A   In the fyrste yeare of Cyrus king of Persia (that þe; word of þe; lord spoken ^note by the mouth of Ieremy mighte be fulfylled) the Lord stered vp the sprete of Cyrus kynge of Persia, that he caused it be proclamed thorowout al his empyre, ye and by wrytinge also, saying: Thus sayth Cyrus the king of Persia: The Lord God of heau&ebar; hath geuen me al þe; kingdomes in the land ^note ∧ hath commaunded me to buylde him an house at Ierusalem in Iuda. Whosoeuer now amonge you is of hys people, B   the Lord his God be with him, ∧ let him go vp to Ierusalem in Iuda, and buylde the house of the Lorde God of Israell. He is the God that is at Ierusalem. And whosoeuer remayneth yet in any maner of a place (where he is a straunger) let the men of hys place helpe him with syluer ∧ golde, &wt; good ∧ cattel, beside that which they willingly offer, for the house of God at Ierusalem.

C   Then gat vp the principal fathers of Iuda and Ben Iamin, ∧ the priestes and Leuites, and all they whose sprete God had raysed to go vp, and to buylde the house of the Lord at Ierusalem. And al they that were aboute them, strenghthed their hand with vessels of syluer and golde, with good ∧ catel, and Iewels, besyde that whiche they gaue of their owne frewyll. And Kynge Cyrus broughte forth of the vessels of the house of the Lorde, whiche Nabuchodonozor had taken oute of Ierusalem, and put in the house of his God. But Cyrus the kynge of Persia brought th&ebar; forth by Mithridates the treasurer, ∧ numbred D   them vnto Selbazar the prynce of Iuda. And this is the numbre of them: thyrtye basens of gold, and a thousand basens of siluer, and nine and twenty knyues, thyrty cuppes of gold, and of other syluer cuppes foure hundred and ten, and of other vessels a thousande. So that all the vessels both of golde and syluer, were fyue thousand ∧ foure hundred. Sesbazar brought them all vp, with th&ebar; that came vp out of the captiuite of Babilon vnto Ierusalem. ¶ The seconde Chapter. The n&ubar;bre of them that returned from captiuitye.

A   These are the children of the land that went vp oute of the captyuite (wh&obar; Nabuchodonozor the kynge of Babylon had caryed awaye vnto Babilon) and came again vnto Ierusalem and into Iuda, euery

The returne, ∧c. one vnto hys cyty, and came with Zorobabel Iesua, Nehemiah, Saraiah, Raelaiah, Mardochai, Belfan, Mesphar, Begauai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is now the nombre of the men of the people of Israel. The children of Phares, two thousande, an hundred, and two and seuenty: the chyldren of Saphatiah thre hundred and two and seuenty: the children of Arath, seuen hundred and fyue and seuenty: the children of ^note Pahath Moab amonge the chyldren of Iesua Ioab, two thousand eyght hundred and twelue: the children of Elam, a thousande, two hundred and foure and fyfty: the chyldren of Zethua, nyne hundred, and fyue and fourtye: the chyldren of Sacai, seu&ebar; hundred and thre skore: the children of Bani, syxe hundred ∧ two and fourty: the chyldren of Bebai, syxe hundred and thre and twenty: the chyldren of Asgad, a thousande two hundred ∧ two and twenty: the children of Adonicam, syxe hundred ∧ syxe ∧ syxtye: the children of Beguai, two thousand and syxe and fyftye: the children of Adin, foure hundred ∧ foure and fiftye: B   the children of Ater of Hezekiah, eight and nyntye: the chyldren of Bezai, thre hundred and thre and twenty: the children of Iorath, an hundred and twelue: the chyldren of Hasum, two hundred and thre ∧ twentye: the chyldren of Gebar, fiue and nynety: the chyldren of Bethlehem, an hundred and thre ∧ twenty: the men of Netopha, syxe and fyfty: the men of Anathoth, an hundred, and eight and twenty: the chyldren of Asmaueth, two and fourty: the children of Kariath Iarim, Cephirah ∧ Beeroth, seuen hundred and thre and fourty: the chyldren of Ramah and Gabaah, syxe hundred and one ∧ tw&ebar;ty: the men of Michmas, an hundred and two and twenty: the men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and thre and twentye: the chyldren of Nebo, two and fyfty: the chyldren of Magbis, an hundred and syxe and fyfty: the chyldren of the other Elam, a thousande, two hundred and foure and fyfty: the children of Harim, thre hundred and twenty: the chyldren of Lodhadid and Ono, seuen hundred and fyue and twenty: the children of Iericho, thre hundred and fyue and fourtye: the chyldren of Senaah, thre thousande, syxe hundred and thyrtye.

The pryestes. The chyldren of Iedaiah of the house of Iesua, nyne hundred and thre ∧ seuenty: the chyldren of Emer, a thousand, ∧ two and fifty: the childr&ebar; of Phashur, a thousande and two hundred, and seuen and fourty: the chyldren of Harim, a thousande and seuentene.

The Leuites. The chyldren of Iesua and Cadmiel of the chyldren of Hodaniah, foure and seuenty. C   The syngers, the chyldren of Asaph, an hundred ∧ eyght ∧ twenty. The children of the dorekepers. The chyldren of Selum, the children of Ater, the chyldren of Talmon, the chyldren of Akub, the chyldren of Hatita, and the chyldren of Sobai: alltogether an hundred and nyne and thyrtye.

