Wycliffe (Early) [1850], THE HOLY BIBLE, CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, WITH THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS, IN THE EARLIEST ENGLISH VERSIONS MADE FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BY JOHN WYCLIFFE AND HIS FOLLOWERS: Edited by THE REV. JOSIAH FORSHALL, F.R.S. etc. Late Fellow of Exeter College, and SIR FREDERIC MADDEN, K.H. F.R.S. etc. Keeper of the MSS. in the British Museum (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, OXFORD) [word count] [B02010].
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I. ESDRAS.
[Prologue on the First book of Esdras.]
This firste book of Esdre, whiche was a wurthi man among Jewis, and writer of
the lawe of God, tellith, that Cyrus, the king of Persis, stirid by the Spirit of God,
ordeynde Esdre, the scryuein, ledere to al the peple of Juda, that was translatid in to
Babiloyne, to bringe hem a&yogh;en in to her lond, with alle the vessels that weren of the
hous of the Lord, and &yogh;af gold and siluer in greet plente, to make sacrifise to the Lord
in Jerusalem.
[Prologue to the books of Esdras.]
Whether it be hardere to do that &yogh;ee asken, or to denyen, I haue not &yogh;yt demed;
for nouther to &yogh;ou any thing comaundende is of sentence to forsaken, and the gretnesse
of charge put vpon oure nollis bereth doun, that rathere it be to fallen doun vndir the
berthene, than to reren. The studies of enuyouse men ne&yogh;hen to this, that alle thing
that we wryten, weenen repref wrthi, and other while concience repugnende a&yogh;en hemself,
opinli thei to-tern that thei reden priueli; in so myche that I am constreyned to
crien, and sein, Lord, deliuere my soule fro wicke lippis, and fro a trecherous tunge.
The thridde &yogh;er is that euer mor &yogh;ee wrijten and a&yogh;een wrijten, that the boc of Esdre
and Ester I translate to &yogh;ou fro Ebrue, as thof &yogh;ee han not Grekis and Latynes
volumus, or what euere thing that is that of vs is turned, not anon of alle men it be to
be dispisid. In vein forsothe, as seith sum man, to enforcen, n other thing in trauailing
sechen but hate, is of vttermost wodnesse. And so, I beseche &yogh;ou, my derworthest
Domynyon and Rogacian, that &yogh;e apa&yogh;ed bi priuat lessoun, ber not out the bokis in to
comun, lest &yogh;ee profre metis to vggli men; and eschewe &yogh;ee the pride of hem, that onli
to demen of othere, and thei themselue knewen no thing to do. If any forsothe of
brethern ben, to whom ouren displesen not, to them &yogh;iueth a saumpler, amonestende
that the Ebrue namus, of the whiche in this volume is gret plente, distinctli and bi
spacis thei transcryue; forsothe no thing it profitide to han amendid bokis, but the
amending be kept bi diligence of writeris. Ne any man moue it, that o boc is maad of
vs, ne delite he in the sweuenes of the writen thingus withoute autorite of the thridde
and of the ferthe boc; for and anentis the Ebrues the woordis of Esdre and of Noemye
in o volume ben togidere drawen, and thoo thingus that ben not had anentis hem, `ne
ben not of the foure and twenti olde men, ben worthi to be cast awei aferr. If any
man forsothe a&yogh;en legge to vs the seuenti remenoures, of whom the saumpleris the
diuersete shewith hem to-torn and turned vpsodoun, ne forsothe it mai not ben
-- --
afermed soth that that is diuers, sendeth hym to the euangelies, in the whiche many
thingus ben put of the olde testament, the whiche anent the seuenti remenoures ben
not had, as that, For Nazare he shal ben clepid; and, Fro Egipt I clepede my sone;
and, They shul seen in whom thei pungeden; and manye othere thingus, the whiche
we reseruen to a braddere werc; and asketh of hym, where thei ben writen; and whan
thei schul not moun tellen, rede &yogh;ee of thoo saumpleris, the whiche, sum time maad
of vs, ben stikid eche dai with the tungus of euele spekeris. But that to short tretee
I come; certis that I `am to concluden is most ri&yogh;twis; haue I maad any thing that is
not had in Greec, or that otherwise is had than off me is turned? Wherto the remenour
thei to-tern? Aske thei the Ebrues, and bi thoo autouris, to my translacioun or &yogh;iue thei
feith or withdrawe. Certis another is, for thei wiln myssein to me, that it is seid, with
closid e&yogh;en, and thei folewen not the studie and the weel willing of Greekis, the whiche
aftir the seuenty remenoures, now shinende the euangelie of Crist, and curiousli reden
Jewis and Hebionytis, remenoures of the olde lawe, Aquilam, that is, Symachum, and
Theodocian, and bi the trauaile of Origenes thei halewiden to chirchis in sixe maner
translaciouns. Myche more Latin men a&yogh;ten to be kinde, that thei beholden Grece
gladende of hem any thing to borewen. The firste forsothe is of gret costis and of difficulte
withoute ende, to moun han alle the exsaumpleris; also theraftir thei that han,
and ben vnkunnende of Ebrue speche, more shuln erren, vnknowende who of manye
trewliere seith. The whiche also fel sum time to a most wis man amongis the Grekis,
that otherwhile leuende the sens of scripture he folewide the errour of eche remenour.
