1    A   And ^note Iosias held the feast of Easter in Hierusalem vnto his Lord, and offered the passouer the foureteenth day of the first moneth.

2   He set the priestes also in order according to their dayly courses, being arayed in long garmentes, in the temple of the Lorde.

3   And he spake vnto the Leuites the holy ministers of Israel, that they shoulde halowe them selues vnto the Lorde, to set the holy arke of the Lord in the house that kyng Solomon the sonne of Dauid had buylded.

4   And sayd: Ye shall no more beare the arke vpon your shoulders: and nowe serue the Lorde your God, and take the charge of his people Israel, and prepare you after your villages and tribes,

5   According as king Dauid the king of Israel hath left in writing and ^note according as Solomon his sonne hath honourably prepared: And standing eche of you in that degree of aucthoritie whiche in the distribution was appointed vnto your fathers the Leuites in the presence of your brethen the chyldren of Israel:

6   Offer the passouer in order, and make redye the sacrifices for your brethren, and kepe the passouer, according to the commaundement of the Lorde whiche was geuen vnto Moyses.

7    B   And vnto the people that was founde there, Iosias gaue thirtie thousande lambes and kiddes, and three thousand calues. These things were geuen of the kings owne possessions, according as he promised, to the people, to the Priestes, and to the Leuites.

8   And Helkias, and Zacharias, and Syel the gouernours of the temple, gaue to the priestes for the passouer two thousande and sixe hundred sheepe, and three hundred calues.

9   Moreouer Iechonias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Sabias, and Ochiel, and Ioram, captaynes ouer thousandes, gaue to the Leuites for the passouer, fiue thousande sheepe, and seuen hundred calues.

10   And when these things were brought to passe, the Priestes ∧ Leuites stoode goodly in their order, and had the unleauened bread throughout the tribes.

11   And after the degrees of preheminence appoynted to their fathers, to offer to the Lord in the sight of the people, according as it is written in the booke of Moyses: and thus dyd they in the mornyng.

12   And they rosted the Easter lambe with fire, as according was: As for the offeringes, they dight them in kettels and pottes with good sauours,

13   And set them before all them of the people, and afterwarde they prepared for them selues and the priestes their brethen the sonnes of Aaron.

14   For the priestes offred the fat, ^note untyll the tyme was expired, and the Leuites prepared for them selues, C   and for the priestes their brethren the chyldren of Aaron.

15   The holy singers also the chyldren of Asaph, stoode in their orders, according as Dauid deuised, to wit, Asaph, ^note Zacharias, and Iduthun, which was appointed by the kyng.

16   Moreouer, the [porters and] doore kepers stoode by the doores [and that diligently,] so that none went out of his ^note standing and seruices, for their brethren the Leuites prepared for them.

17   Thus were all thinges perfourmed that belonged to the offering of the Lorde in that day, that they myght holde the passouer,

18   And offer sacrifices vpon the aulter of the Lorde, according to the commaundement of king Iosias.

19   So the children of Israel which were then present, helde a [honourable] passouer, and the feast of sweete bread, seuen days long:

20   Yea suche a passouer was not kept in

Israel, from the tyme of the prophete Samuel.

21   And all the kinges of Israel helde not such an Easter as this which king Iosias held, and the Priestes, the Leuites, the Iewes, and all Israel, of all them that ^note were at Hierusalem.

22   In the eyghteenth yere of the raigne of Iosias, was this passouer kept. D   

23   And with an heart full of godlynes dyd kyng Iosias rightly order all his workes before the Lorde.

24   And the thinges that came to passe in his tyme, they were wrytten of olde before those dayes, concerning those that sinned and were vngodly against the Lord aboue all people and kingdomes, and howe they greeued hym in seruing sensible thinges, so that the wordes of the Lorde rose vp against Israel.

25   Nowe after all these actes of Iosias, it came to passe that Pharao the king of Egypt came to Carchamis vpon Euphrates to moue warre: and Iosias went out against hym.

26   But the kyng of Egypt sent to hym, saying: what haue I to do with thee, O king of Iudea?

27   I am not sent of the Lorde God against thee, for my warre is vpon Euphrates, and nowe the Lorde is with me, yea the Lorde maketh diligent ^note speede with me: depart from me, and be not against the Lorde.

28   Howbeit Iosias woulde not turne backe his chariot from hym, but vndertoke to fight with him, and hearkened not to the wordes of the prophete Ieremie, spoken by the mouth of the Lorde:

29   But pitched a battayle against him in the fielde of ^note Mageddo: And the princes preassed to king Iosias. E   

30   Then sayd the king vnto his seruauntes: Cary me away out of the battayle, for I am very weake. And immediatly his seruauntes toke hym away out of the frunt of the battayle.

31   Then gate he vp vpon the second charet, came to Hierusalem, dyed, and was buried in his fathers sepulchre.

32   And in all Iurie they mourned for Iosias, yea Ieremie the prophete lamented for Iosias, and the rulers also with their wyues made lamentation for hym vnto this day, and it became a custome to be done continually in all the kinred of Israel.

33   These things are written in the booke of the stories of the kinges of Iuda: and all the actes of Iosias, ∧ his glory, and vnderstanding in the lawe of the Lord, and the thinges which he had done before, and that was nowe [recited] are written in the booke of the kynges of Israel and Iuda.

34    ^noteAnd the people toke Iechonias the sonne of Iosias, and made him king in steede of Iosias his father, when he was twentie and three yeres olde.

35   And he raigned in Iuda and in Hierusalem three monethes, and then the kyng of Egypt put hym downe from raigning in Hierusalem:

36   And raysed vp a taxe of the people, namely an hundred talentes of syluer, and one talent of golde.

37   The kyng of Egypt also made Ioachim his brother king of Iuda and Hierusalem.

38    ^noteAnd [thus] he ^note bounde Ioachim and his gouernours: but Zaracen his brother he apprehended ∧ led away with him into Egypt.

39   Fiue and twentie yeres olde was Ioachim when he was made kyng in the lande of Iuda and Hierusalem, and he dyd euyll before the Lorde. F   

40    ^noteWherfore against hym Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came vp, and bounde hym with bandes of iron, and caryed hym vnto Babylon.

41   Nabuchodonosor also toke of the holy vessels of the lord, caryed them away, ∧ set th&ebar; in his owne temple at Babylon.

42   But all his actes, and his prophanation and reproche, are written in the chronicles of the kinges.

43   And Ioachim his sonne raigned in his steede: He was made king beyng eyghteene yeres olde,

44   And raigned but three monethes and ten dayes in Hierusalem, and dyd euyll before the Lorde.

45   So after a yere Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought vnto Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord.

46   And made Zedechias king of Iuda and Hierusalem when he was twentie and one yeres olde, and he raigned a leuen yeres.

47   And he did euill also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the wordes that were spoken vnto him ^note by the prophete Ieremie from the mouth of the Lord.

48   And where he had made an oth vnto king Nabuchodonosor, he forswore him selfe by the name of the Lorde, and hardened his necke and heart, and transgressed the lawes of the Lorde God of Israel. F   

49   The gouernours also of the people ∧ priestes, dyd many thinges against the lawes, and passed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lorde whiche was sanctified in Hierusalem.

50   Wherefore the God of their fathers sent his messenger to call them backe, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.

51   But they had his messengers in derision: and loke when the Lorde spake vnto them, they made a sport of his prophetes.

52   This drewe on so long tyll the Lorde was wroth with his people for their great vngodlynes, so that he caused the kinges of the Chaldees to come vp against them:

53   Which slue their young men with the sworde, yea euen in ^note the compasse of their holy temple, and spared no body, neither young man nor mayden, olde man nor chylde among them: G   

54   But they were all deliuered into their handes, and all the holy vessels of the Lorde both great and small, with the vessels of the arke of god: and they toke and caryed away the kinges treasure into Babylon.