The Nethinims, the chyldren of Ziba, the children of Hasupha, the chyldren of Tabaoth, the chyldren of Ceros, the children of Sicha, the children of Phadon, the chyldren of Lebanah, the chyldren of Hagabah, the chyldren of Acub, the childr&ebar; of Hagab, the childr&ebar; of Samlai, the children of Hanan, the chyldr&ebar; of Gadel, the chyldren of Gahar, the chyldr&ebar; of Reaiah, the chyldren of Razin, the chyldr&ebar; of Necuba, the children of Gazan, the childr&ebar; of Osa, the chyldren of Phasseah, the chyldr&ebar; of Bessai, the children of Asena, the chyldren of Meunim, the chyldren of Nephussim, the chyldren of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the chyldren of Harbur, the chyldren of Bezelut, the chyldren of Mahira, the chyldren of Harsa, the children of Barcom, the chyldren of Sisara, the chyldren of Thamah, the chyldren of Nezian, the chyldren of Hatipha.

The chyldren of Salomons seruauntes. The chyldren of Sotai, the chyldren of Sophereth, the chyldren of Pharuda, the childr&ebar; of Iaalah, the chyldr&ebar; of Darcon, the childr&ebar; of Gedel, the childr&ebar; of Saphatiah, the childr&ebar; of Hattil, the chyldren of Pochereth of Zebalui, the children of Ami. Al the Nethinims and the chyldren of Salomons seruauntes were alltogether, thre hundred and two and nyntye.

And these went vp also, Thelmelah, Thel Harsa, Cherub, Adon and Enier. D   But they could not shewe their fathers house nor theyr sede, whether they were of Israel. The chyldren of Dalaiah, the chyldren of Tobiah, the chyldren of Necoda, syxe hundred and two ∧ fyfty. And of the children of the priestes. The chyldren of Hobaiah, the chyldren of Hakoz, the chyldren of Berzilai, whyche toke one of the doughters of Berzilai the Galaadite to wyfe, and was counted amonge the same names: these soughte the register of their byrth, and founde none, therfore were they put fr&obar; the priesthode. And Hathirsatha sayde vnto them, that they shoulde not eate of the moste holy, til there rose vp a pryest with the ^note light and perfectnesse.

The whole congregacion as one m&abar;, was two and fourty thousande, thre hundred and thre skore: besyde their seruauntes and maydens, of whome there were seuen thousande thre hundred ∧ seuen and thirtye. And they had two hundred syngyng men and wemen, seuen hundred and syxe and thyrtye horses, two hundred and fyue and fourtye Mules, foure hundred and fyue ∧ thirtye Camels, ∧ syxe thousand, seuen hundred ∧ twentie Asses. And certayne of the chefe fathers, wh&ebar; they came to the house of the Lorde at Ierusalem, they offered wyllyngly vnto the house of God, that it shoulde be set in his place, and gaue after their abylyte vnto the treasure of the worcke, one and threskore thousand drammes, and fyue thousande pounde of syluer

The temple is buylded agayne. and an hundred pryestes garmentes. So the pryestes and the Leuites, and certayne of the people and the syngers, and the porters, and the Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israell in their cyties. The .iij. Chapter. After the foundacy&obar; of the temple once renued they sacrefyce vnto the Lorde.

A    ^noteAnd when the seuenth monethe came, ∧ the chyldren of Israell were nowe in their cytyes, the people came together euen as one man, vnto Ierusalem. And there stode vp Iesua the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren the priestes, ∧ Zorobabel þe; sonne of Salathiel ∧ hys brethren, and buylded the aulter of the God of Israell, to offre burntofferynges theron, as it is wrytten in the law of Moses the m&abar; of God, ∧ the aulter set they vpon hys sockettes (for there was a fearfulnes amonge them because of the nacions and landes) and offered burntofferynges theron vnto the Lorde ^note in the mornyng and at euen. B   And helde the feaste of Tabernacles, as it is wrytten, and offered burntsacryfyces dayly in order, according to þe; custome, day by daye. Afterwarde the daylie burntofferinges also, and of the newe mones and of all the feaste dayes of the Lorde that were halowed, and al maner of frewyl offerynges, whych they did of their owne frewyll vnto the Lorde.

Vpon the fyrst day of the seuenth moneth beganne they to offre burntsacryfyces vnto the Lorde. But the foundacyon of the temple of the Lorde was not yet layed. Neuertheles they gaue money vnto the masons and carpenters, and meate and dryncke and oyle vnto them of Zidon and of Tire, to brynge th&ebar; Cedre tymbre from Libanus by Sea vnto ^note Ioppa, accordynge to the commaundement of Cyrus the kynge of Persia.

C   In the seconde yeare of their commynge vnto the house of God at Ierusal&ebar; in the seconde moneth, beganne Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, ∧ the remnaunt of their brethren the pryestes and Leuites, and al they that were come oute of the captyuyte vnto Ierusalem, ∧ appoynted the Leuites from twentye yeare old, and aboue, to se, that the worcke of the house of the Lorde went forwarde. And Iesua stode wyth hys sonnes and brethren, and Cadmiel wyth hys sonnes, and the children of Iuda, to forther the worckemen of the house of God, namely the children of Henadad with their children and their brethren the Leuites.