Wee forsothe that nameli of Ebru tunge han a litil kunnyng, and Latin speche &yogh;it
hider to failith not to vs, that of othere more we moun demen, and thoo thingus that
wee vsself vnderstonden, in oure owne tunge shewin. And so thof the serpentt hisse
and the ouercomere if he throwe not brennyngus vp, neuer my speche shal be stille,
Crist helpende; also the tunge kut of it shal blaberen. Rede thei that wiln; that wiln
not, caste thei awei. And serche thei out the letteris, and falsli acuse thei the lettris;
more bi &yogh;oure charite I shal ben stirid to studie, than I shal ben agast bi the hate and
the bacbiting of hem.
Another prolog.
Esdras and Neemye, helpere, that is, and comfortour fro the Lord, in o volume
ben drawen. Thei enstoren the temple; the wallis of the cite thei maken vp. And al that
cumpanye of the puple turnende a&yogh;een in to the kuntre, and the descripcioun of prestus,
and of Leuitus, and of the conuertide to the folc of Irael, and by alle the meynes of the
wallis and touris the werkis deuidid, other thing bern in the rinde, other thing they
holdin in the mar&yogh;.
Here folewith the comendacioun of Esdre.
This aftir Jude brend vp of the Caldeis, whil the Jewis weren turned a&yogh;een into
Jerusalem, alle the bokis of the olde testament reparaileide, and enspirid with Godis
Spirit alle the volumys of profetis, that weren of the Jentilis corupt amendide; wherfore
it is writen, Esdras ste&yogh;ide vp fro Babiloyne, and he a swift scribe in the lawe of
Moises, swift, that is, for more redi figuris of lettris, than the Ebrues beforhond
hadden, he fond.
Here eendeth the prolog of Esdre; se now the book.
-- --
Here begynneth the fyrst book of
Esdre.
CAP. I.
1 In the firste &yogh;er of Ciri, king of Persis,
that the woord of the Lord of the mouth
of Jeremye were fulfild, the Lord rerede
the spirit of Ciri, king of Persis, and
ladde ouer the vois in al his rewme also
bi scripture,
2 seiende, These thingus seith
Cirus, king of Persis, Alle the reumes of
the erthe the Lord God of heuene and
of erthe hath &yogh;iue to me, and he comaundede
to me, that I shulde bilde to
hym an hous in Jerusalem, that is in
Jude.
3 Who is in &yogh;ou of al the puple of
hym? be the God of hym with hym; ste&yogh;e
he vp in to Jerusalem, that is in Jude,
and bilde he vp an hous of the Lord God
of Irael; he is God, that is in Jerusalem.
4 And alle the othere in alle placis, wher
euere thei dwellen, helpe thei hym; the
men of his place, with siluer, and gold,
and substaunce, and bestis, out take that
wilfulli thei offre to the temple of God,
that is in Jerusalem.
5 And the princis of
the fadris of Juda and of Beniamyn, and
prestis, and Leuitus, eche whos spirit God
rerede, risen, that thei ste&yogh;en vp to bilden
the temple of the Lord, that was in Jerusalem.
6 And alle that weren in the
enuyroun helpiden the hondis of hem, in
siluerene, and goldene vesselis, in substaunce,
in necessarie thing, in bestis, out
take thoo thingus that thei hadden offrid
wilfully.
7 Forsothe king Cirus bro&yogh;te
forth the vesselis of the temple of the
Lord, the whiche Nabugodonosor hadde
-- --
taken fro Jerusalem, and hadde put hem
in the temple of his god.
8 Forsothe Cirus,
king of Persis, bro&yogh;te them forth bi the
hond of Mitridatis, sone of Gazabar; and
he noumbride hem to Zazabazar, prince
of Jude.