55   As for the house of the Lorde, they went vp into it, ∧ brent it, brake downe the walles of Hierusalem, set fire vpon her towres,

56   Destroyed all her ^note noble buyldinges, and brought them to naught, and the people that were not slayne with the sworde, he caryed vnto Babylon:

57   Which became seruauntes to him and his chyldren, tyll the Persians raigned, to fulfill the worde of the Lord [spoken] by the mouth of Ieremias:

58   Tyll the lande had fully ^note taken her ease from them, whiche toke that ease all the time she lacked her inhabitauntes, to the end ∧ terme of seuentie yeres. ¶2; The .ij. Chapter. 1 Cyrus gaue leaue to the Iewes to returne. 10 He sent the holy vessels. 13 The names of them that returned. 16 Their aduersaries did let their buylding, and the kinges letters for the same, A   

1   Nowe when king Cyrus raigned ouer the Persians in his first yere, when the Lorde would perfourme the worde that he had promysed by the mouth of [the prophete] Ieremie:

2   The Lorde raysed vp the spirite of Cyrus the king of Persians, so that he caused this wrytyng to be proclaymed throughout his whole realme,

3   Saying, thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lorde of Israel, that hye Lorde, hath made me king of the whole worlde:

4   And commaunded me to buylde hym an house at Hierusalem in Iurie.

5   If there be any nowe of you that are of his people, let the Lorde euen his Lorde be with hym, and let him go vp to Hierusalem that is in Iudea, and buylde the house of the Lorde of Israel, that is, the Lorde that dwelleth in Hierusalem.

6   And all they that dwell rounde about that place shall helpe him, all that dwel in his place I say, whether it be with golde, with siluer, B   

7   With gyftes, with horses and necessarye cattell, and all other thinges that are brought with a free wyll to the ^note house of the Lorde at Hierusalem.

8   Then the principall men out of the tribes and villages of Iuda ∧ Beniamin stode vp: so did the Priestes also and the Leuites, ∧ al they whose minde the Lorde had moued to go vp, ∧ to buylde the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem.

9   And they that dwelt about them helped them in all thinges, with siluer and golde, horses ∧ cattell, and with ^note many free giftes of many men whose mindes were stirred vp thereto.

10   King Cyrus also brought foorth the vessels and ornamentes that were halowed vnto the Lorde, whiche Nabuchodonosor had caried away from Hierusalem, and consecrated them to his idol [and image.]

11   And hauing brought them foorth, he deliuered them to Mithridates his treasourer.

12   And by hym they were deliuered to Abassar the deputie in Iurie.

13   And this was the number of them: a thousande golden cuppes, and a thousande of siluer, basens of siluer twentie and nine for the sacrifices, vials of gold thirtie, and of siluer two thousande foure hundred and ten, and a thousande other vessels. C   

14   So all the vessels of golde and siluer whiche they caryed away, were fiue thousand, foure h&ubar;dred, threscore ∧ nine.

15   These were brought by Salmanasar, with them of the captiuitie from Babylon to Hierusalem.

16   But in the tyme of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabelius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretarie, with other that were ioyned to them dwelling in Samaria ∧ other places, wrote vnto hym against them that dwelt in Iudea and Hierusalem, these letters folowing:
To the king Artaxerxes our lorde.

17   Thy seruauntes, Rathumus the storye wryter, and Semellius the secretarie, and the rest of their counsell, and the iudges that are in Coelosyria ∧ Phenice:

18   Be it nowe knowen to our lorde the king, that the Iewes whiche are come vp from you vnto vs into the rebellious ∧ wicked citie, begin to buylde the market places, and to make vp the walles about it, and to set vp the temple a newe.

19   Now if this citie and the walles therof be set vp agayne, they shall not onlye refuse to geue tributes [and taxes] but also rebell vtterly against kinges.

20   And forsomuche as they take this in hand now about þe; temple, we thought it reason to thinke no scorne of it:

21   But to shewe it vnto the lorde the king, to the intent that if it please the king, he may cause it to be sought in the bookes of olde, D   

22   And thou shalt finde in recordes hereof wrytten, and shalt vnderstande that this citie hath alway ben rebellious and disobedient, that it hath troubled kinges and cities,

23   And that the Iewes were rebellious, and raysed alwayes warres therin: for the whiche cause this citie is wasted.

24   Wherfore nowe we certifie our Lord the king, that if this citie be buylded [and occupied] agayne, and the walles therof set vp a newe, thou canst haue no passage into Coelosyria and Phenice.

25   Then wrote the king to Rathumus the ^note storie wryter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the other officers and dwellers in Samaria, and Syria, and Phenice, after this maner.

26   I haue read the epistle which ye sent vnto me: therefore I commaunded to make diligent searche, and haue founde that this citie hath euer resisted kinges,

27   That the same people are disobedient and haue caused much warre, and that mightie kinges haue raigned in Hierusalem, which also haue raysen vp taxes of Coelosyria and Phenice. E   

28   Wherefore I haue commaunded to forbyd those men that they shall not buylde vp the citte, and heede to be taken that there be no more done in it:

29   And that they proceede no further in those wicked workes, forsomuche as it myght be occasion of trouble vnto princes.

30   Nowe when Rathumus and Semellius the scribe had read the wrytyng of king Artaxerxes, they gat them together, and came in all the haste to Hierusalem, with an hoast of horsemen, and with muche people on foote,

31   And forbad them to buylde: And so they left of from buyldyng of the temple, vnto the seconde yere of king Darius, king of the Persians. The .iii. Chapter. 1 The feast of Darius. 16 The three wyse sentences. A   

1   Kyng Darius made a great feast vnto his ^note seruauntes, vnto all his court, and to al the officers of Medea and Persia,

2   Yea to all the gouernours, ∧ captaynes, and liefetenauntes, that were vnder him, from India vnto Ethiopia, an hundreth and twentie and seuen ^note countreys.

3   So when they had eaten and drunken, being satisfied, ∧ were gone home agayne, Darius the king went into his chaumber, layde hym downe to sleepe, and after that awaked.

4   Then the three young men that ^note kept the kinges person, and watched his bodye, [communed among them selues, and] spake one to another.

5   Let euery one of vs speake a sentence, and looke who shal ouercome, ∧ whose sentence may seeme wyser then the others, vnto him shal king Darius geue great giftes, and great thinges, in token of victorie:

6   As to weare purple, to drinke in gold, and to slepe in gold, and a chariot with brydles of golde, and an ^note head tyre of fine linnen, and a chayne about his necke: B   

7   Yea he shal sit next to Darius because of his wysdome, and shalbe called Darius cosin.

8   So euery one wrote his ^note meanyng, sealed it, and layde it vnder king Darius pelowe,

9   And sayd, when the king aryseth they woulde geue hym the wrytynges, and looke whose worde the king ∧ the three princes of Persia shall iudge to be the most wisely spoken, the same shall haue the victorie as it was appoynted.

10   One wrote: wine is a strong thyng.

11   The seconde wrote: the king is strong.

12   The thirde wrote: women haue very muche strength, but aboue all thinges the trueth beareth away the victory.

13   Nowe when the king was rysen vp, they toke their wrytynges and deliuered them vnto him, ∧ so he read them.

14   Then sent he foorth to cal al his chiefe lordes of Persia, and of Media, and the rulers, and the captaynes, and liefetenauntes and consuls: C   

15   And when he had set hym downe in the counsell, the wrytynges were read before them.

16   And he commaunded to call for the young men, that they myght declare their ^note meaninges th&ebar;selues by mouth. So they were sent for, and came in.

17   And then he sayde vnto them: shewe vs and make vs to vnderstande what the thinges are that ye haue written. Then began the first whiche had spoken of the strength of wine,

18   And said thus: O ye men, how strong is wine, that deceaueth all men whiche drinke it?

19   It maketh the kinges minde and the fathers to be both one, the bondmans and the free, the poore mans and the riche. D   

20   It turneth also euery thought into ioy and gladnes, so that a man remembreth neither heauines not debt.

21   And it maketh euery heart [thinke it selfe] riche, so that a man remembreth neither king nor gouernour, and it maketh to speake all thinges by talentes.

22   Moreouer when men haue dronke, they forget all frendship and brotherly faythfulnes, and a litle after they draw out swordes:

23   And afterwards when they are from the wine, they remember nothing what was done.

24   O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that thus enforceth [men] to do? And when he had spoken this, he helde his peace. ¶2; The .iiij. Chapter. 1 Of the strength of a kyng. 13 Of the strength of women. 34 Of the strength of trueth, whiche sentence is approued. 47 And his petition graunted. A   

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

2   O ye men, are not men the strongest of all, that conquer both by land and sea, and all the thinges that are in them?

3   Nowe is the king stronger, as lorde of all these thinges, and that hath the dominion ouer them: and loke what he commaundeth them, it is all done.

