:16 For there shall be sedition among men, and invading one another;
they shall not regard their kings nor princes, and the course of their
actions shall stand in their power.

15:17 A man shall desire to go into a city, and shall not be able.

15:18 For because of their pride the cities shall be troubled, the
houses shall be destroyed, and men shall be afraid.

15:19 A man shall have no pity upon his neighbour, but shall destroy
their houses with the sword, and spoil their goods, because of the lack
of bread, and for great tribulation.

15:20 Behold, saith God, I will call together all the kings of the
earth to reverence me, which are from the rising of the sun, from the
south, from the east, and Libanus; to turn themselves one against
another, and repay the things that they have done to them.

15:21 Like as they do yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also,
and recompense in their bosom. Thus saith the Lord God;

15:22 My right hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not
cease over them that shed innocent blood upon the earth.

15:23 The fire is gone forth from his wrath, and hath consumed the
foundations of the earth, and the sinners, like the straw that is
kindled.

15:24 Woe to them that sin, and keep not my commandments! saith the
Lord.

15:25 I will not spare them: go your way, ye children, from the power,
defile not my sanctuary.

15:26 For the Lord knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore
delivereth he them unto death and destruction.

15:27 For now are the plagues come upon the whole earth and ye shall
remain in them: for God shall not deliver you, because ye have sinned
against him.

15:28 Behold an horrible vision, and the appearance thereof from the
east:

15:29 Where the nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with
many chariots, and the multitude of them shall be carried as the wind
upon earth, that all they which hear them may fear and tremble.

15:30 Also the Carmanians raging in wrath shall go forth as the wild
boars of the wood, and with great power shall they come, and join
battle with them, and shall waste a portion of the land of the
Assyrians.

15:31 And then shall the dragons have the upper hand, remembering their
nature; and if they shall turn themselves, conspiring together in great
power to persecute them,

15:32 Then these shall be troubled bled, and keep silence through their
power, and shall flee.

15:33 And from the land of the Assyrians shall the enemy besiege them,
and consume some of them, and in their host shall be fear and dread,
and strife among their kings.

15:34 Behold clouds from the east and from the north unto the south,
and they are very horrible to look upon, full of wrath and storm.

15:35 They shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite down a
great multitude of stars upon the earth, even their own star; and blood
shall be from the sword unto the belly,

15:36 And dung of men unto the camel’s hough.

15:37 And there shall be great fearfulness and trembling upon earth:
and they that see the wrath shall be afraid, and trembling shall come
upon them.

15:38 And then shall there come great storms from the south, and from
the north, and another part from the west.

15:39 And strong winds shall arise from the east, and shall open it;
and the cloud which he raised up in wrath, and the star stirred to
cause fear toward the east and west wind, shall be destroyed.

15:40 The great and mighty clouds shall be puffed up full of wrath, and
the star, that they may make all the earth afraid, and them that dwell
therein; and they shall pour out over every high and eminent place an
horrible star,

15:41 Fire, and hail, and flying swords, and many waters, that all
fields may be full, and all rivers, with the abundance of great waters.

15:42 And they shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and
hills, trees of the wood, and grass of the meadows, and their corn.

15:43 And they shall go stedfastly unto Babylon, and make her afraid.

15:44 They shall come to her, and besiege her, the star and all wrath
shall they pour out upon her: then shall the dust and smoke go up unto
the heaven, and all they that be about her shall bewail her.

15:45 And they that remain under her shall do service unto them that
have put her in fear.

15:46 And thou, Asia, that art partaker of the hope of Babylon, and art
the glory of her person:

15:47 Woe be unto thee, thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself
like unto her; and hast decked thy daughters in whoredom, that they
might please and glory in thy lovers, which have always desired to
commit whoredom with thee.

15:48 Thou hast followed her that is hated in all her works and
inventions: therefore saith God,

15:49 I will send plagues upon thee; widowhood, poverty, famine, sword,
and pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death.

15:50 And the glory of thy Power shall be dried up as a flower, the
heat shall arise that is sent over thee.

15:51 Thou shalt be weakened as a poor woman with stripes, and as one
chastised with wounds, so that the mighty and lovers shall not be able
to receive thee.