9 And this is the noumbre of
hem; goldene violis, thretti; siluerenn
violis, a thousend; knyues, nyne and
twenti;
10 goldenn cuppis, thretti; siluerenn
cuppis, two thousend foure hundrid and
ten;
11 othere vesselis, a thousend; alle the
vesselis, goldene and siluerene, fiue thousend
and foure hundrid. Alle Zazebazar
toc, with hem that ste&yogh;eden vp fro the
transmygracioun of Babiloyne, in to Jerusalem.
CAP. II.
1 These forsothe ben the men, sonus of
the prouynce, that ste&yogh;eden vp fro the
caitifte, that Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloyne,
hadde taken ouer in to Babiloine;
and thei ben turned a&yogh;een in to Jerusalem
and Jude,
2 eche in to his cite, the
whiche camen with Zorobabel; Jesua,
Neemya, Saraia, Rahelaia, Mordochaa,
Belsan, Mesfar, Begnai, Reum, Baana.
The noumbre of the men of the puple of
Irael;
3 sones of Fares, two thousend an
hundrid and two and seuenti; the sonus
of Arethi, seuene hundrid fiue and seuenti;
the sonus of Sefesia,
4 thre hundrid
and two and seuenti;
5 the sonus of Aria,
seuene hundrid and fiue and seuenti;
6 the
sonus of Fee and of Moab, sones of Josue
and of Joab, two thousend nyne hundrid
and twelue;
7 the sones of Elam, a thousend
two hundrid and foure and fifti;
the sonus of Sechua,
8 nyne hundrid and
fiue and fourty;
9 the sonis of Zaahai,
-- --
seuene hundrid and sixti;
10 the sonus of
Baany, sixe hundrid and two and fourti;
sonus of Bebai,
11 sixe hundrid and thre and
twenti;
12 sonus of Asgad, a thousend two
hundrid and two and twenti;
13 sonus of
Adonycam, sixe hundrid and sixe and
sixti;
14 sonus of Beguai, two thousend and
sixe and fifti;
15 sonus of Adin, foure hundrid
and foure and fifti;
16 sonys of Aser,
that weren of Ezechie, nynti and ei&yogh;te;
sonus of Besai,
17 thre hundrid and thre and
twenti;
18 sonus of Jora, an hundrid and
twelue;
19 sonus of Ason, two hundrid and
thre and twenti;
20 sonus of Jebar, nynti
and fiue;
21 sonus of Bethlem, an hundrid
and thre and twenti;
22 the men of Necofa,
sixe and fifti;
23 the men of Anatot, an
hundrid and ei&yogh;te and twenti;
24 sonus of
Asmoneth, two and fourti;
25 sonus of Cariathiarym,
Cefiara, and Berhoc, seuene
hundrid and thre and fourti;
26 sonus of
Arama and of Gaba, sixe hundrid and
oon and twenti;
27 men of Machinas, an
hundrid and two and twenti;
28 men of
Bethel and of Gai, two hundrid and thre
and twenti;
29 sonus of Nebo, two and fifti;
sonys of Megbis,
30 an hundrid and sixe
and fifti;
31 the sonus of the tother Elam,
a thousend two hundrid and foure and
fifti;
32 the sonus of Arym, thre hundrid
and twenti;
33 the sonus of Ladadin and of
Ono, seuen hundrid and fiue and twenti;
sonus of Jericho,
34 thre hundrid and fiue
and fourti;
35 sonus of Sanaa, thre thousend
sixe hundrid and thretti;
36 prestus,
sonus of Idaia, in the hous of Jesue, nyne
hundrid seuenti and thre;
37 sonus of Emmeor,
a thousend and two and fifti;
38 sonus
of Fesur, a thousend two hundrid and
seuene and fourti;
39 sonus of Arym, a thousend
and seuentene;
40 Leuitus, the sonus of
Jesue and of Cedinyel, sonus of Odonia,
-- --
seuenti and foure;
41 chauntoures, sonus of
Asaf, an hundrid and ei&yogh;te and twenti;
the sonus of the porteris,
42 sones of Sellum,
the sonus of Ather, sonus of Thelmon,
the sonus of Accub, `the sonus of
Aritha, the sonus of Sobar, the sonus of
Sobai, alle, an hundrid and ei&yogh;te and
thretti;
43 sodeknys, sonus of Ozai, the
sonus of Azufa, the sonus of Thebaoth,
the sonus of Ceros,
44 the sonus of Cisaa, the
sonus of Fadon,
45 the sonus of Jebona, the
sonus of Agoba,
46 the sonus of Accub, the
sonus of Accab, the sonus of Selmai, the
sonus of Annan,
47 the sonus of Gaddei, the
sonus of Gaer,
48 the sonus of Rahaia, the
sonus of Jasin, the sonus of Nethoda, the
sonus of Gasem,
49 the sonus of Asa, the
sonus of Fasea,
50 the sonus of Besee, the
sonus of Asennaa, the sonus of Numyn,
the sonus of Nechusym,
51 the sonus of Bechue,
the sonus of Accufa, the sonus of
Assur,
52 the sonus of Besuth, the sonus of
Maida,
53 the sonus of Arsa, the sonus of
Berchos, the sonus of Cizara, the sonus
of Thema,
54 the sonus of Nazia, the sonus
of Acufa,
55 the sonus of the seruauns of
Salamon, the sonus of Sothelthei, the
sonus of Sofereth, the sonus of Feruda,
the sonus of Jala,
56 the sonus of Derchon,
the sonus of Jedel,
57 the sonus of Safatha,
the sonus of Athil, the sonus of Fesorethei,
that weren of Azebam, the sonus
of Ammy;
58 alle the sodeknys, and the
sonus of the seruauns of Salamon, thre
hundrid and nynti and two.
