1 Esdras, in The Douay Old Testament (1609–1610)

The book that the Vulgate calls 3 Esdras and English Protestant Bibles call 1 Esdras, printed by the edition after the canonical books, with chapter summaries but, as it says, no annotations. This is 1 Esdras as it stands in the second tome of the Douay Old Testament (Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610), the English College of Douai’s Catholic translation from the Latin Vulgate, in its original spelling. The page gives every chapter with its printed summary, the verse text and the marginal notes.

THE THIRD BOOKE OF ESDRAS.

For helpe of the readers, eſpecially ſuch as haue not leyſure to read al, vve haue gathered the contentes of the chapters; but made no Annotations: becauſe the text it ſelf is but as a Commentarie to the Canonical bookes; and therfore we haue only added the concordance of other Scriptures in the margin.

Chapter 1

CHAP. I. Ioſias king of Iuda maketh a great Paſch, 7. geuing manie hoſtes to ſuch as wanted for ſacrifice: 14. the Prieſtes and Leuites performing their functions therin: 22. in the eightenth yeare of his reigne. 25. He is ſlayne in battel by the king of Aegypt, 32. and much lamented by the Iewes. 34. His ſonne Ieconias ſuccedeth. 37. After him Ioacim, 40. who is depoſed by the king of Babylon. 43. Ioachin reigneth three monethes, and is caried into Babylon. 46. Sedecias reigneth eleuen yeares wickedly. 52. and he with his people is caried captiue into Babylon, the citie and temple are deſtroyed. 57. ſo remayned til the Monarchie of the Perſians.

1 AND Ioſias made a Paſch in Ieruſalem to our Lord & immolated the Phaſe the fourtenth moone of the moneth:

2 appointing the Prieſtes by courſes of dayes clothed with ſtoles in the temple of our Lord.

3 And he ſpake to the Leuites the ſacred ſeruantes of Iſrael, that they should ſanctifie them ſelues to our Lord in the placing of the holie arke of our Lord in the houſe, which king Salomon ſonne of Dauid built.

4 It shal not be for you to take it vpon your shoulders. And now ſerue your Lord, and take the care of that nation Iſrael, in part according to your villages and tribes,

5 according to the writing of Dauid king of Iſrael, and according to the magnificence of Salomon his ſonne, al in the temple, and according to your fathers portion of principalitie, among them that ſtand in the ſight of your brethren the children of Iſrael.

6 Immolate the Paſch, and prepare the ſacrifices for your bretheren, and doe according to the precept of our Lord which was geuen to Moyſes.

7 And Ioſias gaue vnto the people that was found of sheepe, lambes, and kiddes, and goates thirtie thouſand, calues three thouſand.

8 Theſe thinges were geuen to the people of the kinges goodes according to promiſſe: and to the prieſtes for the Phaſe, sheepe in number two thouſand, and calues an hundred.

9 And Iechonias, and Semeias, and Nathanael bretheren, and Haſabias, and Oziel, and Coraba for the Phaſe sheepe fiue thouſand, calues fiue hundred.

10 And when theſe thinges were done in good order, the Prieſtes and the Leuites ſtood hauing azymes by tribes.

11 And according to the portions of their fathers principalitie, in the ſight of the people they did offer, to our Lord according to thoſe thinges, which were written in the booke of Moyſes:

12 and roſted the Phaſe with fire as it ought: and the hoſtes they boyled in cauldrons, and in pottes with beneuolence:

13 and they brought to al that were of the people: and afterward they prepared for them ſelues and the prieſtes.

14 For the Prieſtes offered the fatte, vntil the houre was ended: and the Leuites prepared for them ſelues, and their brethren, the children of Aaron.

15 And the ſacred ſinging men, the children of Aſaph were by order according to the precept of Dauid and Aſaph, and Zacharias, and Ieddimus, which was from the king.

16 And the porters at euerie gate, ſo that none tranſgreſſed his owne: for their brethren prepared for them.

17 And the thinges were conſummate that perteyned to the ſacrifice of our Lord.

18 In that day they celebrated the Phaſe, and offered hoſtes vpon the ſacrifice of our Lord, according to the precept of king Ioſias.

19 And the children of Iſrael, that were found at that time, celebrated the Phaſe: and the feſtiual day of Azymes for ſeuen dayes:

20 and there was not celebrated ſuch a Phaſe in Iſrael, from the times of Samuel the prophet:

21 and al the kinges of Iſrael did not celebrate ſuch a Phaſe as Ioſias did, and the Prieſtes, and the Leuites, and the Iewes, and al Iſrael, that were found in their abode at Ieruſalem.

22 In the eightenth yeare, Ioſias reigning was the Phaſe celebrated.

23 And the workes of Ioſias were directed in the ſight of his Lord in a hart ful of feare:

24 and the thinges concerning him are writen in the ancient times, touching them that ſinned, and were irreligious againſt our Lord aboue al nations, and that ſought not the wordes of our Lord vpon Iſrael.

25 And after al this fact of Ioſias, came vp Pharao the king of Aegypt comming in Charcamis from the way vpon Euphrates, and Ioſias went forth to meete him

26 And the king of Aegypt ſent to Ioſias ſaying: What is there betwen me & thee king of Iuda?

27 I was not ſent of the Lord to fight againſt thee: for my battel is vpon Euphrates, goe downe in haſt.

28 And Ioſias did not returne vpon his chariote: but endeuoured to ouerthrow him, not attending the word of the prophet from the mouth of our Lord:

29 but he made battel againſt him in the field of Mageddo. And princes went downe to king Ioſias.

30 And the king ſaid to his ſeruantes: Remoue me from the battel, for I am weakned excedingly. And forth with his ſeruantes remoued him out of the battel.

31 And he went vp into his ſecond chariote: & comming to Ieruſalem, dyed, and was buried in his fathers ſe pulchre.

32 And in al Iurie they mourned for Ioſias, & the rulers with their wiues lamented him vntil this day. And this was geuen out to be done alwayes vnto al the ſtocke of Iſrael.

33 But theſe thinges were writen before in the booke of the hiſtories of the kinges of Iuda: and al the actes of the doing of Ioſias, and his glorie and his vnderſtanding in the law of our Lord: and the thinges that were done by him, and that are not writen in the booke of the kinges of Iſrael and Iuda.

34 And they that were of the nation, taking Iechonias the ſonne of Ioſias, made him king for Ioſias his father, when he was three and twentie yeares old.

35 And he reigned ouer Iſrael three monethes. And the king of Aegypt remoued him, that he should not reigne in Ieruſalem:

36 and he put a taxe vpon the nation of ſiluer an hundred talentes, and of gold one talent.

37 And the king of Aegypt made Ioacim his brother king of Iuda and Ieruſalem:

38 and he bound the magiſtrates of Ioacim, and Zaracel his brother, and taking them brought them backe into Aegypt.

39 Ioacim was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne in the land of Iuda and Ieruſalem: and he did euil in the ſight of our Lord.

40 And after this man came vp Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon, and binding him with a bande of braſſe, brought him into Babylon.

41 And Nabuchodonoſor tooke the ſacred veſſels of our Lord, and carried away, and conſecrated them in his temple in Babylon.

42 For his vncleanes, and lacke of religion is written in the booke of the times of the kinges.

43 And Ioachin his ſonne reigned for him. And when he was made king, he was eightene yeares old.

44 And reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ieruſalem, and did euil in the ſight of our Lord:

45 and after a yeare Nabuchodonoſor ſending, tranſported him into Babylon together with the ſacred veſſels of our Lord.

46 And he made Sedecias king of Iuda and Ieruſalem, when he was one and twentie yeares old: and he reigned eleuen yeares.

47 And he did euil in the ſight of our Lord, and was not afraid of the wordes which were ſpoken by Ieremie the prophet from the mouth of our Lord:

48 and being ſworne of king Nabuchodonoſor, forſworne he did reuolt: and his necke being hardened, & his hart, he tranſgreſſed the ordinances of our Lord the God of Iſrael.

49 And the princes of the people of our Lord did manie thinges wickedly, and they did impiouſly aboue al the vncleannes of the nations: and they polluted the temple of our Lord that was holie in Ieruſalem.

50 And the God of their fathers ſent by his meſſenger to reclame them, for that he would ſpare them, and his tabernacle.

51 But they ſcorned at his meſſengers: and in the day that our Lord ſpake to them, they were mocking his prophetes.

52 Who was moued euen vnto wrath vpon his nation for their impietie, and commanded the kinges of the Chaldees to come vp.