15:52 Would I with jealousy have so proceeded against thee, saith the
Lord,

15:53 If thou hadst not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of
thine hands, and saying over their dead, when thou wast drunken,

15:54 Set forth the beauty of thy countenance?

15:55 The reward of thy whoredom shall be in thy bosom, therefore shalt
thou receive recompence.

15:56 Like as thou hast done unto my chosen, saith the Lord, even so
shall God do unto thee, and shall deliver thee into mischief

15:57 Thy children shall die of hunger, and thou shalt fall through the
sword: thy cities shall be broken down, and all thine shall perish with
the sword in the field.

15:58 They that be in the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their
own flesh, and drink their own blood, for very hunger of bread, and
thirst of water.

15:59 Thou as unhappy shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues
again.

15:60 And in the passage they shall rush on the idle city, and shall
destroy some portion of thy land, and consume part of thy glory, and
shall return to Babylon that was destroyed.

15:61 And thou shalt be cast down by them as stubble, and they shall be
unto thee as fire;

15:62 And shall consume thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy
mountains; all thy woods and thy fruitful trees shall they burn up with
fire.

15:63 Thy children shall they carry away captive, and, look, what thou
hast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face.

16:1 Woe be unto thee, Babylon, and Asia! woe be unto thee, Egypt and
Syria!

16:2 Gird up yourselves with cloths of sack and hair, bewail your
children, and be sorry; for your destruction is at hand.

16:3 A sword is sent upon you, and who may turn it back?

16:4 A fire is sent among you, and who may quench it?

16:5 Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that may drive them
away?

16:6 May any man drive away an hungry lion in the wood? or may any one
quench the fire in stubble, when it hath begun to burn?

16:7 May one turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?

16:8 The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues and who is he that can drive
them away?

16:9 A fire shall go forth from his wrath, and who is he that may
quench it?

16:10 He shall cast lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall
thunder, and who shall not be afraid?

16:11 The Lord shall threaten, and who shall not be utterly beaten to
powder at his presence?

16:12 The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth
up with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the
fishes thereof also, before the Lord, and before the glory of his
power:

16:13 For strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows
that he shooteth are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be
shot into the ends of the world.

16:14 Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until
they come upon the earth.

16:15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume
the foundation of the earth.

16:16 Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not
backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not
return again.

16:17 Woe is me! woe is me! who will deliver me in those days?

16:18 The beginning of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of
famine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall
stand in fear; the beginning of evils! what shall I do when these evils
shall come?

16:19 Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as
scourges for amendment.

16:20 But for all these things they shall not turn from their
wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.

16:21 Behold, victuals shall be so good cheap upon earth, that they
shall think themselves to be in good case, and even then shall evils
grow upon earth, sword, famine, and great confusion.

16:22 For many of them that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine;
and the other, that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy.

16:23 And the dead shall be cast out as dung, and there shall be no man
to comfort them: for the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be
cast down.

16:24 There shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it

16:25 The trees shall give fruit, and who shall gather them?

16:26 The grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? for all places
shall be desolate of men:

16:27 So that one man shall desire to see another, and to hear his
voice.

16:28 For of a city there shall be ten left, and two of the field,
which shall hide themselves in the thick groves, and in the clefts of
the rocks.

16:29 As in an orchard of Olives upon every tree there are left three
or four olives;

16:30 Or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some clusters
of them that diligently seek through the vineyard:

16:31 Even so in those days there shall be three or four left by them
that search their houses with the sword.

16:32 And the earth shall be laid waste, and the fields thereof shall
wax old, and her ways and all her paths shall grow full of thorns,
because no man shall travel therethrough.

16:33 The virgins shall mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall
mourn, having no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, having no
helpers.

16:34 In the wars shall their bridegrooms be destroyed, and their
husbands shall perish of famine.

16:35 Hear now these things and understand them, ye servants of the
Lord.

16:36 Behold, the word of the Lord, receive it: believe not the gods of
whom the Lord spake.

16:37 Behold, the plagues draw nigh, and are not slack.