59 And these
that ste&yogh;eden vp fro Thelmela, and Thelersa,
Cherub, and Don, and Mer, and
thei my&yogh;ten not shewe the hous of ther
faders and ther sed, whether of Irael
thei weren;
60 the sonus of Delaia, the sonus
of Tobia, the sonus of Nechoda, sixe hundrid
and two and fifti;
61 and of the sonus
of prestus, the sonus of Obia, the sonus of
-- --
Accos, the sonus of Bersellai, that toc a
wif of the do&yogh;tris of Bersellai Galaditis,
and he is clepid bi the name of hem;
these so&yogh;ten the scripture of ther genelogie,
62
and founden not, and thei ben cast
awei fro presthod.
63 And Athersatha seide
to them, that thei shulde not eten of the
holi of halewis, to the time that ther
shulde risen a ta&yogh;t prest and perfit.
64 Al
the multitude as o man, two and fourti
thousend thre hundrid and sixti,
65 out take
the seruauntis of hem and hand maidenes,
that weren seuen thousend thre
hundrid seuene and thretti; and in hem
singeres and singeressis, two hundrid.
66 The hors of hem, sixe hundrid and sixe
and thretti; the mulis of hem, foure hundrid
and fiue and fourti;
67 the camailis of
hem, foure hundrid and fiue and thretti;
the assis of hem, sixe thousend seuene
hundrid and twenti.
68 And of the princis
of the fadris, whan thei shulden gon in
to the temple of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem,
wilfulli thei offriden in to the
hous of God, to it to be maad out in his
place;
69 after ther strengthis thei &yogh;euen
the costis of the werk, of gold, shillingis
fourti thousend and a thousend; of siluer,
besauntus fiue thousent; and prestus
clothis an hundrid.
70 Thanne dwelten the
prestus and the Leuitus of the puple, and
the singeres, and porteris, and sodeknys
in ther cites, and al Israel in their cytees.
CAP. III.
1 And now was comen the seuenthe
monyth, and the sonus of Irael weren in
ther cites. Thanne is gedered the puple
as oon in to Jerusalem.
2 And ther ros
Josue, the sone of Josedech, and the brethern
of hym, prestus, and Sorobabel,
-- --
the sone of Salatiel, and the brethern
of hym, and thei bilden vp an auter of
God of Irael, that thei offre in it brent
sacrifises, as it is writen in the lawe off
Moises, man of God.
3 Forsothe thei setten
an auter vpon his feet, the puplis of
londis ferende hem by enuyroun, and thei
offriden vpon it brent sacrifise to the
Lord erli and at euen.
4 And thei maden
the solempnete of tabernaclis, as it is
writen, and brent sacrifise alle da&yogh;es bi
order, after the comaundid werc of the
dai in his dai;
5 and after this, contynuel
brent sacrifise, bothe in calendis and in
alle solempnetes of the Lord that weren
halewid, and in alle thingis in the whiche
&yogh;ifte was freli offrid to God.
6 The firste
dai of the seuenthe monyth thei begunne
to offre brent sacrifise to the Lord; forsothe
the temple of God was not &yogh;it
founded.
7 And thei &yogh;eue money to heweris
of stonus, and to leieris, and mete,
and drink, and oile, to Sidones and Tires,
that thei shulde bringen ceder trees fro
Liban to the se of Joppen, after that
Cirus, the king of Persis, had comaundid
to them.