53 Theſe ſlewe their yong men with the ſword, round about their holie temple, and ſpared not yong man, and old man, and virgin, and youth:

54 but al were deliuered into their handes: & taking al the ſacred veſſels of our Lord, and the kinges treaſures, they caried them into Babylon,

55 and burnt the houſe of our Lord, and threwe downe the walles of Ieruſalem: and the towres therof they burnt with fire,

56 and conſumed al their honorable thinges, and brought them to naught, and thoſe that were left of the ſword, they led into Babylon.

57 And they were his ſeruants vntil the Perſians reigned in the fulfilling of the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie:

58 as long as the land quietly kept her ſabbathes, al the time of her deſolation she ſabbathized in the application of ſeuentie yeares.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

• 1 4. Reg. 23. v. 21. 2. Paral. 35. v. 1.
• 6 Exo. 12. Leuit. 23. Num. 28.
• 24 4. Reg. 23. v. 29. 2. Paral. 35. v. 20.
• 34 4. Reg. 23. v. 30. 2. Par. 36. v. 1.
• 45 4. Reg. 24. v. 1. v. 17.
• 47 Iere. 37. v. 2.
• 56 Iere. 25. v. 12. & 29. v. 10. Dan. 9. v. 2.

Chapter 2

CHAP. II. Cyrus king of Perſia permitteth the Iewes to returne into their countrie: 10. and deliuereth to them the holie veſſels, which Nabuchodonoſor had taken from the temple. 16. Certaine aduerſaries writing to king Artaxerxes, hinder thoſe that would repayre the ruines of Ieruſalem.

1 CYRVS king of the Perſians reigning for the accomplishment of the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie,

2 our Lord rayſed vp the ſpirit of Cyrus king of the Perſians, and he proclaymed in al his kingdomes, and that by writing,

3 ſaying: Thus ſayth Cyrus king of the Perſians: The Lord of Iſrael, the high Lord, hath made me king ouer the whole earth.

4 and hath ſignified to me to build him a houſe in Ieruſalem, which is in Iurie.

5 If there be any of your kinred, his Lord goe vp with him into Ieruſalem.

6 Whoſoeuer therefore dwel about the places, let them helpe them that are in the ſame place, in gold and ſiluer,

7 in giftes, with horſes, and beaſtes, and with other thinges which by vowes are added into the temple of our Lord, which is in Ieruſalem.

8 And the princes of the tribes, of the villages and of Iurie, of the tribe of Beniamin, & the Prieſtes, and the Leuites ſtanding vp, whom our Lord moued to goe vp, and to build the houſe of our Lord which is in Ieruſalem, and they that were round about them,

9 did helpe them with al their gold and ſiluer, and beaſtes, and manie whoſe minde was ſtirred vp, with many vowes.

10 And Cyrus the king brought forth the ſacred veſſels of our Lord, which Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon tranſported out of Ieruſalem, and conſecrated them to his Idol.

11 And Cyrus the king of Perſians bringing them forth, deliuered them to Mithridatus, who was ouer his treaſures.

12 And by him they were deliuered to Salmanaſar preſident of Iurie.

13 And of theſe this was the number: Cuppes for libamentes of ſiluer two thouſand foure hundred, baſens of ſiluer thirtie: phials of gold thirtie, alſo of ſiluer two thouſand foure hundred: and other veſsels a thouſand.

14 and al the veſſels of gold and ſiluer, were fiue thouſand eight hundred ſixtie.

15 And they were numbered to Salmanaſar together with them, that came out of the captiuite of Babylon into Ieruſalem.

16 But in the times of Artaxerxes king of the Perſians, there wrote to him of them that dwelt in Iurie and Ieruſalem, Balſamus, and Mithridatus, and Sabellius, and Rathimus, Balthemus, Sabellius ſcribe, and the reſt dweling in Samaria, and other places the epiſtle folowing to king Artaxerxes.

17 SIR, thy ſeruantes Rathimus ouer occurrentes, and Sabellius the ſcribe, and the other iudges of thy court in Caeleſyria, and Phenice.

18 And now be it knowen to our Lord the king, that Iewes came vp from you to vs, coming into Ieruſalem a rebellious, & very naughty citie, do build the fornaces thereof, and ſet vp the walles, and rayſe the temple.

19 And if this citie, and the walles shal be finished, they wil not onlie not abyde to pay tributes, but alſo wil reſiſt the kinges.

20 And becauſe that is in doing about the temple, we thought it should doe wel not to neglect this ſame thing:

21 but to make it knowen to our Lord the king, that if it shal ſeme good, ô king, it may be ſought in the bookes of thy fathers,

22 and thou shalt find in the recordes, thinges writen of theſe, and thou shalt know that this citie hath bene rebellious, and trubling kinges, and cities,

23 and the Iewes rebelles, & making battels in it from time out of mind, for the which cauſe this citie was made deſolate.

24 Now therfore we doe thee to vnderſtand, Lord king, that if this citie shal be built, and the walles therof shal be erected, there wil be no comming downe for thee into Caeleſyria, & Phenice.

25 Then wrote the king to Rathimus, the writer of the occurrentes, and to Balthemus, and to Sabellius the ſcribe, and to the reſt ioyned with them, and to the dwellers in Syria, and Phenice, as foloweth:

26 I haue read the epiſtle that you ſent me. I commanded therfore ſearch to be made, & it was found that the ſame citie is from the beginning rebellious to kinges,

27 and the men rebelles, and making battels in it, & there were moſt valient kinges ruling in Ieruſalem, and exacting tributes in Caeleſyria, & Phenice.

28 Now therfore I haue geuen commandment to forbid thoſe men to build the citie, and to ſtay them that nothing be done more then is:

29 and that they proceede not farder, wherof are euils, ſo that there may be truble brought vpon the kinges.

30 Then theſe things being read which were writen of king Artaxerxes, Rathimus, and Sabellius the ſcribe, and they that were apointed with them ioyning together in haſt came to Ieruſalem with a troupe of horſemen, and multitude, & companie:

31 and they begane to forbid the builders, and they ceaſed from building of the temple in Ieruſalem, til in the ſecond yeare of the reigne of Darius king of the Perſians.

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

• 1 2. Paral. 36. v. 22. 2. Eſd. 1. v. 1. & 6. v. 3. Iere. 26. v. 12. & 29. v. 10. Dan. 9. v. 2.
• 16 1. Eſd. 4. v. 7.

Chapter 3

CHAP. III. After a ſolemne ſupper made to al the court, and chief princes, king Darius ſleeping: 4. three eſquires of the bodie keeping watch, propoſed the queſtion: 10. Whether wine, or a King, or wemen, or the truth doth excel? 17. The firſt prayſeth wine.

1 KING Darius made a great ſupper to al his domeſtical ſeruantes, and to al the magiſtrates of Media and Perſia,

2 and to al that were purple, and to the praetors, and conſuls, and liuetenantes vnder him from India vnto Aethiopia, an hundred twentie ſeuen prouinces.

3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and returned ful, then Darius went vp into his chamber, and ſlept, and awaked.

4 Then thoſe three youngmen kepers of his bodie, which garded the kings bodie, ſayd one to an other;

5 Let euerie one of vs ſay a word that may excel: & whoſe word ſoeuer shal appeare wiſer then the others, to him wil king Darius geue great giftes,

6 to be couered with purple, & to drinke in gold, and to ſleepe vpon gold, & a chariote with a bridle of gold, & a bonet of ſilke, and a cheyne about his necke:

7 and he shal ſit in the ſecond place next Darius for his wiſdome. And he shal be called the coſin of Darius.

8 Then euerie one writing his word ſigned it, and they put it vnder the pillow of Darius the king,

9 and they ſayd: When the king shal riſe, we wil geue him our writinges: and which ſoeuer of the three the king shal iudge, and the magiſtrates of Perſia, that his word is the wiſer, to him shal the victorie be geuen as is writen.

10 One wrote: Wine is ſtrong.

11 An other wrote, a King is ſtronger.

12 The third wrote, Wemen are more ſtrong: but aboue al thinges truth ouercometh.

13 And when the king was riſen, they tooke their writinges, and gaue him, and he read.

14 And ſending he called al the Magiſtrates of the Perſians, and the Medes, and them that weare purple, and the pretors, and the ouerſeers;

15 and they ſate in the councel: and the writinges were read before them.

16 And he ſayd: Cal the youngmen, and they shal declare their owne wordes. And they were called, and went in.

17 And he ſayd to them: Declare vnto vs concerning theſe thinges which are writen. And the firſt began, he that had ſpoken of the ſtrength of wine,

18 and ſayd: O ye men, how doth wine preuaile ouer al men that drinke! it ſeduceth the minde.