16:38 As when a woman with child in the ninth month bringeth forth her
son, with two or three hours of her birth great pains compass her womb,
which pains, when the child cometh forth, they slack not a moment:

16:39 Even so shall not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth,
and the world shall mourn, and sorrows shall come upon it on every
side.

16:40 O my people, hear my word: make you ready to thy battle, and in
those evils be even as pilgrims upon the earth.

16:41 He that selleth, let him be as he that fleeth away: and he that
buyeth, as one that will lose:

16:42 He that occupieth merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it:
and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therein:

16:43 He that soweth, as if he should not reap: so also he that
planteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes:

16:44 They that marry, as they that shall get no children; and they
that marry not, as the widowers.

16:45 And therefore they that labour labour in vain:

16:46 For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods,
overthrow their houses, and take their children captives, for in
captivity and famine shall they get children.

16:47 And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more
they deck their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own
persons:

16:48 The more will I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord.

16:49 Like as a whore envieth a right honest and virtuous woman:

16:50 So shall righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself,
and shall accuse her to her face, when he cometh that shall defend him
that diligently searcheth out every sin upon earth.

16:51 And therefore be ye not like thereunto, nor to the works thereof.

16:52 For yet a little, and iniquity shall be taken away out of the
earth, and righteousness shall reign among you.

16:53 Let not the sinner say that he hath not sinned: for God shall
burn coals of fire upon his head, which saith before the Lord God and
his glory, I have not sinned.

16:54 Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their
imaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts:

16:55 Which spake but the word, Let the earth be made; and it was made:
Let the heaven be made; and it was created.

16:56 In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of
them.

16:57 He searcheth the deep, and the treasures thereof; he hath
measured the sea, and what it containeth.

16:58 He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his
word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters.

16:59 He spreadeth out the heavens like a vault; upon the waters hath
he founded it.

16:60 In the desert hath he made springs of water, and pools upon the
tops of the mountains, that the floods might pour down from the high
rocks to water the earth.

16:61 He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave
him breath, life, and understanding.

16:62 Yea and the Spirit of Almighty God, which made all things, and
searcheth out all hidden things in the secrets of the earth,

16:63 Surely he knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in your
hearts, even them that sin, and would hide their sin.

16:64 Therefore hath the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and
he will put you all to shame.

16:65 And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before
men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day.

16:66 What will ye do? or how will ye hide your sins before God and his
angels?

16:67 Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your
sins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever:
so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.

16:68 For, behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled
over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed you, being
idle, with things offered unto idols.

16:69 And they that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in
reproach, and trodden under foot.

16:70 For there shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a
great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord.

16:71 They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and
destroying those that fear the Lord.

16:72 For they shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out
of their houses.

16:73 Then shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be
tried as the gold in the fire.

16:74 Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of
trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same.

16:75 Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,

16:76 And the guide of them who keep my commandments and precepts,
saith the Lord God: let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your
iniquities lift up themselves.

16:77 Woe be unto them that are bound with their sins, and covered with
their iniquities like as a field is covered over with bushes, and the
path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through!

16:78 It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed
therewith.




The Book of Tobit


1:1 The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel,
the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe
of Nephthali;

1:2 Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was led captive
out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city, which is called
properly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser.

1:3 I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth
and justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my brethren, and my nation,
who came with me to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians.

1:4 And when I was in mine own country, in the land of Israel being but
young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of
Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all
the tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation
of the most High was consecrated and built for all ages.

1:5 Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the house of my
father Nephthali, sacrificed unto the heifer Baal.

1:6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it was
ordained unto all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree, having
the firstfruits and tenths of increase, with that which was first
shorn; and them gave I at the altar to the priests the children of
Aaron.

1:7 The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron,
who ministered at Jerusalem: another tenth part I sold away, and went,
and spent it every year at Jerusalem:

1:8 And the third I gave unto them to whom it was meet, as Debora my
father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my
father.

1:9 Furthermore, when I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of
mine own kindred, and of her I begat Tobias.

1:10 And when we were carried away captives to Nineve, all my brethren
and those that were of my kindred did eat of the bread of the Gentiles.

1:11 But I kept myself from eating;

1:12 Because I remembered God with all my heart.