8 The secunde forsothe &yogh;er of the
comyng of hem to the temple of God in
to Jerusalem, the secunde monyth, begunne
Sorababel,
9 the sone of Salatiel, and
Josue, the sone of Josedech, and othere
of the brethern of hem, prestus and Leuitus,
and alle that weren comen fro the
caitifte in to Jerusalem; and thei ordeineden
Leuitus, fro twenti &yogh;er and aboue,
that thei shulden hee&yogh;en the werk of the
Lord; and Josue stod, and his sonus and
his brethern, Cediniel and his sonus, and
the sonus of Juda, as o man, that thei
shulden stonden in vpon hem that diden
werk in the temple of God; the sones of
Benadab, sonus of hem and brethern of
-- --
hem, Leuitus.
10 Thanne groundid of the
masonus the temple of the Lord, prestus
stoden in ther arai with trumpis, and
Leuitus, sonus of Asaf, in cimbalis, that
thei preise God bi the hond of Dauid,
king of Irael.
11 And thei sungen togidere
in ympnes and knouleching to the Lord,
For `he is good, for in to withoute ende
the merci of hym vpon Irael. Also al
the puple criede out with a gret cry, in
preisinge the Lord, for thi that the temple
of the Lord was founded.
12 Manie
also of the prestis, and Leuitus, and the
princis of fadris, and the eldere, that
hadden seen the rathere temple, whan it
was foundid, and this temple in the e&yogh;en
of hem, wepten with a gret vois, and
manye criende out in gladnesse rereden
vp a vois;
13 ne any man my&yogh;te knowen
the vois of the cri of men gladende, and
the vois of the weping of the puple;
forsothe mengingli togidere the puple
criede out with a gret cri, and the vois
was herd aferr.
1 Forsothe the enemys of
Jude and of Beniamyn herden, for the
sonus of caitifte shulden bilden vp the
temple to the Lord God of Irael;
2 and,
ne&yogh;hende to Sorobabel, and to the princis
of fadris, seiden to hem, Bilde wee vp
with &yogh;ou, for so as &yogh;ee, wee sechen &yogh;our
God; lo! wee offren slain sacrifises fro
the da&yogh;es of Assoroddon, king of Assur,
that bro&yogh;te vs hider.
3 And Sorobabel
seide to them, and Josue, and the tothere
princis of the fadris of Irael, It is not to
vs and to &yogh;ou, that wee bilde vp an hous
to oure God; but wee vsself alone shul
bilden vp to the Lord oure God, as to vs
Cirus, king of Persis, comaundede.
4 It is
do forsothe, that the puple of the lond
shulde lette the hondis of the puple of
Jude, and disturben them in bilding.
-- --
5 Forsothe thei hadden hirid a&yogh;en hem
counseileris, that thei shulden destro&yogh;e
the conseil of hem, alle the da&yogh;es of Ciri,
king of Persis, and vnto the regne of
Daryi, king of Persis, two &yogh;eer thei ben
lettid.
CAP. IV.
6 In the regne forsothe of Assueri, he
is Artaxerses, in the begynning of his
regne, thei writen accusacioun a&yogh;en the
dwelleris of Jude and of Jerusalem;
7 and
in the da&yogh;is of Artaxerses, Besellam
Mitridates wrot, and Thabel, and the
tothere that weren in the counseil of
hem, to Artaxerses, king of Persis. Forsothe
the epistil of accusacioun is writen
Cire maner, and it was rad in Cire
speche.
8 Reum, Bethlem, and Sansai,
scribe, writen oon epistil fro Jerusalem
to Artaxerse the king `on this maner;
Reum,
9 Bethlem, and Sansai, scribe, and
the tothere counseilourys of hem, Dinaei,
Farsarei, Therfalei, Arfasei, Arthuei, Babiloynys,
Susannathaneis, Daceis, Elamytis,
and the tothere of the Jentilis,
10
whom translatide the grete and glorious
Assennafar, and made them to dwellen
in the cites of Samarie, and in othere regiouns
be&yogh;unde the flod, in pes.
11 This is
the saumpler of the epistil, that thei
senten to hym. To Artaxersi, king, thi
seruauns, men that ben be&yogh;unde the flod,
greting sein.
12 Be it knowen to the king,
for Jewis that ste&yogh;eden vp fro thee to vs,
camen in to Jerusalem, cite rebel and
werst, the whiche thei bilden vp, makende
vp the stonene wallis of it, and
makende wowis.