4   If he byd them the one against the other to make warre, they do it: if he send them out against the enemies, they go and breake downe mountaynes, walles, and towres.

5   They slay and are slayne, and ouerpasse not the kinges commaundement: if they get the victorie, they bryng all to the king, so well the spoyle as other thinges.

6   Likewise the other that medle not with warres and fighting, but tyll the grounde: when they haue sowen and reaped, they bring to the king, and compell one another to pay his tribute vnto the king. B   

7   And if the king, though he be but one man, commaunde to kill, they kill, if he commaunde to ^note forgeue, they forgeue:

8   If he commaund to smite, they smite, if he byd ^note driue away, they driue away, if he commaund to buylde, they buylde:

9   If he commaunde to breake downe, they breake downe, if he commaunde to plant, they plant.

10    ^noteSo the common people and the rulers are obedient vnto hym, and the king in the meane season sitteth hym downe, eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest.

11   And these kepe him rounde about, and not one of them dare get hym out of the way to do his owne busines, ^note but must be obedient vnto the king at a worde.

12   Iudge ye now O ye men, how should not the king go farre aboue, when in such sort he is obayed? And [when he had spoken thus] he helde his tongue.

13   The thirde (whose name was Zorobabel) which had spoken of women, and of trueth, began to say [after this maner.] C   

14   O ye men, it is not the great king, it is not the multitude of men, neither is it wine that excelleth. Who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship ouer them? is it not women?

15   Women haue borne the king, and all the people, which beare rule by sea and by lande.

16   And euen of them were they borne, and they brought those vp that planted the vines, wherof the wine commeth.

17   They make garmentes for men, they get honour vnto men, and without women can not men continue.

18   Yea, if they haue gathered together golde and siluer, or any other pretious thing, do they not loue a woman for her comely shape and beautie?

19   And letting all those thinges go, do they not gape ∧ euen with open mouth fixe their eyes fast on her? and haue not all men more desire vnto her, then vnto siluer and golde, or any maner of pretious thing?

20    ^noteA man leaueth his owne father that brought hym vp, leaueth his owne naturall countrey, and cleaueth vnto his wyfe. C   

21   Yea he ^note ieopardeth his lyfe with his wyfe, and remembreth neither father nor mother, nor countrey.

22   By this also ye must needes knowe, that women haue dominion ouer you: Do ye not labour ∧ trauayle, and geue and bryng all to the woman?

23   A man taketh his sworde, and goeth his way to steale, [to kyll,] to murther, to sayle vpon the sea, and vpon riuers,

24   And seeth a lion, ∧ goeth in the darkenes: ∧ when he hath stollen, ^note deceaued, and robbed, he bringeth it vnto his loue.

25   Wherefore, a man loueth his wife better then father and mother.

26   Yea many there be that runne out of their wittes, and became bondmen for their ^note wyues sakes.

27   Many one also haue perished, haue erred, and sinned also for women. D   

28   And nowe do ye not beleue me? is not the king great in his power? Do not all regions feare to touche hym?

29   Yet dyd I see hym, and Apame the daughter of the great king Bartacus the kinges concubine, sate besyde the king vpon the right hande,

30   And toke of his crowne from his head, and set it vpon her owne head, and stroke the king with her left hand.

31   And therewhyle stedyly the king loked vpon her with open mouth: if she laughed vpon him, he laughed also: but if she toke any displeasure with hym, the king was fayne to flatter her [and to geue her good wordes] tyll he had gotten her fauour agayne.

32   O ye men, are not women then stronger that do these thinges?

33   Then the king and the princes loked one vpon another: So he began to speake of the trueth:

34   O ye men, are not women stronger? Great is the earth, hye is the heauen, swift is the course of the sunne, ^note he compasseth the heauen rounde about, and fetcheth his course agayne to his owne place in one day.

35   Is he not excellent that maketh these thinges? Therfore great is the trueth, and stronger then all thinges.

36   All the earth calleth vpon trueth, the heauen prayseth it, all workes shake and tremble at it, and with it is no vnrighteous thing.

E   

37   Mine is wicked, the kyng is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked, yea ∧ such are all their wicked workes, and there is no trueth in them, in their vnrighteousnesse also shall they [be destroyed and] perishe:

38   As for the trueth ^note it endureth and is alway strong, it lyueth and conquereth for euermore worlde without ende.

39   With her there is no exception or difference of persons, but she doth that iust is, and refrayneth from all vniust and wicked thynges, and all men do well lyke of her workes.

40   In the iudgement of it there is no vnryghteous thyng, ∧ she is the strength, kyngdome, power, and maiestie of all ages. Blessed be the God of trueth.

41   And with that he helde his peace: and all the people cryed, and then sayde: Great is trueth, and aboue all.

42   Then sayde the kyng vnto hym: Aske what thou wilt more then is appoynted in the writyng, and we shall geue it thee, for thou art founde wyser [then thy companions] thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my kinsman.

43   Then sayde he vnto the kyng: Remember thy [promise and] vowe which thou hast vowed [and promised] in the day when thou camest to the kingdome, to builde vp Hierusalem:

44   And to sende agayne all the vessels [and iewels] that were taken away out of Hierusalem, which Cyrus set apart when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to sende them agayne thyther.

45   And thy mynde was also to builde vp the temple, which the Edomites burnt when Iudea was destroyed by the Chaldees.

46   And nowe this onely [O kyng] is the thing that I require and desire of thee, this is the princely liberalitie that I aske of thee, I desire therfore that thou perfourme the vowe which thou with thine owne mouth hast made vnto the kyng of heauen. F   

47   Then Darius the kyng stoode vp and kyssed hym, ^note wrote hym letters vnto all the deputies and lieftenauntes, to all the lordes and nobles, that they shoulde conuey hym foorth and all them that went vp with hym, to build Hierusalem.

48   He wrote letters also vnto all the liefetenauntes that were in Coelosyria and Phenices, and vnto them in Libanus, that they shoulde bryng Cedar trees from Libanus vnto Hierusalem, and builde the citie with hym.

49   Moreouer, he wrote for all the Iewes that were gone out of his ^note realme into Iurie concernyng their freedome, that no officer, no ruler, nor lieftenaunt, nor stewarde, should enter into their doores:

50   And that all their lande whiche they kept, shoulde be free and not tributarie: and that the Edomites shoulde geue ouer the [cites and] villages of the Iewes which they had taken in:

51   Yea and that there shoulde be yerely geuen twentie talentes to the buildyng of the temple, vntyll the tyme that it were finished:

52   And to maynteyne the burnt offerynges vpon the aulter euery day, (as they had a commaundement to offer seuenteene) other ten talentes euery yere. G   

53   And that all they which come from Babylon to builde the citie, should haue free libertie, they and their children, and all the priestes that went away.

54   He wrote also concerning the charges, and the priestes garment wherin they minister,

55   And likewise for the charges of the Leuites to be geuen them, vntyll the day that the house were finished, and Hierusalem builded vp.

56   And he commaunded that all they that watched the citie, shoulde haue their pensions and wages.

57   He sent away also all the vessels that Cyrus had separated from Babylon: and all that Cyrus had geuen in commaundement, the same charged he also that it shoulde be done, and sent vnto Hierusalem.

58   Nowe when this young man was gone foorth, he lyfted vp his face to heauen towarde Hierusalem, and praysed the kyng of heauen,

59   And sayde: ^note Of thee commeth victorie, of thee commeth wisdome, and thine is the glorie, and I am thy seruaunt.

60   Blessed art thou which hast geuen me wisdome, for to thee I acknowledge it O Lorde [thou God] of our fathers.

61   And so he toke the letters, and went out, and came vnto Babylon, and tolde it all his brethren.

62   And they praysed the God of their

fathers, that he had geuen them freedome and libertie,

63   To go vp, and to builde Hierusalem and the temple, ^note wherin the name of the Lorde is called vpon: and they reioyced with instrumentes of musicke and gladnesse seuen dayes long. The .v. Chapter. 1 The number of them that returne from the captiuitie. 42 their vowes and sacrifices. 54 The temple is begun to be built. 66 Their enemies would craftily ioyne with them. A   

1   &rhand; ‘ After this, were the principall men of the houses of their fathers, chosen in the tribes and kinredes, that they shoulde go with their wiues, and sonnes and daughters, with their seruauntes and maydens, with all their cattell and substaunce.