And when the buylders layd the foundacion of the temple of the Lorde, the pryestes stode in their aray, with trompettes. And the Leuites the children of Asaph with cymbales, to prayse the Lorde ^note after the maner of Dauid kynge of Israel. D   And they sange together, geuynge prayse and thankes vnto the Lorde, because he is gracyous, and because hys mercy endureth for euer vpon Israel. And all the people shouted loude in praysing the Lorde, because the foundacyon of þe; house of the Lorde was layd. Many also of the old pryestes and Leuites and auncyent fathers, whyche had sene the fyrst house: when the foundacion of thys house was layed before their eyes, wepte wyth a loud voice. And many shouted with ioye, so that the noyse gaue a great sounde, in so much that the people could not knowe the ioyfull sounde for the noyse of the weping amonge the people: for the people shouted with a loud crye, so that the noise was heard farre of. The .iiij. Chapter. The buylding of the temple is hyndred and let.

A   But when the aduersaries of Iuda and Ben Iamin hearde, that the children of the captiuite builded þe; temple vnto the Lorde God of Israel, they came to Zorobabel and to the principal fathers, and saide vnto them: We wyl buylde with you: for we seke the Lorde youre God lyke as ye do. And we haue done sacrifice vnto him, sence the tyme that Asor Had&obar; the Kinge of Assur broughte vs vp hyther. But Zorobabel and Iesua and the other a&ubar;cient fathers of Israel answered them: It belongeth not to you, but to vs to buylde the house vnto oure God: for we oure selues wil buylde alone vnto the Lorde oure God of Israel, ^note as Cyrus the kinge of Persia hathe commaunded vs.

B   Then the folke of the lande hindered the people of Iuda, and made them afrayed to buylde, and hyred councelers agaynst them, and hindred their deuyce, as longe as Cyrus the Kynge of Persia lyued, vntyll the raigne of Darius kynge of Persia. But when Ahasuerus was kinge, in the beginnynge of hys raygne wrote they vnto him a complaynte against them of Iuda and Ierusalem.

And in the tyme of Arthaxerses, wrote Bysellam, Midritates, Tabeel, and the other of their counsel vnto Arthaxerses the kynge of Persia. But the scripture of the letter was wrytten in the Sirians speache, and was interpretated in the language of the Sirians. Rehum the chaunceler, and Samsai the scrybe, wrote this letter against Ierusalem to Arthaxerses the kinge.

We Rehum the ^note chaunceler, and Samsai the scrybe, and other of the counsel of Dina, of Arphasat, of Tarplat, of Persia, of Arach of Babilon of Susan, of Deha, and of Elam ∧ other of the people, whome the greate ∧ noble Asenaphar broughte ouer, and set in the cytyes of Samaria, and other on this syde the water, and ^note in Ceneeth. And this is the C   summe of the letter that they sent vnto kynge Arthaxerses.

Thy seruauntes the men on thys syde the water and in Ceneeth. Be it knowne vnto the kynge, that the Iewes are come vp from the to vs vnto Ierusalem a cytye sedycyous and frowarde, and buylde the same, and laye the

The temple is buylded agayne. foundacyon of the walles therof, and repaire them. Be it knowne nowe therfore vnto the kynge that yf this cytye be buylded, and the walles made vp agayne, then shall not they geue trybute, tolle, and yearly custome, ^note and euen vnto the kinges shal this hurt redound. But nowe that we al are therby, whiche destroyed the temple, we woulde no longer se þe; kynges dyshonoure. Therfore sent we out, ∧ caused the kynge to be certyfyed therof. That it maye be soughte in the Chronycles of thy progenitours, and so shalte thou fynde in the same Chronycles, ∧ perceyue, that thys cytye is sedicious ∧ noysome vnto kinges ∧ l&abar;des, ∧ that they cause other also to rebell of olde, ∧ for the same cause was this cyty destroyed. Therfore do we certyfy the king, that yf this citie be buylded, and the walles therof made vp, thou shalt kepe nothynge on this syde the water by the reason of it.

D   Then sent the Kyng an answere vnto Rehum the chaunceler, and Samsai the Scribe, and to the other of their counsel that dwelt in Samaria, and vnto the other beyonde the water. Peace ∧ salutacyon. The letter whiche ye send vnto vs, hath ben op&ebar;ly read before me, and I haue comma&ubar;ded to make search: and it is found, that thys cyty of olde hath made insurreccyon agaynst kinges, ∧ how the vprore ∧ rebellion hath bene committed therin. There haue ben myghty kinges also at Ierusal&ebar;, whiche haue raigned ouer all that is beyonde the water, ∧ tolle, tribute ∧ yearly custome was geuen vnto them. Do ye now after thys commaundement, forbyd the same men, that the cyty be not buylded, tyl I haue geuen commaundement. Take hede now that ye be not neglygent herin, lest the kinge haue harme there thorow.

Now when kynge Arthaxerses letter was read before Rehum the chaunceler and Samsai the scribe and their counsel, they went vp in al the hast to Ierusalem vnto the Iewes, ∧ forbad them wyth vyolence and power. Th&ebar; ceased the worck of the house of God at Ierusalem, and contynued so vnto the second year of Darius kynge of Persia. The .v. Chapter. By the exhortacyon of Aggeus and Zachari is the temple buylded agayne.