19 And alſo the mind of king and orphane it maketh vaine. Alſo of the bondman and the free, of the rich man and the poore,

20 and euerie mind it turneth into ſecuritie and pleaſantnes, and it remembreth not any ſorow and dewtie,

21 and al hartes it maketh honeſt, and it remembreth not king, nor magiſtrate, and it maketh a man ſpeake al thinges by talentes.

22 And when they haue drunke, they remember not frendship, nor brotherhood: yea and not long after they take ſwordes.

23 And when they are recouered and riſen from the wine, they remember not what they haue done.

24 O ye men, doth not wine excel? who thinketh to doe ſo? And hauing ſayd this, he held his peace.

Chapter 4

CHAP. IIII. The ſecond prayſeth the excellencie of a king: 13. The third (which is Zorobabel) commendeth wemen: 33. but preferreth truth aboue al 41. which is ſo approued, and he is rewarded. 42. The king moreouer at his requeſt reſtoreth the holie veſſels of the temple, and granteth meanes to build the citie of Ieruſalem, and the temple.

1 AND the next began to ſpeake, he that ſpake of the ſtrength of a king.

2 O ye men doe not the men excel, which obteyne land and ſea, and al thinges that are in them?

3 But a king excelleth aboue al thinges, and hath dominion ouer them: and euerie thing whatſoeuer he shal ſay to them, they doe.

4 And if he ſend them to warryers, they goe, and throw downe mountaines, and the walles, and towers.

5 They kil, and are killed: and the kinges word they tranſgreſſe not. For if they shal ouercome, they bring to the king al thinges whatſoeuer they haue taken for a praye.

6 In like maner alſo al others, for ſo many as are not ſouldiars, nor fight, but til the ground: when they shal reape, againe they bring tributes to the king.

7 And he being one onlie if he ſay: Kil ye, they kil: ſay he: forgeue, they forgeue. † ſay he: ſtrike: they ſtrike: ſay he, deſtroy, they deſtroy:

8 ſay he build, they build.

9 ſay he, cut downe, they cut downe, ſay he plant, they plant:

10 and al the people, & poteſtates here him, and beſide this he ſitteth downe, and drinketh, and ſleepeth.

11 And others gard him round about, and can not goe euerie one, and doe their owne workes, but at a word are obedient to him.

12 O ye men, how doth not a king excel that is ſo renowmed? And he held his peace.

13 The third that ſpake of wemen and truth, this is Zorobabel, began to ſpeake.

14 O ye men, not the great king, & many men, neither is it wine that doth excel. Who is it then that hath the dominion of them?

15 Haue not wemen brought forth the king, and al the people, that ruleth ouer land & ſea:

16 and were they not borne of them, and did not they bring vp them which planted the vineyardes, whereof wine is made?

17 And they make the garmentes of al men, & they doe honor to al men, and men can not be ſepared from wemen.

18 If they haue gathered gold and ſiluer, and euerie beutiful thing, & ſee a woman comlie and fayre,

19 leauing al theſe thinges they fixe their looke vpon her, & with open mouth beholde her, and allure her more then gold and ſiluer, and euerie precious thing.

20 Man forſaketh his father that brought him vp, and his countrie, and ioyneth himſelf to a woman.

21 And with a woman he refresheth his ſoul: and neither doth he remember father, nor mother, nor countrie.

22 And hereby you muſt know that wemen rule ouer you. Are you not ſorie?

23 And a man taketh his ſword, & goeth into the way to commit theftes and murders, & to ſayle ſeas & riuers,

24 and ſeeth a lyon, and goeth in darkenes: and when he hath committed theft, and fraude, and ſpoyles, he bringeth it to his beloued.

25 And againe, man loueth his wife more then father or mother.

26 And many haue become madde for their wiues: and haue bene made bondmen for them:

27 and many haue perished and bene ſlayne, and haue ſinned for wemen.

28 And now beleue me, that the king is great in his powre: becauſe al countries are afrayd to touch him.

29 Neuertheles I ſaw Apemes the daughter of Bezaces the concubine of a meruelous king, ſitting by the king at his right hand,

30 and taking of the crowne from his head, and putting it vpon herſelf, and with the palme of her lefthand she ſtroke the king.

31 And beſide theſe thinges he with open mouth beheld her: and if she ſmile he laugheth, and if she be angrie with him, he flattereth, til he be reconciled to her fauour.

32 O ye men, why are not wemen ſtronger? Great is the earth, and high is the heauen: who doeth theſe thinges?

33 And then the king and they that weare purple looked one vpon an other. And he began to ſpeake of truth.

34 O ye men, are not wemen ſtrong? The earth is great and heauen is high: & the ſwift courſe of the ſunne turneth the heauen round into his place in one day.

35 Is not he magnifical that doth theſe thinges, and the truth great, and ſtronger aboue al thinges?

36 Al the earth calleth vpon the truth, heauen alſo bleſſeth it, and al workes are moued, and tremble at it, and there is not any thing with it vniuſt.

37 Wine is vniuſt, the king is vniuſt, wemen are vniuſt, al the ſonnes of men are vniuſt, and al their workes are vniuſt, and in them is not truth, and they shal perish in their iniquitie:

38 and truth abydeth, and groweth ſtrong for euer, and liueth, and preuayleth for euer and euer.

39 Neither is there with it acception of perſons, nor differences: but the thinges that are iuſt it doth to al men, to the vniuſt and malignant, and al men are wel pleaſed in the workes thereof.

40 And there is no vniuſt thing in the iudgement therof, but ſtrength, and reigne, and power, and maieſtie of worldes. Bleſſed be the God of truth.

41 And he left ſpeaking. And al the people cryed, and ſayd: Great is truth and it preuaileth.

42 Then the king ſayd to him: Aske, if thou wilt any more, then the thinges that are writen, and I wil geue it thee, according as thou art found wiſer then thy neighbours, & thou shalt ſitte next to me, and shalt be called my coſin.

43 Then ſayd he to the king: Be mindful of thy vow, which thou haſt vowed, to build Ieruſalem in the day that thou didſt receiue the kindom:

44 and to ſend backe al the veſſels that were taken out of Ieruſalem, which Cyrus ſeparated, when he ſacked Babylon, and would haue ſent them backe thither.

45 And thou haſt vowed to build the temple, which the Idumeians burnt, when Iurie was deſtroyed of the Chaldees.

46 And now this is that which I aſke Lord, & which I deſire, this is the maieſtie which I deſire of thee, that thou performe the vowe which thou haſt vowed to the king of heauen by thy mouth.

47 Then Darius the king riſing vp, kiſſed him: and wrote letters to al the officers, and ouerſeers, and them that weare purple, that they should conduct him, and them that were with him, al going vp to build Ieruſalem.

48 And to al the ouerſeers that were in Syria, and Phoenice, and Libanus he wrote letters, that they should draw Ceder trees from Libanus into Ieruſalem, to build the citie with them.

49 And he wrote to al the Iewes which went vp from the kindome into Iurie for libertie, euerie mightie man, & magiſtrate, & ouerſeer not to come vpon them to their gates,

50 and al the countrie which they had obtayned to be free vnto them, & that the Idumeians leaue the caſtels which they poſſeſſe of the Iewes,

51 and to the building of the temple to geue euerie yeare twentie talentes vntil it were throughly built:

52 & vpon the altars to burne holocauſts dayly, as they haue commandment: to offer other ten talentes euery yeare,

53 & to al that go forth from Babylon to build the citie, that there should be libertie aſwel to them as to their children, and to al the prieſtes that goe before.

54 And he wrote a quantitie alſo, and commanded the ſacred ſtole to be geuen, wherein they should ſerue;

55 and to the Leuites he wrote to geue preceptes, vntil the day wherein the houſe shalbe finished, and Ieruſalem builded. And to al that kepe the citie, he wrote portions and wages to be geuen to them.

56–57 And he ſent away al the veſſels whatſoeuer Cyrus had ſeparated from Babylon, and al thinges whatſoeuer Cyrus ſayd, he alſo commanded to be donne, and to be ſent to Ieruſalem.

58 And when that yong man was gone forth, lyfting vp his face toward Ieruſalem, he bleſſed the king of heauen,

59 and ſayd: Of thee is victorie, and of thee is wiſdome, and glorie. And I am thy ſeruant.

60 Bleſſed art thou which haſt geuen me wiſedom, and I wil confeſſe to thee Lord God of our fathers.

61 And he toke the letters, and went into Babylon. And he came, and told al his brethren that were in Babylon:

62 and they bleſſed the God of their fathers, becauſe he gaue them remiſſion and refreshing,

63 that they should goe vp and build Ieruſalem, and the temple wherein his name was renowmed, and they reioyced with muſike and ioy ſeuen dayes.