13 Now thanne be it
knowe to the king, for if that cite were
bild vp, and the wallis of it enstorid, tribute,
and pedage, and &yogh;eris rentus thei
shul not &yogh;iue, and vnto the king this
-- --
blame shal come.
14 Wee thanne mynde
hauende of the salt, that in the paleis
wee eeten, and for the harmys of the
king to seen vnleeful wee holden, therfore
wee han sent and told to the king;
15 that thou enserche in the bokis of the
stories of thi fadris, and thou shalt finde
write in armaries, and knowen, for that
cite is a rebel cite, and no&yogh;ende to kingus
and to prouincis, and batailis ben sterid
vp in it of old da&yogh;es; for what thing and
that cite is destro&yogh;id.
16 Wee tellen to the
king, for if that cite were bild vp, and
his wallis enstorid, thou shalt not han
possessioun be&yogh;unde the flod.
17 The king
sente woord to Reum, Bethlem, and to
Sansay, scribe, and to the tothere that
weren in the counseil of hem, dwelleris
of Samarie, and to the tothere be&yogh;unde
the flod, Greetinge, seiende, and pes.
18 The acusacioun, that &yogh;ee senten to vs,
openli is rad befor me;
19 and of me it
is comaundid, and thei ensercheden, and
founden, for that cite of olde da&yogh;es a&yogh;en
kingus rebellith, and descenciouns and
batailis ben rerid vp in it;
20 for and most
stronge kingis weren in Jerusalem, the
whiche and lordshipeden to al the regioun
that is be&yogh;unde the flod; tribute
also, and pedage, and rentis, thei token.
21 Now thanne hereth the sentence, that &yogh;ee
forfende `thoo men, and that cite be not
bild vp, to the time if perauenture of me it
were comaundid.
22 Seeth, lest necgligentli
this be fulfild, and litilmelum growe euel
a&yogh;en kingys.
23 And so the saumple of the
maundement of Artaxerses, king, is rad
befor Reum, Bethlem, and Sansai, scribe,
and the counseileris of hem; and thei
wenten hastif in to Jerusalem to the
Jewis, and thei forfendeden them in
-- --
power and strengthe.
24 Thanne is laft of
the werc of the hous of God in Jerusalem,
and it was not maad vnto the
secunde &yogh;er of the regne of Darii, king
of Persis.
CAP. V.
1 Forsothe ther profecieden Aggeus,
profete, and Zacharias, profete, the sone
of Addo, propheciende to the Jewis that
weren in Jude and Jerusalem, in the
name of God of Irael.
2 Thanne risen
Sorobabel, the sone of Salatiel, and Josue,
the sone of Josedech, and thei begunnen
to bilden vp the temple of God in Jerusalem;
and with hem profetis, helpende
hem.
3 In that forsothe time cam to hem
Thathannai, that was duk be&yogh;unde the
flod, and Starbusannai, and the counseiloures
of hem; and thus thei seiden to
hem, Who &yogh;af to &yogh;ou counseil, that this
hous &yogh;ee shulden bilden vp, and these
wallis enstoren?
4 To the whiche wee answerden
to hem, whiche weren the namys
of men, autouris of that bilding.
5 The
e&yogh;e forsothe of the God of hem is don
vpon the olde men of Jewis, and thei
my&yogh;te not forfenden hem; and it pleside
that the thing were told to Darie, and
thanne thei shulden don aseeth a&yogh;en
that acusing.
6 The saumpler of the epistil,
that sente Thathannai, duk of the
regioun be&yogh;unde the flod, and Starbusannai,
and the counseileris of hym, Arfarsacei,
that weren be&yogh;unde the flod, to
Darie, the king.
7 The woord that thei
senten to hym thus was writen; To
Darie, the king, alle pes.
8 Be it knowen
to the king, wee to han go to Jude prouynce,
to the hous of the grete God, that
is bild vp with ston vnpolisht, and trees
ben sett in the wowis, and that werc
-- --
diligentli is maad up, and waxeth in the
hondis of hem.
9 Wee axeden thanne thoo
olde men, and thus we seiden to them,
Who &yogh;af to &yogh;ou power that this hous &yogh;ee
shulden bilden, and the wallis enstoren?
10 But and the names of hem we han so&yogh;t
of hem, that wee telle to thee; and we
han write the namus of the men that
ben princis in hem.
11 Forsothe such woord
thei answerden to vs, seiende, We ben
the seruauns of God of heuene and of
erthe; and we bilden vp the temple that
was maad out befor these &yogh;eris manye, and
the whiche the grete king of Irael hadde
bild, and maad out.