A    ^noteThe Prophetes, Aggeus ∧ Zachari the sonne of Ado, prophecied vnto the Iewes that were in Iuda and Ierusalem, in the name of þe; God of Israel. Th&ebar; gat vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and beganne to buylde the house of God at Ierusalem, and wyth them the Prophetes of God whyche helped them. At the same tyme came to them Thathanai the captayne on thys syde the water, and Starbuzanai, and their co&ubar;celers, ∧ sayde thus vnto them. Who hath commaunded you to buylde this house, and to make vp the walles therof? Then tolde we them the names of the men, that made this buylding. But the eye of their God came vpon the Elders of the Iewes, B   that they coulde not cause them to cease, tyl the matter was brought before Darius, and tyl they had answered by letters therunto.

This is the copy of the letter that Thathanai the captayne on this syde the water, and Stharbuzanai, and their co&ubar;selers of Apharsach, which were on thys side the water) sent vnto king Darius. And this is the entent of the wordes that they sent vnto hym: Vnto Darius the kynge, All peace. Be it knowne vnto the kynge, that we came into Iewri to the house of the great God, whyche is buylded with ^note rouge stone, and beames are layed in the walles, and the worcke goeth fast forth and prospered in their h&abar;des. We asked therfore the Elders and sayde vnto them: C   Who hath commaunded you to buylde thys house and to make vp the walles therof? We asked their names also, that we might certyfye the, and haue wrytten the names of the men that were their rulers.

But they answered vs with these wordes, and sayd: We are the seruauntes of the God of heauen and earth, ∧ buylde the house that was buylded many yeares a go ^note whyche a greate kynge of Israel buylded and set vp. And after oure fathers had prouoked þe; God of heauen vnto wrath, ^note he gaue them ouer into the hand of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babilon þe; Caldee, whiche brake doune thys house, ∧ caried the people away vnto Babil&obar;.

D    ^noteBut in the fyrst yeare of Cyrus the king of Babilon, the same kynge Cyrus commaunded to build this house of God, for þe; vesselles of gould ∧ siluer in the house of God, which Nabuchodonozor toke oute of the temple at Ierusalem, ∧ brought th&ebar; into the temple at Babilon, those dyd Cyrus the kinge take out of the temple at Babilon, ^note ∧ deliuered them vnto Sasbazar by name, wh&obar; he made captaine and said vnto him. Take these vesselles, go thy waye, and bringe them vnto the t&ebar;ple at Ierusalem, and let the house of God be buylded in hys place. Then came the same Sasbazar and layde the foundacyon of the house of God at Ierusalem. Sence that tyme hath it bene in buyldinge, and yet is it not fynyshed. Yf it please the kynge now, let there be search made in the kynges treasure house which is at Babylon, whether it haue bene kynge Cyrus commaundement, that þe; house of God at Ierusal&ebar; should be builded: ∧ send vs the kinges minde concernynge the same. The .vi. Chapter. At the commaundement of Darius kyng of Persia after the temple was buylded and dedycate, the children of Israel kepe the feaste of vnleuended breade.

A   Then comma&ubar;ded kyng Darius that searche shoulde be made in þe; lybrary of the kinges treasure house, whych lay at Babilon. ^noteSo at Egbathanis in a castel þt; lieth in the lande of the Medes, ^note there was

Darius. founde a boke, and in it was there an acte wrytten after this maner: In the first year of kyng Cirus, commaunded the same king Cirus to buylde þe; house of God at Ierusal&ebar;, in þe; place where the sacryfyce is made, ∧ to lay þe; foundaci&obar; to beare thre skore cubites height ∧ thre skore cubytes bredth, ∧ thre walles of roughe stones, and one walle of tymber, and the exp&ebar;ces shalbe geuen of the kinges house. And the goulde and syluer vessel of the house of God (whiche Nabuchodonozor toke oute of the temple at Ierusalem, ∧ brought vnto Babilon) shalbe restored agayne, that they maye be brought vnto the temple at Ierusalem to their place into the house of God.

Get you farre fr&obar; them therfore, thou Thathanai captayne beyond the water, ∧ Stharbuzanai, B   ∧ youre councelers whiche are beyonde the water, get ye awaye from th&ebar;. Let th&ebar; worcke in the house of God, that the captayne of the Iewes and their Elders maye buylde the house of God in his place. I haue commaunded also, what shalbe done to the Elders of Iuda for the buyldyng of þe; house of God, that there shall dilygently be taken of the Kinges goodes, euen of the rentes beyonde the water, ∧ geuen vnto the men, and that they be not hindred. And yf they haue nede of calues, l&abar;bes, or goates, for the burntofferynge vnto the God of heauen, wheate, salt, wyne and oyle, after the custome of the pryestes at Ierusalem, there shalbe geuen tem daylie as is accordyng: ∧ se that this be done without faute, that they maye offre swete sauoures vnto the God of heauen, and praye for the kinges lyfe ∧ for his children. This c&obar;maundement haue I geuen. And what man soeuer he be that altereth these wordes, there shall a beame be taken from his house, ∧ set vp, and he shalbe hanged theron, ∧ his house shalbe prysed for the deade.

But the God that dwelleth in heauen, destroye al kinges and people, C   that put to their hande to alter ∧ to breake doune the house of God at Ierusalem. I Darius haue c&obar;maunded, that this he diligently done.