Chapter 5

CHAP. V. Thoſe that returned from captiuitie of Babylon into Ieruſalem, and Iurie, are recited. 47. They reſtore Gods ſeruice: 66. but are hindered from building.

1 AFTER theſe thinges there were choſen, to goe vp the princes of townes by their houſes, and tribes, and their wiues, and their ſonnes and daughters, and their men ſeruantes and wemen ſeruantes, and their cattel.

2 And Darius the king ſent together with them a thouſand horſmen, til they conducted them to Ieruſalem with peace, & with muſicke & with tymbrels, and shaulmes:

3 and al the brethren were playing, and he made them goe vp together with them.

4 And theſe are the names of the men that went vp by their townes according to tribes, and according to the portion of their principalitie.

5 Prieſtes: The children of Phinees, the ſonne of Aaron, Ieſus the ſonne of Ioſedec, Ioacim the ſonne of Zorobabel, the ſonne of Salathiel of the houſe of Dauid, of the progenie of Phares, of the tribe of Iuda.

6 Who ſpake vnder Darius king of the Perſians the meruelous wordes in the ſecond yeare of his reigne the firſt moneth Niſan.

7 And they are theſe, that of Iurie came vp from the captiuitie of the tranſmigration, whom Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon tranſported into Babylon, and returned into Ieruſalem.

8 And euerie one ſought a part of Iurie according to his owne citie, they that came with Zorobabel, and Ieſus, Nehemias, Areores, Elimeo, Emmanio, Mardocheo, Beelſuro, Mechpſatochor, Olioro, Emonia one of their princes.

9 And the number of them of the ſame nation, of their rulers the children of Phares, two thouſand an hundred ſeuentie two:

10 The children of Ares, three thouſand an hundred fiftie ſeuen:

11 The children of Phoemo, an hundred fourtie two: in the children of Ieſus and Ioabes, a thouſand three hundred two:

12 the children of Demu, two thouſand foure hundred ſeuentie: the children of Choraba, two hundred fiue: the children of Banica, an hundred ſixtie eight,

13 the children of Bebech, foure hundred three: the children of Archad, foure hundred twentie ſeuen:

14 the children of Cham, thirtie ſeuen: the children of Zoroar, two thouſand ſixtie ſeuen: the children of Adin, foure hundred ſixtie one:

15 the children of Aderectes, an hundred eight: the children of Ciaſo and Zelas an hundred ſeuen: the children of Azoroc, foure hundred thirtie nine:

16 the children of Iedarbone, an hundred thirtie two: the children of Ananias, an hundred thirtie: the children of Aſoni, ninetie:

17 the children of Marſar, foure hundred twentie two: the children of Zabarus, nintie fiue: the children of Sepolemon, an hundred twentie three:

18 the children of Nepopas, fiftie fiue: the children of Hechanatus, an hundred fiftie eight: the children of Cebethamus, an hundred thirtie two:

19 the children of Crearpatros, which are of Enocadie and Modia, foure hundred twentie three: they of Gramas and Gabea, an hundred twentie one.

20 They of Beſſelon, and Ceagge, ſixtie fiue: they of Baſtaro, an hundred twentie two:

21 they of Bechenobes, fiftie fiue: the children of Liptis, an hundred fiftie fiue: the children of Labonni, three hundred fiftie ſeuen:

22 the children of Sichem, three hundred ſeuentie: the children of Suadon, & Cliomus, three hundred ſeuentie eight:

23 the children of Ericus, two thouſand an hundred fourtie fiue: the children of Anaas, three hundred ſeuentie. The prieſtes:

24 the children of Ieddus, the ſonne of Euther, the ſonne of Eliaſib, three hundred ſeuentie two: the children of Emerus, two hundred fiftie two:

25 the children of Phaſurius, three hundred fiftie ſeuen the children of Caree, two hundred twentie ſeuen.

26 The Leuites: The children of Ieſus in Caduhel, and Bamis, and Serebias, and Edias, ſeuentie foure, the whole number from the twelfth yeare, thirtie thouſand foure hundred ſixtie two.

27 The ſonnes, and daughters, and wiues, the whole number, fourtie thouſand two hundred fourtie two.

28 The children of the Prieſtes, that ſang in the temple: the children of Aſaph, an hundred twentie eight.

29 And the porters: the children of Eſmeni, the children of Azer, the children of Amon, the children of Accuba, of Topa, the children of Tobi, al an hundred thirtie nine.

30 Prieſtes that ſerued in the temple: the children of Sel, the children of Gaſpha, the children of Tobloch, the children of Caria, the children of Su, the children of Hellu, the children of Lobana, the children of Armacha, the children of Accub, the children of Vtha, the children of Cetha, the children of Aggab, the children of Obai, the children of Anani, the children of Canna, the children of Geddu,

31 the children of An, the children of Radin, the children of Deſanon, the children of Nachoba, the children of Caſeba, the children of Gaze, the children of Ozui, the children of Sinone, the children of Attre, the children of Haſten, the children of Aſiana, the children of Manei, the children of Naſiſſim, the children of Acuſu, the children of Agiſta, the children of Azui, the children of Fauon, the children of Phaſalon,

32 the children of Meedda, the children of Phuſa, the children of Careé, the children of Burcus, the children of Saree, the children of Coeſi, the children of Naſith, the children of Agiſti, the children of Pedon.

33 Salomon his children, the children of Aſophot, the children of Phaſida, the children of Celi, the children of Dedon, the children of Gaddahel, the children of Sephegi,

34 the children of Aggia, the children of Sachareth, the children of Sabathen, the children of Caroneth, the children of Malſith, the children of Ama, the children of Saſus, the children of Addus, the children of Suba, the children of Eura, the children of Rahotis, the children of Phaſphat, the children of Malmon.

35 Al that ſerued the ſanctuarie, and the ſeruantes of Salomon, foure hundred eightie two.

36 Theſe are the children that came vp from Thelmela, Thelharſa: the princes of them, Carmellam, and Careth:

37 and they could not declare their cities, and their progenies, how they are of Iſrael. The children of Dalari, the children of Tubal, the children of Nechodaici,

38 of the Prieſtes, that did the function of prieſthood: and there were not found the children of Obia, the children of Achiſos, the children of Addin, who tooke a wife of the daughters of Pargeleu:

39 and they were called by his name, and the writing of the kinred of theſe was ſought in the regiſter, and it was not found, and they were forbid to doe the function of prieſthood.

40 And Nehemias and Aſtharus ſayd to them: Let not the holie thinges be participated, til there ariſe a hiegh prieſt lerned for declaration and truth.

41 And al Iſrael was beſide men ſeruantes, and wemen ſeruantes, fourtie two thouſand three hundred fourtie.

42 Their men ſeruantes and wemen ſeruantes, ſeuen thouſand three hundred thirtie ſeuen. Singing men and ſinging wemen, two hundred three ſcore fiue.

43 Camels, foure hundred thirtie fiue. Horſes, ſeuen thouſand thirtie ſix. Mules, two hundred thouſand fourtie fiue. Beaſtes vnder yoke, fiue thouſand twentie fiue.

44 And of the rulers themſelues by their villages, when they came into the temple of God, which was in Ieruſalem, to renew and raiſe vp the temple in his place, according to their power:

45 and to be geuen into the temple to the ſacred treaſure of the workes, of gold twelue thouſand mnas, and fiue thouſand mnas of ſiluer, and ſtoles for Prieſtes an hundred.

46 And the Prieſtes and Leuites, and they that came out of the people, dwelt in Ieruſalem, and in the countrie, and the ſacred ſingingmen, and porters, and al Iſrael in their countries.

47 And the ſeuenth moneth being at hand, and when the children of Iſrael were euerie man in his owne affayres, they came together with one minde into the court, that was before the eaſt gate.

48 And Ieſus the ſonne of Ioſedec, and his brethren the prieſtes: Zorobabel the ſonne of Salathiel, and his bretheren ſtanding vp, prepared an altar,

49 that they might offer vpon it holocauſtes, according to the thinges that are writen in the booke of Moyſes the man of God.

50 And there aſſembled there of other nations of the land, and al the nations of the land erected the altar in his place, and they offered hoſtes, and morning holocauſtes to our Lord.

51 And they celebrated the feaſt of Tabernacles, and the ſolemne day, as it is commanded in the lawe: and ſacrifices dayly, as it behoued:

52 and after theſe the appointed oblations, and the hoſtes of the ſabbathes, and of the newmoones, and of al the ſolemne ſanctified dayes.