2   And Darius [the kyng] sent with them a thousande horsemen, to conuey them safely vnto Hierusalem, and with musical instrumentes, with tabers ∧ flutes.

3   And all their brethren played, and he made them go vp together with them.

4   And these are the names of the men which went vp out of the villages, according to the tribes, and after the order of their dignitie.

5   The priestes, the sonnes of Phinehes the sonne of Aaron, Iesus the sonne of Ioseder, the sonne of Sariab, and Ioachim the sonne of ^note Zorobabel, the sonne of Salathiel, of the kinrede of Dauid, out of the kinrede of Phares of the tribe of Iuda,

6   Which spake ^note wonderfull wordes before Darius the kyng of Persia, in the seconde yere of his raigne in the first moneth [called] Nisan. B   

7   And these are they of Iurie that came vp from the captiuitie of the transmigration, whom Nabuchodonosor the kyng of Babylon had brought away vnto Babylon,

8   And returned vnto Hierusalem to the rest of Iurie, euery man to his owne citie, which came with Zorobabel, with Iesus, Nehemias, ∧ Zacharias, Reesaias, Enenius, Mardocheus, Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana their guides.

9   The number of them of the nation and their gouernours: the sonnes of Phares, two thousande an hundred seuentie and two, the sonnes of Saphat foure hundred seuentie and two.

10   The sonnes of Areh, seuen hundred fiftie and sixe.

11   The sonnes of Phaath moab, two thousande eyght hundred and twelue.

12   The sonnes of Eilam, a thousande two hundred fiftie and foure, the sonnes of Zathui, nine hundred fourtie and fiue, the sonnes of Corbe, seuen hundred and fiue, the sonnes of Bani, sixe hundreth fourtie and eyght.

13   The sonnes of Bibai, sixe hundred twentie and three, the sonnes of Azgad, three thousande two hundred twentie and two. C   

14   The sonnes of Adonskam, sixe hundred sixtie and seuen, the sonnes of Bagoi, two thousande sixtie and sixe, the sonnes of Adim, foure hundred fiftie and foure.

15   The sonnes of Aterhezetia, nintie and two, the sonnes of Ceilam and Azota, threescore and seuen, the sonnes of Azuram, foure hundred thirtie ∧ two.

16   The sonnes of Ananias, an hundred and one, the sonnes of Arom, and the sonnes of Bassa, three hundred twentie and three, the sonnes of Arsiphurith, an hundred and two.

17   The sonnes of Meterus, three thousande ∧ fiue, the sonnes of Bethlehem, an hundred twentie and three.

18   They of Netrophah, fiftie and fiue, they of Anathoth, an hundred fiftie and eyght, they of Bethsamos, fourtie and two.

19   They of Kariathiarim, twentie and fiue, they of Caphiras and Beroth, seuen hundred fourtie and three, they of Pirah, seuen hundred.

20   They of Chadias and Ammidioi, fiue hundred twentie ∧ two, they of Cirama and Gabdes, sixe hundred twentie and one.

21   They of Macamos, an hundred twentie and two, they of Bethel, fiftie ∧ two, the sonnes of Nebus, an hundred fiftie and sixe.

D   

22   The sonnes of Calamolaus ∧ Onus, seuen hundred twentie ∧ fiue, the sonnes of Ierechus, three hundred fourtie and fiue.

23   The sonnes of Sanaah, three thousande three hundred and thirtie.

24   The priestes, the sonnes of Ieddu the sonne of Iesus, which are counted among the sonnes of Sanassib, nine hundred seuentie and two, the sonnes of Meruth, a thousande fiftie and two.

25   The sonnes of Phashur, a thousande fourtie and seuen, the sonnes of Charim, a thousande and seuenteene.

26   The Leuites, the sonnes of Iessue, Cadmiel, Banua, and Suia, seuentie and foure.

27   The sonnes [which were] holy singers, the sonnes of Asaph, an hundred fourtie and eyght.

28   The porters, the sonnes of Salum, the sonnes of Iatal the sonnes of Talmon, the sonnes of Dacobi, the sonnes of Teta, the sonnes of Sami, all [were] an hundred thirtie and nine.

29   The ministers of the temple, the sonnes of Esau, the sonnes of Asipha, the sonnes of Tabaoth, the sonnes of Ceras, the sonnes of Sud, the sonnes of Phaleu, the sonnes of Labana, the sonnes of Hagaba, E   

30   The sonnes of Acub, the sonnes of Uta, the sonnes of Cetab, the sonnes of Agab, the sonnes of Sibe, the sonnes of Anan, the sonnes of Cathua, the sonnes of Geddur,

31   The sonnes Kaia, the sonnes of Daisan, the sonnes of Neroda, the sonnes of Chaseba, the sonnes of Gazema, the sonnes of Azias, the sonnes of Phinees, the sonnes of Asara, the sonnes of Baste, the sonnes of Asana, the sonnes of Meunim, the sonnes of Naphison, the sonnes of Bacubub, the sonnes of Acupha, the sonnes of Assur, the sonnes of Pharacim, the sonnes of Baraloth,

32   The sonnes of Mehida, the sonnes of Coutha, the sonnes of Charescha, the sonnes of Bareus, the sonnes of Aserar, the sonnes of Thomoth, the sonnes of Nasib, the sonnes of Atipha,

33   The sonnes of the seruauntes of Solomon, the sonnes of Hazophereth, the sonnes of Pharuda, the sonnes of Geelah, the sonnes of Lozon, the sonnes of Isdael, the sonnes of Staphelia,

34   The sonnes of Agia, the sonnes of Pharareth, the sonnes of Sabin, the sonnes of Spartia, the sonnes of Masias, the sonnes of Gar, the sonnes of Addu, the sonnes of Subah, the sonnes of Apherra, the sonnes of Barodis, the sonnes of Sabat, the sonnes of Allon: F   

35   All the ministers of the temple, ∧ the sonnes of the seruauntes of Solomon, were three hundred seuentie and two.

36   These came vp from Thelmelah and Thelharsa, Carathalat, and Alar, leadyng them:

37   Neither coulde they shewe their families nor their stocke howe they were of Israel. The sonnes of Dalaias, the sonnes of Thubia, the sonnes of Necodan, sixe hundred fiftie and two. ‘ &lhand;

38   Of the priestes that executed the office of the priesthood, and were not founde, the sonnes of Hobia, the sonnes of Hacoz, the sonnes of Addus, which maryed Augia, one of the daughters of Barzeleus,

39   And was named after hym: The writing of the same kinrede was sought in the register of their generation, but it was not founde, and therfore were they forbidden to execute the office of the priesthood.

40   For vnto them sayde Nehemias and Atharias, that they shoulde haue no portion in the sanctuarie, tyll there rose vp an hie priest that were well instruct in the playne clearnesse and trueth.

41   So of Israel from them of twelue yeres olde, and children, they were all in number fourtie and two thousand three hundred and threescore, besides men seruauntes and women seruauntes. G   

42   Their seruauntes and handmaydens were seuen thousande three hundred fourtie ∧ seuen. The singyng men and singyng women, two hundred fourtie and fiue.

43   Foure hundred thirtie ∧ fiue camels, seuen thousande thirtie and sixe horses, two hundred fourtie ∧ fiue mules, fiue thousand fiue hundred twentie and fiue beastes vsed to the yoke.

44   And of their rulers also after their families, when they came to the temple of God that is in Hierusalem, there were that vowed to set vp the house agayne in his owne place, accordyng to their abilitie:

45   And to geue into the holy treasure of the workes, a thousande poundes of

golde, fiue thousande of siluer, and an hundred pretious garmentes.

46   And so dwelt the priestes and the Leuites and the people in Hierusalem, and in the countrey [there about,] the singers also and the porters, and all Israel in their villages.

47    ^noteBut when the seuenth moneth came, and when the children of Israel were euery man in his owne, they came altogether with one consent into the open place of the gate which is towardes the east.

48   And there Iesus the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren the priestes, and Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and his brethren, rising vp, made redy the aulter of the God of Israel,

49   To offer burnt sacrifices vpon it, so as it is written in the lawe of Moyses the man of God.

50   And thither were gathered agaynst them, diuers of other nations of the lande: but they dressed the aulter in his owne place, although all the nations in the lande were enemies to them and vexed them: and they offered sacrifices to the Lorde both mornyng ∧ euenyng.