1:13 And the most High gave me grace and favour before Enemessar, so
that I was his purveyor.

1:14 And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael, the brother
of Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media ten talents of silver.

1:15 Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his
stead; whose estate was troubled, that I could not go into Media.

1:16 And in the time of Enemessar I gave many alms to my brethren, and
gave my bread to the hungry,

1:17 And my clothes to the naked: and if I saw any of my nation dead,
or cast about the walls of Nineve, I buried him.

1:18 And if the king Sennacherib had slain any, when he was come, and
fled from Judea, I buried them privily; for in his wrath he killed
many; but the bodies were not found, when they were sought for of the
king.

1:19 And when one of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the
king, that I buried them, and hid myself; understanding that I was
sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear.

1:20 Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there any
thing left me, beside my wife Anna and my son Tobias.

1:21 And there passed not five and fifty days, before two of his sons
killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararath; and
Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead; who appointed over his
father’s accounts, and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother
Anael’s son.

1:22 And Achiacharus intreating for me, I returned to Nineve. Now
Achiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and
overseer of the accounts: and Sarchedonus appointed him next unto him:
and he was my brother’s son.

2:1 Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto
me, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy
feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the
which I sat down to eat.

2:2 And when I saw abundance of meat, I said to my son, Go and bring
what poor man soever thou shalt find out of our brethren, who is
mindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry for thee.

2:3 But he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation is
strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.

2:4 Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up
into a room until the going down of the sun.

2:5 Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness,

2:6 Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be
turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.

2:7 Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the sun I went and
made a grave, and buried him.

2:8 But my neighbours mocked me, and said, This man is not yet afraid
to be put to death for this matter: who fled away; and yet, lo, he
burieth the dead again.

2:9 The same night also I returned from the burial, and slept by the
wall of my courtyard, being polluted and my face was uncovered:

2:10 And I knew not that there were sparrows in the wall, and mine eyes
being open, the sparrows muted warm dung into mine eyes, and a
whiteness came in mine eyes: and I went to the physicians, but they
helped me not: moreover Achiacharus did nourish me, until I went into
Elymais.

2:11 And my wife Anna did take women’s works to do.

2:12 And when she had sent them home to the owners, they paid her
wages, and gave her also besides a kid.

2:13 And when it was in my house, and began to cry, I said unto her,
From whence is this kid? is it not stolen? render it to the owners; for
it is not lawful to eat any thing that is stolen.

2:14 But she replied upon me, It was given for a gift more than the
wages. Howbeit I did not believe her, but bade her render it to the
owners: and I was abashed at her. But she replied upon me, Where are
thine alms and thy righteous deeds? behold, thou and all thy works are
known.

3:1 Then I being grieved did weep, and in my sorrow prayed, saying,

3:2 O Lord, thou art just, and all thy works and all thy ways are mercy
and truth, and thou judgest truly and justly for ever.

3:3 Remember me, and look on me, punish me not for my sins and
ignorances, and the sins of my fathers, who have sinned before thee:

3:4 For they obeyed not thy commandments: wherefore thou hast delivered
us for a spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb
of reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.

3:5 And now thy judgments are many and true: deal with me according to
my sins and my fathers’: because we have not kept thy commandments,
neither have walked in truth before thee.

3:6 Now therefore deal with me as seemeth best unto thee, and command
my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be dissolved, and become
earth: for it is profitable for me to die rather than to live, because
I have heard false reproaches, and have much sorrow: command therefore
that I may now be delivered out of this distress, and go into the
everlasting place: turn not thy face away from me.

3:7 It came to pass the same day, that in Ecbatane a city of Media Sara
the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her father’s maids;

3:8 Because that she had been married to seven husbands, whom Asmodeus
the evil spirit had killed, before they had lain with her. Dost thou
not know, said they, that thou hast strangled thine husbands? thou hast
had already seven husbands, neither wast thou named after any of them.

3:9 Wherefore dost thou beat us for them? if they be dead, go thy ways
after them, let us never see of thee either son or daughter.

3:10 Whe she heard these things, she was very sorrowful, so that she
thought to have strangled herself; and she said, I am the only daughter
of my father, and if I do this, it shall be a reproach unto him, and I
shall bring his old age with sorrow unto the grave.