53 And as manie as vowed to our Lord from the new moone of the ſeuenth moneth, began to offer the hoſtes to God, and the temple of our Lord was not yet built.

54 And they gaue monie to the maſones and workemen, and drinke and victuals with ioy.

55 And they gaue cartes to the Sidonians, and Tyrianes, that with them they should carie ceder beames from Lybanus, and should make boates in the hauen Ioppe, according to the decre that was writen for them by Cyrus king of the Perſians.

56 And in the ſecond yeare coming into the temple of God in Ieruſalem, in the ſecond moneth began Zorobabel the ſonne of Salathiel, and Ioſue the ſonne of Ioſedec, and their bretheren, and the Prieſtes and Leuites, and al that were come from the captiuitie into Ieruſalem.

57 and they founded the temple of God in the newmoone of the ſecond moneth of the ſecond yeare, after that they came into Iurie and Ieruſalem.

58 And they appoynted the Leuites from twentie yeares, ouer the workes of our Lord: and Ieſus ſtood and his ſonne, and the bretheren, al Leuites ioyning together, & executors of the lawe, doing the workes in the houſe of our Lord.

59 And al the Prieſtes ſtood, hauing ſtoles with trumpettes:

60 and Leuites the children of Aſaph, hauing cymbals together prayſing our Lord, and bleſſing him according to Dauid king of Iſrael.

61 And they ſong a ſong to our Lord, becauſe his ſweetenes, and honour is for euer vpon Iſrael.

62 And al the people ſounded with trumpet, and cried out with a loud voice, prayſing our Lord in the rayſing vp of the houſe of our Lord.

63 And there came of the Prieſtes and Leuites, and preſidentes by their villages the more ancientes, which had ſene the old houſe:

64 and to the building of this with crie and great lamentation, and manie with trumpettes and great ioy:

65 in ſo much that the people heard not the trumpettes for the lamentation of the people. For the multitude was ſounding with trumpettes magnifically, ſo that it was heard far of.

66 And the enimes of the tribe of Iuda, and Beniamin heard it, and they came to knowe what the voyce of the trumpettes was:

67 And they knew that they which were of the captiuitie doe build a temple to our Lord the God of Iſrael.

68 And coming to Zorobabel & Ieſus, the ouerſeers of the villages, they ſayd to them: We will build together with you:

69 For we haue in like maner heard your Lord, & we walke like from the dayes of Asbazareth king of the Aſſyrians, who tranſported vs hither.

70 And Zorobabel, and Ieſus, & the princes of the villages of Iſrael, ſayd to them:

71 It is not for vs and you to build the houſe of our God. For we alone wil build to our Lord of Iſrael according as Cyrus the king of the Perſians hath commanded.

72 And the nations of the land lying vpon them that are in Iurie, and lifting vp the worke of the building, and bringing ambushmentes, and peoples, prohibited them to build.

73 and practiſing aſſaultes hindred them, that the building might not be finished al the time of the life of king Cyrus, and they differred the building for two yeares vntil the reigne of Darius.

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

• 1 1. Eſd. 2. v. 1.
• 7 1. Eſd. 2. v. 2. 2. Eſd. 7. v. 6.
• 47 1. Eſd. 3. v. 1.
• 68 1. Eſd. 4. v. 2.

Chapter 6

CHAP. VI. The Iewes by aſſiſtance of king Darius build vp the Temple in Ieruſalem.

1 AND in the ſecond yeare of the reigne of Darius prophecied Aggeus, and Zacharias the ſonne of Addo the prophet to Iurie and Ieruſalem in the name of God of Iſrael vpon them.

2 Then Zorobabel the ſonne of Salathiel ſtanding vp, and Ieſus the ſonne of Ioſedec begane to build the houſe of our Lord, which is in Ieruſalem.

3 When the prophetes of our Lord were preſent with them, and did helpe them. At the ſame time came Siſennes to them, the deputie of Syria, and of Phenice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes:

4 and they ſayd to them: By whoſe commandment, build ye this houſe, and this roofe, and perfite al other thinges? And who are the workmen that build theſe thinges?

5 And the ancientes of the Iewes, which were left of the captiuitie by our Lord, had fauoure when the viſitation was made vpon them.

6 And they were not hindered from building, til it was ſignified to Darius of al theſe thinges, and anſwer was receiued.

7 A copie of the letter, which they ſent to Darius. SISENNES deputie of Syria and Phenice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes in Syria and Phenice preſidents, to king Darius greeting:

8 Be al thinges knowen to our Lord the king, that when we came into the countrie of Iurie, and had entered into Ieruſalem, we found them building the great houſe of God.

9 And the temple of polished ſtones, and of great and precious matter in the walles.

10 And the workes to be a doing earneſtly, and to ſuccede, and proſper in their handes, and in al glorie to be perfited moſt diligently.

11 Then we asked the ancients ſaying, by whoſe permiſſion build ye this houſe, & found theſe workes?

12 And therfore we asked them, that we might doe thee to know the men & the ouerſeers, and we required of them a rolle of the names of the ouerſeers.

13 But they anſwered vs ſaying: We are the ſeruantes of the Lord, which made heauen and earth.

14 And this houſe was built theſe manie yeares paſt by a king of Iſrael. that was great and moſt valiant, and was finished.

15 And becauſe our fathers were prouoking to wrath, and ſinned agaynſt God of Iſrael, he deliuered them into the handes of Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon, king of the Chaldees.

16 And throwing downe this houſe they burnt it, and they led the people captiue into Babylon.

17 In the firſt yeare when Cyrus reigned the king of Babylon, Cyrus the king wrote to build this houſe.

18 And theſe ſacred veſſels of gold and ſiluer which Nabuchodonoſor had taken out of the houſe which is in Ierualſem, and had conſecrated them in his owne temple, Cyrus brought them forth agayne out of the temple which was in Babylon, and they were deliuered to Zorobabel, & to Salmanaſar the deputie.

19 And it was commanded them that they should offer theſe veſſels, & lay them vp in the temple, which was in Ieruſalem, and build the temple of God itſelf in his place.

20 Then did Salmanaſar lay the fundations of the houſe of our Lord, which is in Ieruſalem: and from that time vntil now it is a building, and is not accomplished.

21 Now therfore if thou thincke it good ô king, let it be ſought in the kings liberaries of Cyrus the king, which are in Babylon:

22 and if it shal be found, that the building of the houſe of the Lord, which is in Ieruſalem, begane by the counſel of Cyrus the king, and it be thought good of our Lord the king, let him write to vs of theſe thinges.

23 Then Darius the king commanded ſearch to be made in the libraries: and there was found in Ecbatana a towne that is in the countrie of Media, one place wherin were writen theſe wordes:

24 IN THE FIRST YEARE of the reigne of Cyrus, king Cyrus cōmanded to build the houſe of the Lord which is in Ieruſalem, where they did burne incenſe with dayly fire,

25 the height wherof shal be of ten cubits, & the bredth three ſcore cubites, foure ſquare with three ſtones polished, and with a loft galerie of wood of the ſame countrie, & one new galerie, and the expenſes to be geuen out of the houſe of Cyrus the king.

26 And the ſacred veſſeles of the houſe of the Lord, as wel of gold as of ſiluer, which Nabuchodonoſor tooke from the houſe of our Lord, which is in Ieruſalem where they were layed, that they be put there:

27 And he commanded Siſennes the deputie of Syria & Phoenice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes & them that were ordayned preſidentes in Syria & Phoenice, that they should refraine themſelues from that place.

28 And I alſo haue geuen commandment to build it wholly: and haue prouided, that they helpe them, which are of the captiuitie of the Iewes, til the temple of the houſe of the Lord be accomplished.

29 And from the vexation of the tributes of Coeleſyria & Phoenice, a quantitie to be geuen diligently to theſe men for the ſacrifice of the Lord, to Zorobabel the gouernour, for oxen, and rammes, and lambes.

30 And in like maner corne alſo, and ſalt, and wine, and oyle continually yeare by yeare, according as the prieſtes which are in Ieruſalem, haue preſcribed to be ſpent dayly:

31 that libamentes may be offered to the moſt high God for the king & his children, & that they may pray for their life.

32 And that it be denounced, that whoſoeuer shal tranſgreſſe anie thing of theſe which are writen, or shal deſpiſe it, a beame be taken of theyr owne, & they be hanged, & their goodes be confiſcate to the king.

33 Therfore the Lord alſo, whoſe name is inuocated there, deſtroy euery king & nation, that shal extend their hand to hinder or to handle il the houſe of the Lord which is in Ieruſalem.

34 I Darius the king haue decreed that it be moſt diligently done according to theſe thinges.

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

• 1 1. Eſd. 5. v. 1.
• 23 1. Eſd. 6. v. 1.