51   And also they helde the feast of tabernacles as it is ^note commaunded in the lawe, and sacrifices dayly as it was appertaynyng.

52   And after that also the continuall oblations, and the offerynges of the Sabbathes, and of the newe monethes, and of all holy feastes.

53   And all they which had made any vowe to God, began to offer sacrifice to God from the first day of the seuenth moneth, although the temple of the Lorde was not yet built vp.

54   And they gaue vnto the masons and carpenters, money, meate and drynke, with chearfulnesse.

55   Unto them of Sidon also and Tyre they gaue carres, that they should bring Cedar trees from Libanus, whiche should be brought by flote to the hauen Ioppe, according as it was c&obar;maunded them by Cyrus kyng of the Persians.

56   And in the seconde yere and seconde moneth came into the temple of God at Hierusalem, ^note Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec and their brethren, and the priestes and Leuites, and all they that were come vnto Hierusalem out of the captiuitie [of Babylon.]

57   And they layde the foundation of the house of God in the ^note newe moone of the seconde moneth, in the seconde yere that they were come to Iurie and Hierusalem.

58   And they appoynted the Leuites that were aboue twentie yeres olde ouer the workes of the Lord: So Iesus and his sonne, ∧ brethren, assisted, and Cadmiel also his brother, and the sonnes of Madiabon, with the sonnes of Ioda, the sonne of Eliadon, and his sonnes ∧ brethren, euen all the Leuites with one accorde, folowed on earnestly to aduaunce the workes in the house of God: so the workmen built vp the temple of the Lorde.

59   And the priestes stoode and had their garmentes with musicall instrumentes and trumpettes, and the Leuites the sonnes of Asaph had Cymbales,

60   Geuyng thankes and prayses vnto the Lorde, accordyng ^note as Dauid the kyng of Israel had ordeyned.

61   And they song with loude voyces songes to the prayse of the Lorde, because his mercie and glorie is for euer in Israel.

62   And all the people blewe out with trumpets, and cryed with loude voyce, praysyng the Lorde together for the rearyng vp of the house of the Lorde.

63    ^noteThere came also from among the priestes and Leuites, and of the chiefest accordyng to the tribes and kinredes, to wit, the elders which had seene the former house,

64   To the buildyng of this, with great crye and great mournyng, many also with trumpettes and [great] ioy cryed with loude voyce:

65   Insomuch that the trumpets myght not well be hearde for the weepyng and mournyng of the people: yet there was a great multitude that blewe trumpets marueylouslye, so that it was hearde farre of.

66    ^noteWherfore when the enemies of the tribes of Iuda and Beniamin hearde it, they came to knowe what that noyse of trumpettes shoulde meane.

67   And they perceaued that they which were come againe out of captiuitie, built the temple vp a newe vnto the Lorde God of Israel.

68   So they went to Zorobabel ∧ Iesus,

and to the rulers of the villages, and sayd vnto them: Shall we builde with you also?

69   For we lykewyse as you, do obey your Lorde, and do sacrifice vnto hym from the dayes of Albazareth the kyng of Assyria, which brought vs hyther.

70   Then Zorobabel and Iesus and the rulers of the villages of Israel sayde vnto them: It doth not agree that ye shoulde builde the temple of our God with vs.

71   We our selues alone wyll builde vnto the Lorde of Israel as is meete, and like ^note as Cyrus the kyng of the Persians hath commaunded vs.

72   But the heathen in the lande made them sluggishe that were in Iurie, and sundred them, ∧ letted their buildinges:

73   And by their embushmentes, seditions, and conspiracies, stopped, that the buildyng coulde not be finished all the tyme that kyng Cyrus lyued: so that they put of the buildyng for the space of two yeres, vntyll the raigne of king Darius. The .vj. Chapter. 1 Of Aggeus and Zacharias, 2 The buildyng of the temple. 3 Sisinnes woulde let them. 7 His letters to Darius. 23 The kynges aunswere to the contrarie. A   

1   Notwithstandyng, in the seconde yere of the raigne of Darius, ^note Aggeus ∧ Zacharias the sonne of Addo the prophetes, prophecied vnto the Iewes, and to them in Iurie and Hierusalem, euen in the name of the Lord God of Israel.

2   Then Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec stoode vp and began to builde the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem, when the prophetes of the Lord were with them and helped them.

3   At the same tyme came Sisinnes the gouernour of Syria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and sayde vnto them:

4   Who hath bydden [and commaunded] you to builde this house, to make this roofe and all other thinges againe? And who are the ^note workmen that builde th&ebar;?

5   Neuerthelesse, the elders of the Iewes had [such] grace of the Lorde, after he had visited the captiuitie,

6   That they were not letted from buildyng, vntill the tyme that kyng Darius was certified therof, and an aunswere receaued [from hym.]

7   The copie of the letters which he wrote and sent vnto Darius. Sisinnes gouernour of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes with their companions, which are head rulers in Syria ∧ Phenice, sende their salutation vnto Darius the kyng. B   

8   We certifie our Lord the kyng, that we came into the lande of Iurie, and went to Hierusalem, where we founde the auncientes of the Iewes that were of the captiuitie in the citie of Hierusalem,

9   Buildyng an house vnto the Lorde, great and newe, of hewen and costlye stones, and the timber alredy layde vpon the walles:

10   Yea they make great haste with the worke, and it goeth foorth prosperously in their handes, and with great diligence and worshyp is it made.

11   Then asked we the elders, saying: By whose commaundement builde you vp this house, and lay the foundations of these workes?

12   Which we demaunded of them, to the intent that we myght geue knowledge vnto thee, ∧ write vnto thee of those that gouerned it: and we required of them their names in writyng that were their chiefe leaders to it. C   

13   So they gaue vs this aunswere: We are the seruauntes of the Lorde which made heauen and earth:

14   And as for this house, ^note it was builded many yeres agone by a kyng of Israel great and strong, and was finished.

15   But when our fathers prouoked God vnto wrath, and sinned agaynst the Lorde of Israel which is in heauen, ^note he gaue them ouer into the power of Nabuchodonosor kyng of Babylon, of the Chaldees:

16   Which brake downe the house and burnt it, and caryed away the people prisoners vnto Babylon.

17    ^noteNeuerthelesse, in the first yere that king Cyrus raigned ouer the countreys of Babylon, Cyrus the kyng wrote,

[and commaunded] to builde vp this house [agayne:] D   

18   And the holy vessels of golde and of siluer that Nabuchodonosor had caryed away out of the house at Hierusalem, and had dedicated them in his owne temple: those brought Cyrus foorth agayne out of the temple at Babylon, and deliuered them to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler:

19   Commaundyng hym that he shoulde cary away those same vessels, and put them in the temple at Hierusalem, and that the temple of the Lorde shoulde be built in his [owne] place.

20   Then the same Sanabassarus beyng come hyther, layde the foundations of the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem, and from that to this, beyng styll a buildyng, it is not yet fully ended.

21   Nowe therfore O king, if thou thinkest it good, let it be sought in the libraries [and rolles] of kyng Cyrus:

22   And yf it be founde then that the buildyng of the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem hath ben done with the [counsell and] consent of kyng Cyrus, and yf our Lorde the kyng be so mynded, let hym geue aunswere vnto vs therof.

23    ^noteThen commaunded kyng Darius to seke in the kynges libraries at Babylon: and so at Ecbatane a towre in the region of Medea, there was founde a place where these thinges was layde vp for ^note memorie. E   

24   In the first yere of the raigne of Cyrus, [the same] kyng Cyrus c&obar;maunded that the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem shoulde be builded agayne, where they do sacrifice with the continuall fire.

25   Whose heyght shalbe sixtie cubites, and the breadth sixtie cubites, with three rowes of hewen stones, and one rowe of wood, newe, and of that countrey, and the expenses therof to be geuen out of the house of kyng Cyrus:

26   And the holy vessels of the house of the Lorde, both of golde and of siluer, that Nabuchodonosor toke out of the house at Hierusalem and brought to Babylon, shoulde be restored to the house at Hierusalem, and be set in the place where it was [before.] F   

27   And also he commaunded that Sisinnes the gouernour of Syria ∧ Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, and others constituted rulers in Syria and Phenice, shoulde take heede not to meddle with that place, but to suffer Zorobabel the seruaunt of the Lorde and gouernour of Iudea, and the elders of the Iewes, to builde that house of the Lorde in that place.