3:11 Then she prayed toward the window, and said, Blessed art thou, O
Lord my God, and thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honourable
for ever: let all thy works praise thee for ever.

3:12 And now, O Lord, I set I mine eyes and my face toward thee,

3:13 And say, Take me out of the earth, that I may hear no more the
reproach.

3:14 Thou knowest, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man,

3:15 And that I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in
the land of my captivity: I am the only daughter of my father, neither
hath he any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son
of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife: my seven husbands
are already dead; and why should I live? but if it please not thee that
I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of
me, that I hear no more reproach.

3:16 So the prayers of them both were heard before the majesty of the
great God.

3:17 And Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the
whiteness of Tobit’s eyes, and to give Sara the daughter of Raguel for
a wife to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodeus the evil
spirit; because she belonged to Tobias by right of inheritance. The
selfsame time came Tobit home, and entered into his house, and Sara the
daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.

4:1 In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to
Gabael in Rages of Media,

4:2 And said with himself, I have wished for death; wherefore do I not
call for my son Tobias that I may signify to him of the money before I
die?

4:3 And when he had called him, he said, My son, when I am dead, bury
me; and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy
life, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not.

4:4 Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for thee, when thou
wast in her womb: and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave.

4:5 My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all thy days, and let not
thy will be set to sin, or to transgress his commandments: do uprightly
all thy life long, and follow not the ways of unrighteousness.

4:6 For if thou deal truly, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to
thee, and to all them that live justly.

4:7 Give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest alms, let not
thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face
of God shall not be turned away from thee.

4:8 If thou hast abundance give alms accordingly: if thou have but a
little, be not afraid to give according to that little:

4:9 For thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of
necessity.

4:10 Because that alms do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come
into darkness.

4:11 For alms is a good gift unto all that give it in the sight of the
most High.

4:12 Beware of all whoredom, my son, and chiefly take a wife of the
seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange woman to wife, which is not
of thy father’s tribe: for we are the children of the prophets, Noe,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: remember, my son, that our fathers from the
beginning, even that they all married wives of their own kindred, and
were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land.

4:13 Now therefore, my son, love thy brethren, and despise not in thy
heart thy brethren, the sons and daughters of thy people, in not taking
a wife of them: for in pride is destruction and much trouble, and in
lewdness is decay and great want: for lewdness is the mother of famine.

4:14 Let not the wages of any man, which hath wrought for thee, tarry
with thee, but give him it out of hand: for if thou serve God, he will
also repay thee: be circumspect my son, in all things thou doest, and
be wise in all thy conversation.

4:15 Do that to no man which thou hatest: drink not wine to make thee
drunken: neither let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey.

4:16 Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that
are naked; and according to thine abundance give alms: and let not
thine eye be envious, when thou givest alms.

4:17 Pour out thy bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to
the wicked.

4:18 Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not any counsel that
is profitable.

4:19 Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him that thy ways may
be directed, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every
nation hath not counsel; but the Lord himself giveth all good things,
and he humbleth whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son,
remember my commandments, neither let them be put out of thy mind.

4:20 And now I signify this to they that I committed ten talents to
Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.

4:21 And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for thou hast much
wealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is
pleasing in his sight.

5:1 Tobias then answered and said, Father, I will do all things which
thou hast commanded me:

5:2 But how can I receive the money, seeing I know him not?

5:3 Then he gave him the handwriting, and said unto him, Seek thee a
man which may go with thee, whiles I yet live, and I will give him
wages: and go and receive the money.

5:4 Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an
angel.

5:5 But he knew not; and he said unto him, Canst thou go with me to
Rages? and knowest thou those places well?

5:6 To whom the angel said, I will go with thee, and I know the way
well: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael.

5:7 Then Tobias said unto him, Tarry for me, till I tell my father.

5:8 Then he said unto him, Go and tarry not. So he went in and said to
his father, Behold, I have found one which will go with me. Then he
said, Call him unto me, that I may know of what tribe he is, and
whether he be a trusty man to go with thee.

5:9 So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another.

5:10 Then Tobit said unto him, Brother, shew me of what tribe and
family thou art.