Then Thathanai the captayne beyond the water, and Stharbuzanai with their counselers, to wh&obar; king Darius had sent) dyd theyr diligence. And the Elders of the Iewes builded, and they prospered thorowe the Prophesyenge of Aggeus the Prophet and Zachari the sonne of Ado: and they buylded, and set vp the worcke, accordinge to the commaundemente of the God of Israel, and after the c&obar;ma&ubar;dement of Cyrus, Darius ∧ Arthaxerses kinges of Persia. And they perfourmed the house vnto the thirde daye of the moneth Adar, that was in the sixte year of the raigne of kinge Darius.

^noteAnd the children of Israel, the pryestes, þe; Leuites, ∧ the other children of the captiuyte helde the dedicaci&obar; of the house of God with ioye, and offered at the dedycaci&obar; of the house of God, an hundred calues, two h&ubar;dred lambes, four hundred goates: and for the synofferinge for all Israell twelue he goates, accordinge to the nombre of the trybes of Israel, and set the priestes in their courses and the Leuites in their offyces to minister vnto God, which is at Ierusalem, as it is wrytten in the boke of Moses.

D   And the chyldren of the captyuyte helde Passeouer vp&obar; the fourtenth daye of the fyrst moneth: for the preastes and Leuites had purifyed th&ebar; selues, so that they were all cleane as one man, ∧ kylled Passeouer for all þe; chyldren of the captyuite, and for theyr brethren the preastes, and for them selues. And þe; chyldren of Israel which were come agayne out of captyuite, ∧ al such as had separated them selues vnto them from the filthynesse of the Heathen in the lande, to seke the Lorde God of Israel, ate and helde the feast of vnleu&ebar;ded bread seuen dayes with ioye: for the Lord had made them glad, and turned the herte of the king of Assur vnto them, so that the handes were strenghthed in the worcke of the house of God, whiche is the God of Israel. The .vij. Chapter. By the commaundement of Arthaxerses, Esdras taketh hys companyons the children of Israel, and returneth to Ierusalem.

A    ^noteAfter these actes in the raigne of Arthaxerses kinge of Persia, there w&ebar;t vp from Babilon, Esdras the sonne of Saraiah, the sonne of Asariah, the sonne of Helkiah, the sonne of Selum, the sonne of Zadoc, the sonne of Ahitob, the sonne of Amariah, the sonne of Azariah, the sonne of Maraioth, the sonne of Zaruiah, the sonne of Ozi, the sonne of Boki, the sonne of Abisua, the sonne of Phinehes, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the chefe priest. This Esdras was a quicke scribe in the lawe of Moses, ^note whiche the Lord God of Israel dyd geue. And the kinge gaue him al that he requireth accordynge to the hande of the Lord his God vpon him. And there went vp certayne of the children of Israel, ∧ of the priestes, and of the Leuites, of the syngers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims vnto Ierusalem, in the seuenth yeare of kinge Arthaxerses. And they came to Ierusalem in the fyfth moneth, that is the seuenth yeare of the kinge. For vp&obar; the first daye of the first moneth, deuised he to go vp from Babylon: and on the fyrste daye of the fyfte moneth came he to Ierusal&ebar;, accordynge to the good hande of God vpon hym. B   For Esdras prepared his hert to seke the law of the Lord, and to do it, and do teache the precept and iudgement in Israel.

And this is the copy of the letter, that kinge Arthaxerses gaue vnto Esdras the pryest, the scribe, whiche was a teacher in the wordes of the Lorde ∧ of hys statues ouer Israel. Vnto Esdras the priest and scribe in the lawe of the God of heauen, peace and salutacyon. I haue commaunded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priestes and Leuites in my

Arthaxerses. reaulme, whyche are mynded of their owne good wil to go vp to Ierusalem, that they go wyth the, beynge sent of the kynge and of the seuen Lordes of the counsel, to vyset Iuda ∧ Ierusalem, accordynge to the lawe of God, whiche is in thy hand. And that thou shouldest take with the, syluer and goulde, whiche the king ∧ the Lordes of hys counsel geue of their owne good will vnto the God of Israel (whose habytacyon is at Ierusalem) and all the syluer and goulde that thou canst fynd in al the countre of Babilon, with it that the people and pryestes geue of their owne good wil vnto the house of God at Ierusalem.

C   Take thou the same, and bye dylygently wyth the same moneye, calues, lambes, goates, ∧ meateofferynges ∧ drinckeofferynges, to be offered vpon the aulter of the house of youre God at Ierusalem. And loke what it liketh the and thy brethren to do with the r&ebar;naunt of the money, þt; do after þe; wyl of your God. And the vessels that are geuen the for the mynystracion in the house of thy God, those delyuer thou before God at Ierusalem.

And whatsoeuer thynge more shalbe nedeful for thy house of thy God, whych is necessary for the to spende, let the same be geuen out of the kynges ch&abar;ber. I kynge Arthaxerses haue commaunded al the treasures bey&obar;d the water, that loke whatsoeuer Esdras the pryeste and scrybe in the lawe of the God of heauen requyreth of you, that ye fulfyll the same dylygently, vntyll an hundred talentes of syluer, vntil an h&ubar;dred quarters of wheat and tyll an hundred Batthes of wyne, D   and tyll an hundred ^note Batthes of oyle, and salt wythoute measure. Whatsoeuer belongeth to the law of the God of heauen, let the same be done wyth dylygence for the house of the God of heauen, that there come no wrathe vpon the kynges reaulme and his children.