28   I haue commaunded also to haue it built vp whole agayne, and that they be diligent to helpe those that be of the captiuitie of the Iewes, tyll the house of the Lorde be finished:

29   And out of the tribute of Coelosyria and Phenice, a portion diligently to be geuen those men vnto the offeringes of the Lord, ∧ the same to be deliuered vnto Zorobabel the officer, that he therwithall may ordeyne oxen, rammes, lambes, G   

30   And also corne, salt, wine, and oyle, and that continually euery yere, after the expences ^note which the priestes that be at Hierusalem shall testifie to be made dayly [this shalbe geuen vnto them] without delay,

31   That they may offer sacrifices dayly to the hyest God for the kyng and for his children, and to pray for their liues.

32   And he commaunded also that whosoeuer shoulde breake any poynt of the foresayde and foredecreed thynges, or make it voyde, of his owne goodes shoulde a tree be taken, and he theron be hanged, and all his goodes seasoned vnto the kyng.

33   The Lorde therfore whose name is there called vpon, roote out and destroy euery kyng ∧ nation that stretcheth out his hande to hinder, or [hurt and] endomage that house of the Lorde in Hierusalem.

34   I Darius the kyng haue ordeyned, that accordyng to these thynges it be done with diligence.

The .vij. Chapter. 1 Sisinnes and his companions folowe the kynges commaundement, and helpe the Iewes to builde the temple. 5 The tyme that it was built. 10 They kepe the Passouer. A   

1   Then Sisinnes the gouernour in Coelosyria ∧ Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes with their companions obeyed the thynges that kyng Darius had ordeyned,

2   And were diligent assisters in the holy workes, workyng with the auncientes and gouernours of the sanctuarie:

3   And so the holy workes went foorth and prospered when Aggeus and Zacharias the prophetes prophecied.

4   And they perfourmed all thinges through the commaundement of the Lorde God of Israel, and with consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes kynges of Persia.

5   And thus was the holy house finished in the twentie and three day of the moneth Adar, in the sixt yere of Darius kyng of the Persians.

6   And the children of Israel, the priestes and the Leuites, and other that were of the captiuitie, that had any charge, dyd accordyng to the thynges written in the booke of Moyses.

7   And to the dedication of the temple of the Lorde, they offered an hundred ^note oxen, two hundred rammes, foure hundred lambes,

8   And twelue goates, for the sinnes of all [the people of] Israel, after the number of the chiefe of the tribes of Israel. B   

9   The priestes also and the Leuites stoode arayed in their long robes after their kinredes in all the workes of the Lorde God of Israel, accordyng to the booke of Moyses, and the porters at euery doore.

10   And the children of Israel, with those that were come out of captiuitie, helde the Passouer the fourteenth day of the first moneth, after that þe; priestes and the Leuites were sanctified.

11   They that were of the captiuitie were not all sanctified together: but the Leuites were all sanctified together.

12   And so they offered the Passouer for all them of the captiuitie, and for their brethren the priestes, ∧ for themselues.

13   And the children of Israel that came out of captiuitie dyd eate, all they that had separated them selues from the abhominations of the people of the lande, and sought the Lorde,

14   And they kept the feast of the vnleauened bread seuen dayes long, makyng mery before the Lorde,

15   That the Lorde had turned the counsayle of the kyng of Assyria towardes them, to strengthen their handes vnto the workes of the Lord God of Israel. The .viij. Chapter. 1 Esdras commeth from Babylon to Hierusalem. 10 The copie of the commission geuen by kyng Artaxerxes. 29 Esdras geueth thankes to the Lorde. 32 The number of the heades of the people that came with hym. 76 His prayer and confession. A   

1   And after these, ^note when Artaxerxes the kyng of the Persians raigned, there went vnto hym Esdras the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Ezerias, the sonne of Helchiach, the sonne of Salum,

2   The sonne of Sadoch, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Amarias, the sonne of Ezias, the sonne of Menuerath the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Sauias, the sonne of Boccas, the sonne of Abisun, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the first priest:

3   This Esdras went vp from Babylon beyng a scribe of good vnderstandyng in the lawe of Moyses that was geuen by the Lorde God of Israel.

4   And the kyng fauoured hym, and dyd hym great [worshyp and] honour ^note after all his desires.

5   There went vp with hym also certayne of the children of Israel, of the priestes, of the Leuites, of the singers, porters and ministers of the temple, vnto Hierusalem.

6   In the seuenth yere of the raigne of kyng Artaxerxes in the fifth moneth, which was the seuenth yere (for they went from Babylon in the first day of the first moneth,

7   And came to Hierusalem, accordyng as God gaue th&ebar; speede in their iourney,)

8   For Esdras had gotten great knowledge to omit nothyng of that was in the lawe and the commaundementes of the Lorde, and to teache all Israel all the ^note ordinaunces and iudgementes.

9   The copie of the commission whiche Artaxerxes the kyng wrote, and that was geuen to Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of the Lorde, this is it that foloweth. B   

10   Kyng Artaxerxes sendeth his greeting vnto Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of the Lorde.

11   I hauyng wayed thynges with pitie, haue [ordeyned and] charged, yf there be any of the Iewes, of the priestes ∧ Leuites in my ^note realme, which desireth and is content to go with thee vnto Israel, that he may do it.

12   Therfore, so many as long therafter, let them depart together, and go with thee like as I am content and my seuen friendes my counsaylers,

13   To see what they do at Hierusalem and in Iurie, conueniently, accordyng as thou hast in the lawe of the Lorde:

14   And to bryng the gyftes vnto [God] the Lorde of Israel, that I ∧ my friendes haue ^note promised to Hierusalem, and all the siluer and golde that in the countrey of Babylon may be founde [parteynyng] to the Lorde in Hierusalem,

15   With the thyng that is geuen of the people to the Lorde their Gods temple at Hierusalem: that the same siluer and golde maye be gathered, for oxen, rammes, sheepe, and goates, and other that belong to these thynges,

16   That they may offer sacrifices vnto the Lorde, vpon the aulter of the Lorde their God which is at Hierusalem. C   

17   And whatsoeuer thou and thy brethren wyll do with the siluer and golde, that do accordyng to the wyll of thy God:

18   And the holy vessels of the Lorde, which are geuen thee for the seruice of the temple of thy God which is in Hierusalem, thou shalt set [them] before thy God in Hierusalem.

19   And whatsoeuer thyng els thou shalt remember for the vse of the temple of thy God, thou shalt geue it out of the kynges treasure.

20   And I king Artaxerxes haue also commaunded the kepers of the treasures in Syria and Phenice, that whatsoeuer Esdras the priest and the reader of the lawe of the hyghest God shall sende for, they shoulde geue it hym with speede:

21   Euen to the summe of an hundred talentes of siluer: of corne also an hundred ^notemeasures, and till an hundred ^note vessels of wine, ∧ other thinges aboundauntly.

22   Let all thinges be done after the lawe of God diligently, vnto the highest God, that wrath come not vpon the kyngdome of the kyng and of his sonnes.

23   I commaunde you also, that ye require no taxe nor tribute of the priestes, Leuites, holy singers, porters, and ministers of the temple, nor of any that haue doynges in this temple, and that no man haue aucthoritie to put any inpost vpon them.

24   As for thee O Esdras, set thou iudges and arbitrers to iudge in the whole lande of Syria and Phenice after the wisdome of God, all skilfull in the lawe of God, ∧ teache such as are ignoraunt. D   

25   And let all them which shall offende agaynst the lawe of God and the kyng, be diligently punished, whether it be by death or other payne, by punishment in money, or els by banishment.

26   Then sayd Esdras the scribe: ^note Blessed be the only Lorde God of my fathers that hath geuen so good a mynde ∧ will into the heart of the kyng, to magnifie his house that is at Hierusalem,

27   And hath ^note made me to be accepted in the syght of the kyng, of his counsayle, of his friendes, and of his nobles.

28   And so I was ^note stedfast in my mynde accordyng as the Lorde my God helped me, and I gathered vp men of Israel to go vp with me.

29    ^note&lhand; ‘ And these are the guides after their families and orders of dignities, that went vp with me from Babylon, in the raigne of kyng Artaxerxes.