12 Forsothe aftir that
to wrathe oure fadris hadden terred the
God of heuene, he toc hem in the hond
of Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloyne,
Caldeis; and this hous he destro&yogh;ede,
and the puple of it he translatide in to
Babiloine.
13 Forsothe the firste &yogh;er of Ciri,
king of Babiloine, Cirus, king of Babiloyne,
purposide a maundement, that the
hous of God shulde be maad vp.
14 For
and the vesselis of the temple of God,
goldene and siluerene, that Nabugodonosor
hadde take fro the temple, that was
in Jerusalem, and hadde born hem awei
in to the temple of Babiloyne, king Cirus
bro&yogh;te forth fro the temple of Babyloyne,
and ben &yogh;iue to Zazabazar bi name, whom
and he ordeynede prince.
15 And he seide
to hym, These vesselis tac, and go, and
put hem in the temple, that is in Jerusalem;
and the hous of God be bild vp
in his place.
16 And so thanne thilke Zazabazar
cam, and sette the groundis of
the temple of God in Jerusalem; and fro
that time vnto now it is bild, and &yogh;it is
not fulfild.
17 Now thanne if it seme to the
king good, enserche he in the librarie of
the king, that is in Babiloyne, whether
-- --
forsothe of king Cire it be comaunded,
that the hous of God shulde be bilde vp
in Jerusalem; and the wil of the king
vpon this thing sende he to vs.
CAP. VI.
1 Thanne king Darie comaunded, and
thei enserchiden in the tresorie of the
bokis, that weren leid vp in Babiloine.
2 And there is founde in Egbadonys, that
is a castel in Medene prouynce, o volume,
and such a sentence was writen in it.
3 The firste &yogh;er of Ciri king, Cirus the
king demede, that the hous of God, that
is in Jerusalem, shulde be bild vp in the
place where thei offren ostus, and that
thei putte groundis vnderberende the
hei&yogh;te of sixti cubitus, and the breede of
sixti cubitus,
4 and thre ordris of vnpolisht
stonis, and so ordris of newe trees.
Costis forsothe of the hous of the king
shulden ben &yogh;iue.
5 But and the vesselis,
goldene and siluerene of the temple of
God, that Nabugodonosor hadde take of
the temple of Jerusalem, and bro&yogh;t hem
in to Babiloine, be thei &yogh;olden, and born
a&yogh;een in to the temple of Jerusalem, and
in to ther place, the whiche and ben
put in the temple of God.
6 Now thanne
Thathannai, duke of the regioun that is
be&yogh;unde the flod, and Scarbusannai, and
&yogh;oure counseileris, Arfasacei, that ben be&yogh;unde
the flod, aferr goth awei fro them;
7 and leteth to be maad that temple of
God of the duke of Jewis, and of the
elders of hem; and that hous of God
bilde thei in his place.
8 But and of me
it is comaundid, that it behoueth to be
maad of thoo prestus of Jewis, that the
-- --
hous of God be bild vp, that is, that of
the kingis cofre, that is, of tributis, that
ben &yogh;iue of the regioun be&yogh;unde the flod,
besili costys be &yogh;iue to thoo men, lest be
lettid the werk.
9 That if nede were, and
caluis, and lombis, and kidis in to brent
sacrifise to the God of heuene; whete,
salt, and win, and oile, aftir the custum
of prestus that ben in Jerusalem, be ther
&yogh;iue to them bi alle da&yogh;is, lest ther be in
any thing pleynyng.
10 And offre thei offringus
to the God of heuene; and pre&yogh;e
thei for the lif of the king and of his
sonus.
11 Of me thanne is sett a decree,
that eche man that this comaundement
chaungith, be don awei the tree of the
hous of hym, and be he rerid vp, and tobrosid
in it; the hous forsothe of hym
be forfetid.
12 God forsothe, that maketh
to dwellen his name there, scatere alle
reumys and puple, that strecchith out
ther hond, that thei withstonde and scatere
that hous of God, that is in Jerusalem.
I Darie haue ordeined a decre, the
whiche bisili I wile to be fulfild.
13 Therfore
Thathannai, duk of the regioun be&yogh;onde
the flod, and Scarbusannay, and
the conseileris of hym, after that king
Darie hadde comaunded so diligentli,
folewiden out.
14 The eldere forsothe of
Jewis bilden vp, and hadden prosperite,
after the profecie of Aggei, the profete,
and of Zacarie, sone of Addo; and thei
bilden, and maden, the God of Irael comaundende,
and comaundende Ciro, and
Darie, and Artaxerse, kingus of Persis;
15 and thei fulfilden this hous of God vnto
the thridde dai of the monyth of Adar,
that is the sixte &yogh;er of the regne of
king Darie.