And knowen be it vnto you, that ye shal haue no auctorite to requyre taxynge and custome, ∧ yearly rentes vp&obar; any of þe; pryestes Leuites, singers, porters, Nethinims ∧ mynysters in the house of thys good. But thou Esdras (after the wysedome of the God that is in thy hand) set thou iudgers and arbiters to iudge all the people that is beyonde Iordan, euen all suche as knowe the law of thy God: and them that knowe it not, those se, þt; ye teache: ∧ whosoeuer wyll not dylyg&ebar;tly fulfyll the law of thy God, and the kynges law, shal haue his iudgem&ebar;t for þe; dead whether it be vnto death or to be banished or to be cond&ebar;ned in goodes, or to be put in preson.

^notePraysed be the Lord God of our fathers which so had inspired the kinges hert to garnysh the house of God at Ierusalem: ∧ hath inclined his mercy vnto me in the presence of the king, ∧ his councelers, ∧ before al the kinges hys estates. And I was conforted (according to the hande of the Lorde my God ouer me, ∧ so gathered I the heades of Israel together, that they might go vp with me. The .viij. Chapter. The nombre of them that returned to Ierusalem with Esdras.

A    ^noteThese are the heades of their fathers that were named, whyche wente vp with me from Babilon, what tyme as kinge Arthaxerses raygned. Of the children of Phinehes, Gersom: of the children of Ithamar, Daniel: of the childr&ebar; of Dauid, Hatus: of the children of Zecaniah, of the children Pharos, Zachary, ∧ with him were nombred an hundred and fyfty men. Of the children of Pahath Moab, Elioenai the sonne of Zarakiah, and with them two hundred men. Of the chyldren of Zechaniah, the sonne of Iahasiel, and with hym thre hundred men. Of the chyldren of Adin Abed the sonne of Ionathan, and with hym fyfty men. Of the chyldren of Elam, Isaiah the sonne of Athaliah, and wyth him seuenty men. Of the children of Saphatia, Zabadiah the sonne of Michael and wyth hym foure skore men.

B   Of the children of Ioab, Obadiah þe; sonne of Iehiel, and wyth hym two hundred and eyghtene men. Of the children of Selomith, the sonne of Iosphiah, and with hym an hundred and thre men.

Of the children of Bebai, Zachary the sonne of Bebai, and with hym eyght ∧ twenty men. Of the children of Asgad, Iohanan the sonne of Hakatan, and with him an hundred and ten men. Of the last chyldr&ebar; of Adonicam, and these were their names: Eliphelet, Iehiel and Samaiah, and with them thre score men. Of the children of Begui, Vthai, and Zabud and with them seuenty men. And I gathered them together by the water that runneth towarde Ahaua, and there abode we thre dayes. C   And when I loked am&obar;g the people and the priestes, I found no Leuites there. Then sent I Eliezer, Ariel, Semeiah, Elnathan, Iarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zachary, ∧ Mosollam the rulers, and Ioiarib and Elna than the teachers, ∧ those sent I vnto Edo the chefest at Casphia, that they should fetche vs mynysters for the house of oure God, and I tolde th&ebar; that they should saye vnto Edo, and to hys brethren the Nethinims at Casphia.

And (accordyng to the good hande of our God vpon vs) they broughte vs a wyse man from amonge the chyldren of Moholi the sonne of Leui the sonne of Israel, euen Sarabia, with his sonnes and brethren, eyghtene. And Hasabia, and with him Isaiah of the children of Merari, D   wyth hys brethren and their sonnes, twenty. And of the Nethinims, wh&obar; Dauid ∧ the Prynces gaue to minister vnto the Leuites, two hundred and twentye all named by name.

And euen there at the water besyde Ahaua, caused I a ^note fastynge to be proclamed, þt; we myghte humble oure selues before oure God, to seke of him a ryght waye for vs, and oure chyldren and all oure substaunce. For

The complaynte of Esdras. I was ashamed to requyre of the kynge, soudyers and horsemen, to helpe vs agaynst the enemy in the way. For we had saide vnto the kynge. The hande of oure God is vpon all them that seke him in goodnes, and his vyolence and wrath vpon all them that forsake him. So we fasted, and sought thys at oure God, and he hearde vs.

E   And I toke out twelue of the chefe pryestes, Sarabia and Hasabia, and ten of theyr brethren with them, and weyed them there the siluer and goulde and vessels for the heaueoffering vnto the house of our God, which the kinge and the Lordes of his counsell and prynces, and all Israel that were at hande, had geuen to the heaueoffering: ∧ there weied I them vnder their hand syx hundred ∧ fyfty talentes of syluer, and in syluer vessel an hundred talentes, ∧ in gould an hundred talentes twentye cuppes of goulde of a thousande drammes, and two costly ornam&ebar;tes of good brasse, as cleare as goulde, and sayde vnto them: Ye are holy vnto the Lorde, therfore are the vessels holy also, and so is the syluer and goulde that is geuen of a good wil vnto the Lorde God of your fathers: Watche ye therefore and kepe it tyl ye weye it doune before the chefe priestes and Leuites, and auncient fathers of Israel at Ierusal&ebar; in the chestes of the house of the Lorde. F   Then toke the priestes and the Leuites that weyed syluer ∧ goulde and vessel, to brynge it to Ierusalem vnto the house of oure God. So we brake vp fr&obar; the water of Ahaua on the twelueth day of the fyrst moneth, to go vnto Ierusalem: ∧ the hande of our God was vpon vs, and delyuered vs from the hande of the enemies ∧ preuy waytinges by the waye. And we came to Ierusalem, ∧ abode there thre dayes. But on the fourth day was the syluer and goulde and vessell weyed in the house of oure God vnder the hande of Meremoth the sonne of Vriah the pryeste, and with him Eleazar the sonne of Phinehes, and with them Iosabad the sonne of Iesua, and Noadiah the sonne of Benoi the Leuites, according to the n&obar;bre ∧ weight of euery one. G   And the weyght was all wrytten vp at the same tyme.