30   Of the sonnes of Phinees, Gersom: of the sonnes of Ithamar, Gamaliel: of the sonnes of Dauid, Hattus the sonne of Cechemah:

31   Of the sonnes of Phares, Zacharias, and with hym there returned agayne

an hundred and fiftie men. E   

32   Of the sonnes of Pahath, Moab Elioani, the sonne of Zacharias, and with him two hundred men.

33   Of the sonnes of Zathoc, Shechenias the sonne of Iezolus, ∧ with hym three hundred men: ∧ of the sonnes of Adin, Obed the sonne of Ionathan, and with him two hundred and fiftie men.

34   Of the sonnes of Elam, Iesias, sonne of Gotholias, ∧ with him seuentie men.

35   Of the sonnes of Saphatias, Zarias, sonne of Machael, ∧ with him.lxx.men.

36   Of the sonnes of Ioab, Badias, sonne of Iezelus, and with hym two hundred and twelue men.

37   Of the sonnes of Banid, Assalimoth, sonne of Iosaphias, and with hym an hundred and threscore men.

38   Of the sonnes of Babi, Zacharias, sonne of Bebai, ∧ with him.xxviii.men.

39   Of the sonnes of Astath, Iohannes, sonne of Acatan, and with hym an c x.

40   Of the sonnes of Adonicam the last: and these are the names of them, Eliphalet, Ieouel, and Maias, and with them seuentie men.

41   Of the sonnes of Bagouthi, sonne of Iscacourus, and with hym.lxx.men.

42   All these called I together by the water Thia, where we pitched our tentes three dayes, ∧ there I mustered them.

43    ^noteAs for the sonnes of the priestes and leuites, I founde none there.] ‘ &lhand;

44   Then sent I vnto Eleazar, ∧ beholde there came Maasman, and Maloban, F   

45   And Alnathan, and Samaian, and Ioribon, and Nathan, Ennatan, Zacharian, and Mosollamon the chiefe and best learned.

46   And I bad them that they should go vnto Daddens the captayne, whiche was in the place of the treasurie:

47   And commaunded them that they shoulde speake vnto Daddeus, and to his brethren, and to those that were the treasurers, to sende vs suche men as might execute the priestes office in the house of our Lorde.

48   And with the mightie hande of our lord [God] they brought vnto vs men of good ^note experience, from among þe; sonnes of Moli, the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel, Seredia and his sonnes and his brethren whiche were eyghteene.

49   And Asebia and Amon, and Osaian his brethr&ebar; of the sonnes of Canaineus, their sonnes were twentie men.

50   And of them that serued in the temple whom Dauid had ordayned, and the principall men to the worke of the Leuites that were ministers in the temple, two hundred ∧ twentie, whose names are all signed vp in writing.

51   And then commaunded I a fasting vnto the young men before the Lorde, that I might desire of him a prosperous iourney [and a good way] both for vs and them that were with vs, for our chyldren, and for the cattell.

52   For I feared to desire of the king men of horse and of foote, to conuey vs safely against our enemies.

53   For we had sayde vnto the kyng, that the power of the Lord our God should be with them that seeke hym, to direct them in all thinges.

54   And therfore we besought our Lorde agayne as touching these thinges, and founde him fauourable vnto vs. G   

55   Then I separated from among the chiefe of the tribes and from the priestes xij.men [to wit] Esebrias, and Assanias, ∧ ten men of their brethren with them.

56   And I wayed them the golde and the siluer, and the holy vessels of the house of our Lorde, whiche the kyng and his counsell, and his princes, and whole Israel had geuen.

57   And when I had wayed it, I deliuered it vnto them sixe hundred and fiftie talentes of siluer, and an hundred talentes in siluer vessels, and an hundred talentes of golde,

58   And twentie golden basens, ∧ twelue vessels of brasse, euen fine brasse, like shining golde.

59   And I sayde vnto them: Ye are holy vnto the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the golde and the siluer is ^note promised vnto the Lord [God] of our fathers.

60   Be ^note diligent nowe and kepe it, vntyll the tyme that ye deliuer it to the chiefe of the priestes and leuites, and to the principall men of the families of Israel in Hierusalem, in the chaumbers of the house of our God.

61    ^noteSo the priestes and the leuites which receaued of me the golde, the siluer, and the vessels, brought it vnto Hierusalem vnto the temple.

62   And from the riuer Thia we brake vp the twelfth day of the first moneth, according to the mightie hande of our Lorde whiche was with vs, and from the beginning of our iourney the Lord

deliuered vs from euery enemie: so that we came vnto Hierusalem.

63   And when the thirde day was past there, the wayed golde and siluer was deliuered in the house of the Lorde on the fourth day vnto Marimoth the priest and sonne of Iori.

64   And with him was Eleazar the sonne of Phinees, and with them were Iosabdus the sonne of Iesu, and Moeth the sonne of Sabbanus, Leuites: all was deliuered them by number and wayght.

65   And all the wayght of them was written vp the same houre.

66   After that, they that were come out of captiuitie, offred sacrifice vnto the Lord God of Israel, euen twelue oxen for all Israel, fourescore ∧ sixteene rammes,

67   Threescore and twelue sheepe, twelue goates for saluation, all in sacrifice to the Lorde. E   

68   And the kinges commission deliuered they vnto the kinges stewardes, and to the gouernours of Coelosyria and Phenice, who honoured the people and the temple of God.

69    ^noteNow when these thinges were done, the rulers came vnto me, and sayde:

70   The nation of Israel, the princes, the priestes, and leuites, haue not put away from them the straunge people of the lande, nor the vncleannes of the Gentiles, to wit, of the Chanaanites, Hethites, Pheresites, Iebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.

71   For both they and theyr sonnes haue mingled them selues with the daughters of them, and the holy seede is mixt with the straunge people of the lande: and since the beginning of the affaires, the rulers and head men haue ben partakers of this wickednesse.

72    ^noteAnd assoone as I had hearde these things, immediatly I rent my clothes, and the holy garment, and pulled out the heere of my head ∧ my bearde, and sat me downe sorowfull and heauie.

73   So all they that were moued thorow the worde of the Lorde God of Israel, came vnto me whyles I wept for the iniquitie: but I sate styll full of heauinesse vntyll the euening sacrifice.

74   Then stoode I vp from fasting, hauing rent clothes ∧ the holy garment, and kneeled downe vpon my knees, ∧ helde out my handes vnto the Lorde,

75   And sayde: O Lorde, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face. F   

76   For our sinnes are become many, euen aboue our heades, and our ignoraunces are lifted vp euen vnto heauen:

77   For since the tyme of our fathers, we are in great sinne vnto this day.

78   And for the sinnes of vs and our fathers, we with our brethren, and with our kinges, and with our priestes, haue ben geuen vp vnto the kynges of the earth, into the sworde, and into captiuitie, and became a spoyle with confusion [and shame] vnto this day.

79   And nowe O Lord God, howe great is the mercy that we haue gotten of thee? in that thou hast lefte vs a roote and a name in the place of thy sanctuarie,

80   And that thou hast discouered to vs a light in the house of the Lord our God, and hast geuen vs meate in the tyme of our seruitude.

81   And when we were in captiuitie, we were not forsaken of the Lord our god: but he made the kynges of Persia gratious and fauourable vnto vs, so that they gaue vs victuals [and meate,]

82   Yea, and honoured the temple of our Lorde, and repayred the wasted places of Sion, and gaue vs assuraunce in Iurie and Hierusalem. G   

83   And nowe O Lorde, what shall we say hauing all these things [in possession?] For we haue broken thy commaundementes, whiche thou gauest vnto vs by the handes of thy seruauntes the prophetes, saying:

84   Because the lande whiche ye go to possesse as an heritage, is a lande defiled with the vncleannes [and filthynes] of the straungers of the land, and with their abhomination they haue polluted it altogether:

85   Therfore now shall ye not ioyne their daughters vnto your sonnes, neither marry your daughters to their sonnes.

86   Moreouer, ye shall neuer seeke to make peace with them, that ye may ^note increase and eate the best in the lande, and that ye may leaue the inheritaunce of the lande vnto your chyldren for euermore.

87   As for the thinges that are come to passe, they come all for our wicked workes and great sinnes: for thou O Lorde hast made our sinnes light.

88   And geuen vs suche a roote: but we haue turned backe agayne, so that we haue broken thy lawe, and mingled our selues with the vncleannes of the outlandishe heathen.