Chapter 7

CHAP. VII. The houſe of God is finished, 7. and dedicated, 10. the feaſt of Paſch is alſo celebrated ſeuen dayes with Azimes.

1 THEN Siſennes the deputie of Coeleſyria, and Phaenice, and Satrabuzames, and their felowes, obeying thoſe thinges which were decreed of Darius the king,

2 applied the ſacred workes moſt diligently, working together with the ancientes of the Iewes, the princes of Syria.

3 And the ſacred workes proſpered, Aggeus & Zacharias the prophetes prophecying.

4 And they accomplished al thinges by the precept of our Lord the God of Iſrael, and by the counſel of Cyrus, & Darius, and Artaxerxes the king of the Perſians.

5 And our houſe was a finishing vntil the three and twentith day of the moneth of Adar, the ſixth yeare of Darius the king.

6 And the children of Iſrael, and the Prieſtes and Leuites, and the reſt that were of the captiuitie, which were added did according to thoſe thinges that are written in the booke of Moyſes.

7 And they offered for the dedication of the temple of our Lord, oxen an hundred, rammes two hundred, lambes foure hundred.

8 And kiddes for the ſinnes of al Iſrael, twelue, according to the number of the tribes of Iſrael.

9 And the Prieſtes and Leuites ſtood clothed with ſtoles by tribes, ouer al the workes of our Lord the God of Iſrael, according to the booke of Moyſes, and the porters at euerie gate.

10 And the children of Iſrael, with them that were of the captiuitie celebrated the phaſe the fourtenth moone of the firſt moneth, when the Prieſtes and Leuites were ſanctified.

11 Al the children of the captiuitie were not ſanctified together, becauſe al the Leuites were ſanctified together.

12 And al the children of the captiuitie immolated the phaſe, both for their brethren the Prieſtes, and for them ſelues.

13 And the children of Iſrael did eate, they that were of the captiuitie al that remayned apart from al the abominations of the nations of the land ſeeking our Lord.

14 And they celebrated the feſtiual day of Azymes ſeuen dayes feaſting in the ſight of our Lord.

15 Becauſe he turned the counſel of the king of the Aſſirians toward them, to ſtrengthen their handes to the workes of our Lord the God of Iſrael.

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

• 1 1. Eſd. 6. v. 13.

Chapter 8

CHAP. VIII. Eſdras going from Babylon to Ieruſalem, 9. carieth king Artaxerxes fauourable letters. 14. n⟨illegible⟩t. licence to tak⟨illegible⟩ gold, ſiluer, and al thinges neceſſarie at their pleaſure. 31. The chief m⟨illegible⟩n that goe with him are recited. 51. He voweth a faſt praying for good ſucceſſe in their iorney. 56. weigheth the gold and ſiluer, which he deliuereth to the Prieſtes, and Leuites. 69. And ſeuerely admonisheth the people to repentance, for their mariages made with infideles.

1 AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Perſians reigned, came Eſdras the ſonne of Azarias, the ſonne of Helcias the ſonne of Salome,

2 the ſonne of Sadoc, the ſonne of Achitob, the ſonne of Ameri, the ſonne of Azahel, the ſonne of Bocci, the ſonne of Abiſue, the ſonne of Phinees the ſonne of Eleazar, the ſonne of Aaron the firſt prieſt.

3 This Eſdras came vp from Babylon being ſcribe & wiſe in the law of Moyſes, which was geuen of our Lord the God of Iſrael to teach and to doe.

4 And the king gaue him glorie, becauſe he had found grace in al dignitie and deſire in his ſight.

5 And there went vp with him of the children of Iſrael, and the Prieſtes, and the Leuites, and the ſacred ſingers of the temple, and the porters, and the ſeruantes of the temple into Ieruſalem.

6 In the ſeuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the fifth moneth, this is the ſeuenth yeare of his reigne, going forth of Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth,

7 they came to Ieruſalem according to his commandment, according to the proſperitie of their iourney, which their Lord gaue them.

8 For in theſe Eſdras had great knowlege, that he would not pretermitte anie of thoſe thinges, which were according to the law, and the preceptes of our Lord, and in teaching al Iſrael al iuſtice and iudgement.

9 And they that wrote the writinges of Artaxerxes the king, coming deliuered the writing which was granted of Artaxerxes the king to Eſdras the Prieſt, & the reader of the law of our Lord, the copie wherof here foloweth.

10 KING Artaxerxes to Eſdras the Prieſt, and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting.

11 I of curteſie eſteming it among benifites, haue commanded them that of their owne accord are deſirous of the nation of the Iewes, and of the Prieſtes and Leuites, which are in my kingdom, to goe with thee into Ieruſalem.

12 If anie therfore deſire to goe with thee, let them come together, and ſet forward as it hath pleaſed me, and my ſeuen freindes my counſelers:

13 that they may viſite thoſe thinges which are done touching Iurie and Ieruſalem, obſeruing as thou haſt in the law of the Lord.

14 And let them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Iſrael, which I haue vowed and my freindes to Ieruſalem, and al the gold and ſiluer, that shal be found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ieruſalem, with that,

15 which is geuen for the nation it ſelf vnto the temple of their Lord which is in Ieruſalem: that this gold and ſiluer be gathered for oxen, and rammes, and lambes, and kiddes, and for the thinges that are agreable to theſe,

16 that they may offer hoſtes to the Lord vpon the altar of their Lord, which is in Ieruſalem.

17 And al thinges whatſoeuer thou with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and ſiluer, doe it at thy pleaſure according to the precept of the Lord thy God.

18 And the ſacred veſſels, which are geuen thee to the workes of the houſe of the Lord thy God, which is in Ieruſalem.

19 And other thinges whatſoeuer shal helpe thee to the workes of the temple of thy God, thou shalt geue it out of the kings treaſure.

20 When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold and ſiluer, doe according to the wil of the Lord.

21 And I king Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treaſure of Syria and Phaenice, that what thinges ſoeuer Eſdras the Prieſt and reader of the law of the Lord, shal write for, they geue him vnto an hundred talentes of ſiluer, likewiſe alſo of gold.

22 And vnto an hundred meaſures of corne, & an hundred veſſels of wine, and other thinges whatſoeuer abound without taxing.

23 Let al thinges be done to the moſt high God according to the law of God, leſt perhaps there ariſe wrath in the reigne of the king, and of his ſonne, and his ſonnes.

24 And to you it is ſayd, that vpon al the Prieſtes, and Leuites, and ſacred ſingers, and ſeruantes of the temple, & ſcribes of this temple

25 no tribute, nor any other taxe be ſette, and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any thing to them.

26 But thou Eſdras according to the wiſedom of God appoynt iudges, and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice: and teach al them that know no the law of thy God:

27 that whoſoeuer shal tranſgreſſe the law, they be diligently punished either with death, or with torment, or els with a forfeite of money, or with banishment.

28 And Eſdras the ſcribe ſayd: Bleſſed be the God of our fathers, which hath geuen this wil into the kings hart, to glorifie his houſe, which is in Ieruſalem.

29 And hath honoured me in the ſight of the king, and of his counſelers, and freindes, and them that weare purple.

30 And I was made conſtant in minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God, and gathered together of Iſrael men, that should goe vp together with me.

31 And theſe are the princes according to their kindredes, and ſeueral principalities of them that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes.

32 Of the children of Phares, Gerſomus: and of the children of Siemarith, Amenus: of the children of Dauid, Acchus the ſonne of Scecilia:

33 Of the children of Phares, Zacharias, and with him returned an hundred fiftie men.

34 Of the children of leader Moabilion, Zaraei, and with him two hundred fiftie men:

35 Of the children of Zachues, Iechonias of Zechoel, and with him two hundred fiftie men:

36 of the children of Sala, Maaſias of Gotholia, & with him ſeuentie men:

37 of the children of Saphatia, Zarias of Michel, and with him eightie men:

38 of the children of Iob, Abdias of Iehel, and with him two hundred twelue men:

39 of the children of Bania, Salimoth, the ſonne of Ioſaphia, and with him an hundred ſixtie men:

40 of the children of Beer, Zacharias Bebei, and with him two hundred eight men:

41 of the children of Ezead, Ioannes of Eccetan, and with him an hundred ten men:

42 of the children of Adonicam, which were laſt, and theſe are their names, Eliphalam the ſonne of Gebel, and Semeias, and with him ſeuentie men.

43 And I gathered them together to the riuer that is called Thia, and we camped there three dayes, and vewed them againe.