And the children of the captyuyte, whyche were come out of preson, offered burntofferynges vnto the God of Israel: twelue bullockes for al Israel, syxe and nyntye r&abar;mes, seuen and seuentye lambes, ∧ twelue goates for a synofferynge, al to the burntofferynge of the Lorde. And they delyuered the kynges commission vnto the kinges offycers, and to þe; captaines on this side of þe; water. And they promoted the people and the house of God. The .ix. Chapter. Esdras complayneth on the people that hath turned them selues from God, and maryed wyth the gentyles.

A   When all this was perfourmed, the rulers came to me, ∧ sayde: The people of Israell, and the priestes, ∧ Leuites are not separated from the nacions in the landes as thouchynge theyr abhomynacions, namely of the Cananites, Hethites, Pheresites, Iebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egypcyans, and Amorites. ^noteFor they haue taken the doughters of the same, and their sonnes, and haue myxte the holy seade wyth the nacyons in the landes: and the hande of the prynces and rulers hath bene pryncypall in hys trespace.

^noteWhen I hearde thys, I rent my clothes and my rayment, and plucte of the hearre of my heade, and of my bearde, and sate mournyng. And there resorted vnto me all such as feared the worde of the Lorde God of Israell because of the greate transgression. And I sate mournynge vntyll the euenynge sacryfyce. And aboute the euenynge sacryfyce I rose vp from my heauynes, B   ∧ rente my clothes ∧ my rayment, and fel vpon my knees, and spred out my handes vnto the Lorde my God, and sayde.

My God I am ashamed, and darre not lyfte vp myne eyes vnto the my God: for our wyckednesses are growne ouer our heade, ∧ oure trespaces are waxen greate vnto þe; heauen. Sence the tyme of oure fathers haue we bene in greate trespace vnto this day, ^note and because of oure wyckednesses haue we and oure kinges ben delyuered into the h&abar;d of the kynges of þe; nacyons, into þe; swerde, into captyuite, into spoyle, and into confusion of face as it is come to passe thys daye.

But now is there a lytle and sodayne gracyousnes come from the Lord oure God, C   so that some of vs are escaped, that he may geue vs a nayle in hys holy place, that oure God may lighte oure eyes, and geue vs a lytle life in oure bondage. For we are bondmen, and oure God hath not forsaken vs in oure bondage, and hath enclined mercy vnto vs in the syght of the kinges of Persia, that he should geue vs lyfe, and promote the house of oure God, ∧ to set vp the desolacyon therof, and to geue vs an hedge in Iuda and Ierusalem.

And now O our God, what shall we say after thys? for we haue forsaken thy comma&ubar;dem&ebar;tes, whiche thou hast c&obar;maunded by thy seruauntes the Prophetes, and sayde: The lande vnto whiche ye go to possesse, it is an vncleane land thorow the fylthynes of þe; people of the landes, in their abhominacyons, wherwyth they haue made it ful of vncl&ebar;nes on euery syde. D   Therfore shall ye not geue your doughters vnto their sounes, and their doughters shal ye not take vnto your sonnes ∧ seke not their peace ∧ welthe for euer, that ye maye be stronge, and enioye the good in the lande, ∧ that ye and youre chyldren may haue the enheritaunce of it for euermore.

And after all thys that is come vpon vs (because of oure euyll deades ∧ greate trespace) thou oure God hast spared oure wyckednesse, and hast geuen vs a delyueraunce as it is come to passe thys daye.

As for vs, we haue turned backe, ∧ haue

The complaynte of Esdras. let go thy commaundementes, to make contracte wyth the people of these abhomynacyons. Wylte thou then be wrothe at vs, tyl we be vtterlye c&obar;sumed, so that nothing remaine and tyll there be no delyueraunce? O Lorde God of Israell, thou arte ryghteous, for we remayne yet escaped, as it is thys daye. Beholde in thy presence are we in oure trespace, for because of it is there no standynge before the. The .x. Chapter ¶ The people repente them and turne, ∧ put awaye theyr straunge wyues.

A    ^noteAnd when Esdras prayed after this maner, ∧ knowledge, wept ∧ laye before the house of God, there resorted vnto hym oute of Israel a very great congregacion of men and wemen, ∧ chyldren: for the people wepte very sore. And Sechaniah the sonne of Iehiel one of the chyldren of Elam, answered, and sayde vnto Esdras: We haue trespaced agaynste the Lorde oure God, in that we haue taken straunge wyues of all the people of the l&abar;d. Now there is hope yet in Israel c&obar;cernyng this therfore, let vs make a couena&ubar;t nowe wyth our God, that we shall put away al the wyues (and suche as are borne of them) accordynge to the councel of the Lorde, and of them that feare the commaundement of oure God, that we maye do accordyng to the law. Get the vp therfore, for the matter belongeth vnto the. We wyll be wyth the, be of good c&obar;forte, and do it.