89   Mightest not thou be angry with vs, to destroy vs? so that thou shouldest leaue vs neither roote, seede, nor name?

90   O Lord God of Israel, thou art true: for our roote endureth yet vnto this present day.

91   And beholde, nowe are we before thee in our sinnes, neither can we stande before thee for them.

92    ^noteAnd when Esdras with this prayer had knowledged the sinne, weping and lying flat vpon the grounde before the temple, there gathered vnto him from Hierusalem a great multitude of men and women, of young men and maydens: for there was a very great [weping and] mourning among the multitude.

93   Then Iechonias the sonne of Ieheli, one of the chyldren of Israel, cryed out and sayde: O Esdras, we haue sinned against the Lord God, [because] we haue maryed straunge women of the nations of the lande.

94   And now al Israel hangeth in doubt: We wyll sweare an oth therefore vnto the Lorde, that we shall put away all our wyues which we haue taken of the ^note heathen with their chyldren:

95   Like as it may seeme good to thee, and to all those that obay the lawe of the Lorde,

96   Stande vp and put it in execution: for to thee doth this matter appertayne, and we are with thee to adde thee strength.

97   So Esdras arose, and toke an oth of the chiefe of the Priestes and Leuites of all Israel, to do after these thinges: and they sware. The .ix. Chapter. 7 After Esdras had read the lawe for the straunge wyues. 18 they promised to put them away. A   

1   Then Esdras rising fr&obar; the court of the temple, went to the chamber of Ioannan, the sonne of Eliasib,

2   And remayned there and did eate no meate, nor dronke ^note drinke, weepyng for the great wickednesse of the people.

3   And there was made a proclamation in all Iury, and at Hierusalem, for all them that were of the captiuitie, that they shoulde gather together at Hierusalem,

4   And that whosoeuer met not there within two or three dayes, according as the elders that bare rule appoynted, their cattell shoulde de seased to the vse of the temple, and he be excluded from them that were of the captiuitie.

5   And in three dayes were all they of the tribe of Iuda and Beniamin gathered together at Hierusalem, the twentith day of the ninth moneth.

6   And the whole multitude sat tremblyng in the ^note court of the temple, for it was wynter.

7   So Esdras arose vp, and sayde vnto them: Ye haue done vnrighteously, in that ye haue taken ^note outlandishe wiues to mariage, and so to encrease the sinnes of Israel. B   

8   And nowe knowledge the same, and geue prayse vnto the Lorde God of our fathers:

9   And perfourme his wyll, departing from the heathen of the land, and from the ^note outlandishe wiues.

10   Then cryed the whole multitude, and sayd with a loude voyce: Lyke as thou hast spoken, so wyll we do.

11   But forsomuche as the people are many, and wynter season, so that we may not stande without the house: and because this worke is not a thing that can be finished in a day or two, seing we be many that haue sinned in these thinges:

12   Ordayne therefore that the rulers of the multitude, and they of our families that haue straunge wyues, tarry.

13   And let the priestes and iudges come out of euery place in their time appoynted, tyll they swage the wrath of the Lorde in this businesse.

14   Then Ionathas the sonne of Azaiel, and Ezechias the sonne of Thecan, receaued the charge of this matter, and Mosollam, and Leuis, and Sabatheus helped them therto.

15   And they that were of the captiuitie, dyd according to all these thinges.

16   And Esdras the priest chose vnto him the principall men from among the fathers, and them all by name: and in the first day of the tenth moneth they sat together, to examine this matter.

17   And so the matter was a determining concerning the men that had maryed straunge wyues vntyll the new moone of the first moneth:

18   &rhand; ‘ [And of the priestes that had mixt them selues with ^note outlandishe wyues, there were founde,

19    ^noteOf the sonnes of Iesu the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren, Mathelas, Eleazar, Ioribus, and Ioadanus:

20   Whiche offered them selues to put away their wiues, and to offer a ramme vnto reconcilement for their purgation. D   

21   And of the sonnes of Emmer, Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Canes, and Samaius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.

22   And of the sonnes of Phaisu, Ellionas, Massias, Esmaelus, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus, and Talsas.

23   And of the Leuites, Iorabadus, and Semis, ∧ Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Doudas, and Ionas.

24   Of the holy singers, Eliazurus, Bacchurus.

25   Of the porters, Sallumus, and Tolbants.

26   Of them of Israel, of the sonnes of Phorus, Hiermas, and Eddias, ∧ Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleasar, and Asibias, and Banaias.

27   Of the sonnes of Ela, Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hiericlas, and Hieremoth, and Aedias. E   

28   And of the sonnes of Zamoth, Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Iarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus.

29   Of the sonnes of Bebai, Ioannes, ∧ Ananias, and Iosabad, ∧ Ematheas.

30   Of the sonnes of Mani, Olamus, Mamuchus, Iedaias, Iasubus, Iasael, and Ieremoth.

31   And of the sonnes of Addi, Naathus, Moosias, Laccunus, and Naidus, and Matthanias, and Seschel, and Balnuus, and Manasseas.

32   And of the sonnes of Annas, Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon a Chosamite.

33   And of the sonnes of Asom, Altaneus, and Matthias, and Banaias, Eliphalet, and Manasses, and Semi.

34   And of the sonnes of Maani, Ieremias, Momdis, Omairus, Inel, Mamai, and Paclias, and Amos, Carabasion and Euasibus, ∧ Mamnimata Naius, Elisiasis, Uamus, Eliali, Sanus, Selemias, Nathanias: ∧ of the sonnes of Ozoras, Sesis, Esril, Ezailus, Samatas, Sambis, Iosiphus. F   

35   And of the sonnes of Ethna, Mazitias, Zabadias, Ethes, Inel, Banaias.

36   All these had taken ^note outlandishe women to mariage, and they put them away with their chyldren.] ‘ &lhand;

37   And the priestes and Leuites, and [all] they that were of Israel, dwelt at Hierusalem, and throughout all the lande, in the ^note newe moone of the seuenth moneth: and the chyldren of Israel were in their ^note dwellinges.

38   And the whole multitude came together with one accorde into the wyde place before the east gate of the temple.

39   And they spake vnto Esdras the hye priest and reader, that he woulde bryng the lawe of Moyses which had ben geuen of the Lorde God of Israel.

40   So Esdras the hye priest brought the law vnto the whole multitude, to man, and woman, and to al priestes, that they myght heare the lawe, ^note in the ^note newe moone of the seuen moneth. G   

41   And he read in the first wyde place that is before the port of the temple, from the morning early vnto midday before men and women: And they applyed their minde all vnto the lawe.

42   And Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe stoode vp vpon a pulpit of wood whiche was made therfore:

43   And vpon his right hand there stoode by hym Mathathias, Samus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezechias, and Balasan:

44   Upon his left hande stoode Faldeus, Sael, Melchias, Aothasuphus, and Nabarias.

45   Then toke Esdras the booke of the lawe before the whole multitude (for he was the principall, and had in most honour of them all.)

46   And when he expounded the lawe, they stoode all straight vpon their feete. So Esdras ^note praysed the Lord the most hye God, the almightie God of hoastes.

47   And al the people aunswered, Amen.

48   And Iesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adimus, Iacobus, Battaias, Autamas, Maianias, Calitas, Azarias, Iohasabdus, Ananias, and Biatas, the Leuites, lyft vp their handes, and fell downe on the grounde, and worshipped the Lord,

49   And taught the lawe of the Lord, and were earnestly occupied together in the reading thereof.

50   Then spake Atharates vnto Esdras the hye priest and reader, and to the Leuites that taught the multitude, saying:

51   This day is holy vnto the Lord: and all when they hearde the lawe, wept.

52   [So Esdras sayde:] ^note Depart your way therfore, and eate the fat meates, and drinke the sweete drinkes, and sende gyftes vnto them that haue nothing.

53   For this day is holy vnto the Lorde, and be not ye sory: for the Lorde wyll bryng you to honour.

54   So the Leuites ^note published all these thinges to the people, saying: This day is holy to the Lorde, be not sory:

55   Then went they their way euery one to eate and drinke, and were mery, and sent presents to them that had nothing, and made very good cheare:

56   For they were as yet ^note filled with the wordes that had ben taught them, and for the whiche they had ben assembled. ¶2; The ende of the thirde booke of Esdras.

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