44 And of the children of the Prieſtes and Leuites I found not there.

45 And I ſent to Eleazarus, and Eccelon, and Maſman, and Maloban, and Enaathan, and Samea, and Ioribum, Nathan, Enuagam, Zacharias, and Moſolam the leaders them ſelues, and that were skilful.

46 And I ſayd to them that they should come to Loddeus, who was at the place of the treaſurie.

47 And I commanded them to ſay to Loddeus, and his brethren, and to them that were in the treaſurie, that they should ſend vs them that might doe the function of prieſthood in the houſe of the Lord our God.

48 And they brought vnto vs according to the mightie hand of the Lord our God cunning men: of the children of Moholi, the ſonne of Leui, the ſonne of Iſrael, S⟨illegible⟩bebia, & his ſonnes and brethren, which were eightene:

49 Asbia, and Amin of the ſonnes of the children of Chananeus, and their children twentie men.

50 And of them that ſerued the temple, whom Dauid gaue, and the princes themſelues to the miniſterie of the Leuites of them that ſerued the temple, two hundred twentie. Al their names were ſignified in writings.

51 And I vowed there a faſt to the yong men in the ſight of God, that I might aske of him a good iourney for vs, and them that were with vs, and for the children, and the cattel becauſe of ambushementes.

52 For I was ashamed to aske of the king footemen and horſemen in my companie, to guard vs, againſt our aduerſaries.

53 For we ſayd to the king that the power of our Lord wil be with them that ſeeke him with al affection.

54 And agayne we beſought the Lord our God according to theſe thinges: whom alſo we had propicious, and we obteyned of our God.

55 And I ſeparated of the rulers of the people, and of the Prieſtes of the temple, twelue men, and Sedebia, and Aſanna, and with them of their brethren ten men.

56 And I weyed to them the gold and ſiluer, and the veſſels of the houſe of our God perteyning to the Prieſtes, which the king had geuen, and his counſelers, and the princes, and al Iſrael.

57 And when I had weyed it, I deliuered of ſiluer an hundred fiftie talentes, and ſiluer veſſels of an hundred talentes, and of gold an hundred talentes.

58 And of veſſels of gold ſeuen ſcore and twelue braſen veſſels good of shyning braſſe, reſembling the forme of gold.

59 And I ſayd to them: You are alſo ſanctified to our Lord, and the veſſels be holie, and the gold and ſiluer is vowed to our Lord the God of our fathers.

60 Watch and keepe, til you deliuer them to ſome of the rulers of the people, and to the Prieſtes, and Leuites; and to the princes of the cities of Iſrael in Ieruſalem, in the treaſurie of the houſe of our God.

61 And thoſe Prieſtes and Leuites that receiued the gold and ſiluer and veſſels, brought it to Ieruſalem into the temple of our Lord.

62 And we went forward from the riuer Thia, the twelfth day of the firſt moneth, til we entred into Ieruſalem.

63 And when the third day was come, in the fourth day the gold being weyed, and the ſiluer, was deliuered in the houſe of the Lord our God, to Marimoth Prieſt the ſonne of Iori.

64 And with him was Eleazar the ſonne of Phinees: and with them were Ioſadus the ſonne of Ieſus, and Medias, and Banni the ſonne of a Leuite, by number and weight al thinges.

65 And the weight of them was writen the ſame houre.

66 And they that came out of the captiuitie, offered ſacrifice to our Lord the God of Iſrael, oxen twelue, for al Iſrael, rammes eightie ſix,

67 lambes ſeuentie two, bucke goates for ſinne twelue, and for health twelue kyne, al for the ſacrifice of our Lord.

68 And they read againe the preceptes of the king to the kinges officers, and to the deputies of Coeleſyria, and Phoenice: and they honored the nation, and the temple of our Lord.

69 And theſe thinges being finished, the rulers came to me, ſaying: The ſtocke of Iſrael, and the princes, and the Prieſtes, and the Leuites,

70 and the ſtrange people, and nations of the land haue not ſeparated their vncleannes from the Chananeites, and Hetheites, and Pherezeites, and Iebuſeites, and Moobites, & Aegyptians, and Idumeians.

71 For they are ioyned to their daughters both themſelues, and their ſonnes: and the holie ſede is mingled with the ſtrange nations of the earth, and the rulers and magiſtrates were partakers of that iniquitie from the beginning of the reigne it ſelf.

72 And forth with as I heard theſe thinges, I rent my garmentes and the ſacred tunike: and tearing the heares of my head, and my beard, I ſate ſorowful and heauie.

73 And there aſſembled to me mourning vpon this iniquitie, as manie as were then moued by the word of our Lord the God of Iſrael, and I ſate ſad vntil the euening ſacrifice.

74 And I riſing vp from faſting, hauing my garmentes rent and the ſacred tunike, kneeling, and ſtretching forth my handes to our Lord,

75 I ſayd: Lord I am confounded, and ashamed before thy face,

76 for our ſinnes are multiplied ouer our heades, and our iniquities are exalted euen to heauen.

77 Becauſe from the times of our fathers we are in great ſinne vnto this day.

78 And for the ſinnes of vs, and of our fathers we haue bene deliuered with our brethren, and with our Prieſtes to the kinges of the earth, into ſword and captiuitie, and ſpoile with confuſion vnto this preſent day.

79 And now what a great thing is this that mercie hath happened to vs from thee ô Lord God, & leaue thou vnto vs a roote, and a name in the place of thy ſanctification,

80 to diſcouer our light in the houſe of the Lord our God, to geue vs meate in al the time of our bondage.

81 And when we ſerued, we were not forſaken of the Lord our God: but he ſette vs in fauour, appointing the kinges of the Perſians to geue vs meate,

82 and to glorifie the temple of the Lord our God, and to build the deſolations of Sion, to geue vs ſtabilitie in Iurie, and Ieruſalem.

83 And now what ſay we Lord, hauing theſe thinges? For we haue tranſgreſſed thy preceptes, which thou gaueſt into the handes of thy ſeruants the prophetes,

84 ſaying: That the land into which ye entred to poſſeſſe the inheritance therof, is a land polluted with the coinquinations of the ſtrangers of the land, and their vncleanes hath filled it wholy with their filthines.

85 And now your daughters you shal not match with their ſonnes, and their daughters you shal not take for your ſonnes.

86 And you shal not ſeeke to haue peace with them for euer, that growing ſtrong you may eate the beſt things of the land, and may diſtribute the inheritance to your children for euer.

87 And the thinges that happen to vs, al are done for our nauhtie workes, and our great ſinnes.

88 And thou gaueſt vs ſuch a roote, and we are returned againe to tranſgreſſe thy ordinances, that we would be mingled with the vncleannes of the nations of this land.

89 Wilt not thou be wrath with vs to deſtroy vs, til there be no roote left nor our name?

90 Lord God of Iſrael thou art true. For there is a roote left vntil this preſent day.

91 Behold, now we are in thy ſight in our iniquities. For it is not to ſtand any longer before thee in theſe matters.

92 And when Eſdras with adoration confeſſed weeping, lying flat on the ground before the temple, there were gathered before him out of Ieruſalem a verie great multitude, men and wemen, and yong men and youg wemen. For there was great weeping in the multitude it ſelf.

93 And when he had cried, Iechonias of Ieheli of the children of Iſrael, ſayd to Eſdras: We haue ſinned againſt our Lord, for that we haue taken vnto vs in mariage ſtrange wemen of the nations of the land.

94 And now thou art ouer al Iſrael, in theſe therfore let there be an othe from our Lord to expel al our wiues that are of ſtrangers with their children.

95 As it was decreed to thee of the anceſters according to the law of our Lord, riſing vp declare it.

96 For to thee the buſines perteineth, and we are with thee: doe manfully.

97 And Eſdras ryſing vp adiured the princes of the Prieſtes and Leuites, and al Iſrael to doe according to theſe thinges and they ſware.

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

• 1 1. Eſd. 7. v. 1.
• 31 1. Eſd. 8. v. 1.
• 69 1. Eſd. 9. v. 1.
• 92 1. Eſd. 10. v. 1.

Chapter 9

CHAP. IX. Eſdras faſting for the ſinnes of the people, commandeth that they ſeparate al ſtrange wemen from them. 18. The Prieſtes and Leuites, which had offended herein, are recited. 38. He readeth the law before the people: 48. certaine doe expound to the multitudes in ſeueral places. 52. And ſo they are diſmiſsed with ioy.