5:11 To whom he said, Dost thou seek for a tribe or family, or an hired
man to go with thy son? Then Tobit said unto him, I would know,
brother, thy kindred and name.

5:12 Then he said, I am Azarias, the son of Ananias the great, and of
thy brethren.

5:13 Then Tobit said, Thou art welcome, brother; be not now angry with
me, because I have enquired to know thy tribe and thy family; for thou
art my brother, of an honest and good stock: for I know Ananias and
Jonathas, sons of that great Samaias, as we went together to Jerusalem
to worship, and offered the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits;
and they were not seduced with the error of our brethren: my brother,
thou art of a good stock.

5:14 But tell me, what wages shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachm a
day, and things necessary, as to mine own son?

5:15 Yea, moreover, if ye return safe, I will add something to thy
wages.

5:16 So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias, Prepare thyself
for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had
prepared all things far the journey, his father said, Go thou with this
man, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the
angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young
man’s dog with them.

5:17 But Anna his mother wept, and said to Tobit, Why hast thou sent
away our son? is he not the staff of our hand, in going in and out
before us?

5:18 Be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in
respect of our child.

5:19 For that which the Lord hath given us to live with doth suffice
us.

5:20 Then said Tobit to her, Take no care, my sister; he shall return
in safety, and thine eyes shall see him.

5:21 For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be
prosperous, and he shall return safe.

5:22 Then she made an end of weeping.

6:1 And as they went on their journey, they came in the evening to the
river Tigris, and they lodged there.

6:2 And when the young man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out
of the river, and would have devoured him.

6:3 Then the angel said unto him, Take the fish. And the young man laid
hold of the fish, and drew it to land.

6:4 To whom the angel said, Open the fish, and take the heart and the
liver and the gall, and put them up safely.

6:5 So the young man did as the angel commanded him; and when they had
roasted the fish, they did eat it: then they both went on their way,
till they drew near to Ecbatane.

6:6 Then the young man said to the angel, Brother Azarias, to what use
is the heart and the liver and the gal of the fish?

6:7 And he said unto him, Touching the heart and the liver, if a devil
or an evil spirit trouble any, we must make a smoke thereof before the
man or the woman, and the party shall be no more vexed.

6:8 As for the gall, it is good to anoint a man that hath whiteness in
his eyes, and he shall be healed.

6:9 And when they were come near to Rages,

6:10 The angel said to the young man, Brother, to day we shall lodge
with Raguel, who is thy cousin; he also hath one only daughter, named
Sara; I will speak for her, that she may be given thee for a wife.

6:11 For to thee doth the right of her appertain, seeing thou only art
of her kindred.

6:12 And the maid is fair and wise: now therefore hear me, and I will
speak to her father; and when we return from Rages we will celebrate
the marriage: for I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another
according to the law of Moses, but he shall be guilty of death, because
the right of inheritance doth rather appertain to thee than to any
other.

6:13 Then the young man answered the angel, I have heard, brother
Azarias that this maid hath been given to seven men, who all died in
the marriage chamber.

6:14 And now I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, lest if I
go in unto her, I die, as the other before: for a wicked spirit loveth
her, which hurteth no body, but those which come unto her; wherefore I
also fear lest I die, and bring my father’s and my mother’s life
because of me to the grave with sorrow: for they have no other son to
bury them.

6:15 Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not remember the precepts
which thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine
own kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given
thee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this
same night shall she be given thee in marriage.

6:16 And when thou shalt come into the marriage chamber, thou shalt
take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay upon them some of the heart
and liver of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it:

6:17 And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and never come again
any more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise up both of you, and
pray to God which is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you:
fear not, for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou
shalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I suppose that
she shall bear thee children. Now when Tobias had heard these things,
he loved her, and his heart was effectually joined to her.

7:1 And when they were come to Ecbatane, they came to the house of
Raguel, and Sara met them: and after they had saluted one another, she
brought them into the house.

7:2 Then said Raguel to Edna his wife, How like is this young man to
Tobit my cousin!

7:3 And Raguel asked them, From whence are ye, brethren? To whom they
said, We are of the sons of Nephthalim, which are captives in Ni

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