B    ^noteThen rose Esdras, and toke an othe of the rulers, priestes and Leuites, ∧ of all Israell, that they shulde do accordynge to this word: and they sware. And Esdras stode vp before the house of God, and wente into the ch&abar;ber of Iohanan the sonne of Elialib. And when he came thyther, he ate no bread, nor drancke water: for he mourned because of the tr&abar;sgressyon of them that had bene in captiuite.

And they caused a proclamacyon be made thorowoute Iuda and Ierusalem, vnto al the chyldren whiche had bene in captyuite, that they shulde gather themselues together vnto Ierusal&ebar;: And that whosoeuer came not within thre dayes accordynge to the deuyce of the rulers and elders, all hys substaunce shoulde be forfet, and be put oute from the congregacyon of the captyue.

Then all the men of Iuda and Beniamin gathered themselues together vnto Ierusal&ebar; in thre dayes, that is on the twentye daye of the nynth moneth: and all the people sate in þe; strete before the house of God, and trembled, because of the matter, and for the rayne. And Esdras the prieste stode vp, and sayde vnto them: ^note Ye haue transgressed, that ye haue taken straunge wyues, to make the trespace of Israel yet more: confesse now therfore vnto þe; Lorde God of your fathers, and do hys pleasure, and separate youre selues from the people of the lande, and from the straunge wyues. Then aunswered all the congregacyon, and sayde wyth a loude voyce: Let it be done as thou haste sayd. But the people are many, ∧ it is a rayne whether, and they can not st&abar;d here wythout, nether is this a worcke of one daye or two, for we are many that haue offended in thys transgressyon. Let vs appoynte oure rulers therfore in all the congregacyon, þt; al they which haue taken straunge wyues in oure cytyes, maye come at the tyme appoynted, and the elders of euerye cytye ∧ theyr iudges wyth them, tyll the wrath of our God be turned awaye from vs for thys offence.

C   Then were appoynted Ionathan þe; sonne of Asahel and Iahasia the sonne of Thekuah ouer thys matter. And Mosollam and Sabathai the Leuites holpe them. And the chyldren of the captiuite dyd euen so. And Esdras the priest and the auncyent heades thorow the house of theyr fathers and all that were now rehearsed by name, separated them selues, and sate them doune on the fyrst daye of the tenth moneth to examen thys matter. And of þe; first daye of the fyrste moneth they ^note made an ende of all the men that had taken straunge wyues.

And amonge the children of the priestes there were men founde that had tak&ebar; stra&ubar;ge wyues, namely among the chyldren of Iesua the sonne of Iosedec and of his brethren, Maasiah, Eliezer, Iarib and Godoliah. And they gaue theyr handes there vpon, that they wold put awaye theyr wyues: and for theyr trespace offerynge to geue a ramme for theyr trespace. Amonge the chyldren of Emer, Hanani, and Zabadiah. Amonge the chyldren of Harim, Maasiah, Eltah, Semeiah, Iehiel, and Osiah. Amonge the chyldren of Phashur, Elioenai. Maasiah, Ismael Nathanael, Iosabed and Eleazah. Amonge the Leuites, Iosabed, Semei ∧ Kelaiah, which same is Kalithah. Pathathiah, Iuda, ∧ Eleazar. Amonge the syngers, Eliasib. Among the porters Selum, Telem and Vri.

D   Of Israel. Amonge the chyldren of Pharos, Remiah, Iesiah, Melchiah, Miamin, Eleazar, Melchiah and Banaiah. Amonge the chyldren of Elam, Mathaniah, Zachary, Iehiel, Abdi, Ierimoth ∧ Eliah. Amonge þe; children of Iethua, Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathaniah, Ierimoth, Zabad and Aziza. Amonge the chyldren of Bebai, Iehohanan, Hananiah, Zabai and Athalai. Amonge the chyldren of Beoni, Mosolam, Maluch, Adaiah Iasub, Saal and Ierimoth. Amonge the chyldren of ^note Phahath Moab, Edna, Calal, Banaiah, Maasia, Mathaniah, Bezeleel, Benui and Manasseh. Amonge the chyldren of Harim, Eliezer, Iesiah, Melchiah, Semeiah, Simeon, BenIamin, Malluch and Samariah. Am&obar;g the chyldren of Hasem, Mathnai, Mathatah, Zabed, Eliphelet, Ieremi, Manasseh ∧ Semei. Amonge the chyldren of Bani, Madai, Amram, Ruel, Baneah, Cheluhi, Badaiah, Vaniah, Maremoth, Eliasib

Ierusalem is buylded agayne. Mathaniah Mathanai, Iaasan, Bani, Binni Semelah, Salamiah, Nath&abar;, Adaiah, Machnadabai, Sasai, Sarai, Asarael, Selemiahu, Samariah, Selum, Amariah, and Ioseph. Amonge the chyldren of Nebo, Aaiel, Matathiah, Zabed, Zabina, Iedai, Ioel and Banaiah. Al these had taken straunge wiues. And amonge the same wiues there were some, that had borne children. &rhand; The ende of the fyrst boke of Esdras.

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