1 AND Eſdras ryſing vp from before the court of the temple, went into the chamber of Ionathas the ſonne of Naſabi.

2 And lodging there he taſted no bread, nor dranke water for the iniquitie of the multitude.

3 And there was proclamation made in al Iurie, & in Ieruſalem to al that were of the captiuitie gathered in Ieruſalem,

4 that whoſoeuer shal not appeare with in two or three dayes, according to the iudgement of the ancients ſitting vpon it, their goods should be taken away, and himſelfe should be iudged an alien from the multitude of the captiuitie.

5 And al were gathered that were of the tribe of Iuda, and of Beniamin within three dayes in Ieruſalem: this is the ninth moneth, the twentith day of the moneth.

6 And al the multitude ſate in the court of the temple trembling, for the preſent winter.

7 And Eſdras ryſing vp ſayd to them: You haue done vnlawfully taking to you in mariage ſtrang wiues, that you might adde to the ſinnes of Iſrael.

8 And now geue confeſſion, & magnificence to our Lord the God of our fathers:

9 and accomplish his wil, and depart from the nations of the land, and from your wiues the ſtrangers.

10 And al the multitude cried, and they ſayd with a lowde voice: As thou haſt ſayd, we wil doe.

11 But becauſe the multitude is great, and winter time, and we can not ſtand in the ayre without ſuccour: and this is a worke for vs not of one day, nor of two, for we haue ſinned much in theſe thinges:

12 Let the rulers of the multitude ſtand, and that dwel with vs, and as manie as haue with them forreine wiues,

13 and at a time appointed let the prieſtes out of euerie place, and the iudges aſſiſt, vntil they appeaze the wrath of our Lord concerning this buſines.

14 And Ionathas the ſonne of Ezeli, and Ozias of Thecam tooke vpon them according to theſe wordes: and Boſoramus, and Leuis, and Sabbathaeus, wrought together with them.

15 And al that were of the captiuitie ſtood according to al theſe thinges

16 And Eſdras the prieſt choſe vnto him men the great princes of their fathers according to their names: & they ſate together in the newmoone of the tenth moneth to examine this buſines.

17 And they determined of the men that had outlandish wiues, vntil the newmoone of the firſt moneth.

18 And there were found of the prieſtes entermingled that had outlandish wiues.

19 Of the ſonnes of Ieſus the ſonne of Ioſedec, and his brethren: Maſeas, and Eleazarus, and Ioribus, and Ioadeus,

20 and they put to their handes to expel their wiues: and to offer a ramme to obrayne pardon for their ignorance.

21 And the ſonnes of Semmeri: Maſeas and Eſſes, Ieelech, and Azarias.

22 And of the children of Foſere: Limoſias, Hiſmaenis, and Nathanee, Iuſſio, Reddus, and Thalſas.

23 And of the Leuites: Ior abdus, and Semeis, and Colnis, and Calitas, and Facteas, and Coluas, and Eliomas,

24 and of the ſacred ſinging men, Eliaſib, Zaccarus.

25 And of the porters, Salumus, and Tolbanes.

26 And of Iſrael: of the ſonnes of Foro, Ozi, and Remias, and Geddias, & Melchias, and Michelus, Eleazarus, and Iammebias, and Bannas.

27 And of the ſonnes of Iolaman: Chamas, and Zacharias, and Iezuelus, and Ioddius, and Erimoth, and Helias.

28 And of the ſonnes of Zathoim: Eliadas, and Liaſumus, Zochias, and Larimoth, & Zabdis, and Thebedias.

29 And of the ſonnes of Zebes: Ioannes, and Amanias, and Zabdias, and Emeus.

30 And of the ſonnes of Banni: Olamus, & Maluchus, and Ieddeus, and Iaſub, and Azabus, & Ierimoth.

31 And of the ſonnes of Addin: Nathus, and Mooſias, & Caleus, and Raanas, Maaſeas, Mathathias, and Beſeel, and Bonnus, and Manaſſes.

32 And of the ſonnes of Nuae: Noneas, and Aſeas, and Melchias, and Sameas, and Simon, Beniamin, and Malchus, and Marras.

33 And of the ſonnes of Aſom: Carianeus, Mathathias, & Bannus, & Eliphalach, and Manaſſes, and Semei.

34 And of the ſonnes of Banni: Ieremias, and Moadias, and Abramus, & Iohel, and Baneas, & Pelias, and Ionas, and Marimoth, & Eliaſib, and Matheneus, and Eliaſis, and Orizas, and Dielus, and Semedius, & Zambris, and Ioſephus.

35 And of the ſonnes of Nobei: Idelus, and Mathathias, and Sabadus, and Zecheda, Zedmi, and Ieſſei, Baneas.

36 Al theſe maried outlandish wiues, and did put them away with their children.

37 And the Prieſtes and the Leuites, and they that were of Iſrael, dwelt in Ieruſalem, and in the whole countrie in the new moone of the ſeuenth moneth. And the children of Iſrael we⟨illegible⟩e in their habitations.

38 And al the multitude was gathered together into the court, which is on the eaſt of the ſacred gate:

39 and they ſayd to Eſdras the high prieſt, and reader, that he should bring the law of Moyſes, which was deliuered of our Lord the God of Iſrael.

40 And Eſdras the high prieſt brought the law to al the multitude of them from man vnto woman, and to al the prieſtes to heare the law in the newmoone of the ſeuenth moneth.

41 And he read in the court, which is before the ſacred gate of the temple, from breake of day vntil euening before men and wemen. And they al gaue their minde to the law.

42 And Eſdras the prieſt, and reader of the law ſtoode vpon a tribunal of wood, which was made.

43 And by him ſtood Mathathias, and Samus, and Ananias, Azarias, Vrias, Ezechias, and Balſamus on the right hand,

44 and on the left Faldeus, Miſael, Malachias, Ambuſthas, Sabus, Nabadias, and Zacharias.

45 And Eſdras tooke the booke before al the multitude: for he was chiefe in glorie in the ſight of al.

46 And when he had ended the law, they ſtood al vpright: and Eſdras bleſſed our Lord the moſt high God, the God of Sabaoth omnipotent.

47 And al the people anſwered: Amen. And lifting vp their handes falling on the ground, they adored our Lord.

48 Ieſus and Banaeus, and Sarebias, and Iaddimus, and Accubus, and Sabbathaeus, and Calithes, & Azarias, and Ioradus, and Ananias, and Philias Leuites,

49 who taught the law of our Lord, and read the ſame in the multitude, & euerie one preferred them that vnderſtood the leſſon.

50 And Atharathes ſayd to Eſdras the high prieſt and the reader, and to the Leuites, that taught the multitude,

51 ſaying: This day is ſanctified to our Lord. And they al wept, when they had heard the law.

52 And Eſdras ſayd, departing therfore▪ eate ye al the fatteſt thinges, & drinke al moſt ſwete things, and ſend giftes to them that haue not.

53 For this is the holy day of our Lord, & be not ſad. For our Lord wil glorifie you.

54 And the Leuites denounced openly to al, ſaying: This day is holie, be not ſad.

55 And they went al to eate, and drinke, and make merie, and to geue giftes to them that had not, that they might make merie, for they were excedingly exalted with the wordes that they were taught.

56 And they were al gathered in Ieruſalem to celebrate the ioy, according to the teſtament of our Lord the God of Iſrael.

Marginal notes to Chapter 9

• 1 1. Eſd. 10. v. 6.

Colophon

The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes. By the English College of Doway. The second tome (Psalms to 2 Machabees, with the Prayer of Manasses and the third and fourth books of Esdras), Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610 (STC 2207). Copy: Henry E. Huntington Library, as reproduced in Early English Books Online (image set 2087).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A11777 (2007), released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal public-domain dedication.

This is an archival transcription, not a Good Works Translation: the English is the Douay translators’ own, kept in the original spelling, with long s (ſ), u and v, i and j as printed. The Good Works Library converted the TCP text to this page, removing only markup, page breaks and line-end hyphens. In the print a cross (†) opens each verse and the verse number stands in the margin; here each verse is its own paragraph headed by that number. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter under the number of the verse beside which they stand; where the print sets a reference mark in the text (a letter, four pricks ::, or a star *), the mark is kept at its place in square brackets. In prose sections the marginal notes stand at their places in square brackets. Marks that the transcription records in the text are kept as they stand: ▪ is the transcribers’ sign for a printed mark they could not set, which this edition’s key to its marks uses to point to an Annotation after the chapter, and “ is another such printed mark. Words the transcribers could not read are marked ⟨illegible⟩ (5 on this page); none has been filled in by conjecture.

In 1 place on this page the transcription has no verse cross between two numbered verses; there both numbers head a single paragraph (for example “12–13”) rather than cutting the text by guesswork. In 1 place a cross stands in the text where the printed verse numbers show no new verse; it is kept there as †.

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