16 Forsothe the sonus of Irael,
prestus and Leuitus, and the tothere of
the sonus of transmygracioun, maden the
-- --
dedicacioun of the hous of God in io&yogh;e;
and offriden,
17 in the dedicacioun of the
hous of God, caluys an hundrid, wetheris
two hundrid, lambys foure hundrid, get
buckis for the synne of al the puple
twelue, after the noumbre of the linagis
of Irael.
18 And thei ordeyneden prestus in
ther ordris, and Leuitus in ther whilis,
vp on the werkis of God in Jerusalem,
as it is write in the boc of Moises.
19 Forsothe the sonus of transmygracioun
maden pasch, the fourtenthe dai of the
firste monyth.
20 Forsothe the prestus and
Leuitus as oon weren purified, alle clene
to offren pasch to alle the sonus of
transmygracioun, and to their brethern
prestus, and to themself.
21 And the sonus
of Irael, that weren turned a&yogh;een of the
transmygracioun, eeten, and alle that
hadden seuered hemself fro al defouling
of Jentilis of the lond to them, that thei
seche the Lord God of Irael.
22 And thei
maden the solempnete of therue louys
seuen da&yogh;es in gladnesse; for the Lord
hadde gladid hem, and conuertid the
herte of king Assur to hem, that he
helpe the hondis of hem in the werk of
the hous of the Lord God of Irael.
CAP. VII.
1 Aftir these woordis forsothe, in the
regne of Artaxerses, king of Persis, Esdras,
the sone of Saraie, sone of Azarie,
sone of Elchie,
2 sone of Sellum, sone of
Sadoch,
3 sone of Achitob, sone of Amarie,
sone of Azarie,
4 sone of Maraioth, sone
of Saraie,
5 sone of Osi, sone of Bocci, sone
of Abisue, sone of Finees, sone of Eleasar,
sone of Aron, prest fro the begynnyng;
this Esdras ste&yogh;ede vp fro Babiloine,
6
and he a swift scribe in the lawe
-- --
of Moises, the whiche the Lord God of
Irael &yogh;af; and the king &yogh;af to hym, after
the goode hond of the Lord his God
vpon hym, al his asking.
7 And ther
ste&yogh;eden vp of the sonus of Irael, and of
the sonus of prestus, and of the sonus of
Leuitus, and of the singeres, and of the
porteris, and of the sodeknys, in Jerusalem
the seuenthe &yogh;er of Artaxerses, king.
8 And thei camen in to Jerusalem the fifte
monyth; this is the seuenthe &yogh;er of the
king.
9 For in the firste dai of the firste
monyth thei begunnen to ste&yogh;en vp fro
Babiloine, and in the firste dai of the
fifte monyth he cam in to Jerusalem,
after the goode hond of his God vpon
hym.
10 Esdras forsothe greithede his
herte, that he enserche the lawe of the
Lord, and do, and teche in Irael maundement
and dom.
11 This is forsothe the
saumpler of the epistil of the maundement,
that king Artaxerses &yogh;af to Esdre,
preest, wis scribe in woordis and in
maundemens of the Lord, and his cerimoines
in Irael.
12 Artaxerses, king of
kingus, to Esdre, the prest, most wis
scribe of the lawe of God of heuene,
greting.
13 Of me is a decre, that to whomsoeuer
it plese in my rewme of the puple
of Irael, and of his prestus, and of the
Leuitus, to gon in to Jerusalem, go he
with thee.
14 Forsothe fro the face of the
king and of the seuene counseileris of
hym thou art sent, that thou visite Jude
and Jerusalem in the lawe of thi God,
that is in thi hond;
15 and that thou bere
siluer and gold, that the king and his
counseileris wilfulli offriden to the God
of Irael, whos tabernacle is in Jerusalem.
And al the siluer and gold, what euere
thou findist in al the prouince of Babiloine,
and the puple wile offren, and of
the prestus that wilfulli offriden to the
-- --
hous of ther God, that is in Jerusalem,
freli to taken;
17 and bisili bie of that
monei calues, wetheris, lombis, and sacrifises,
and the offring of likouris of hem;
and offre them vpon the auter of the
temple of &yogh;our God, that is in Jerusalem.
18 But and if any thing to thee, and to thi
brethern plese, of the remnaunt of siluer
and of gold that &yogh;ee do, after the wil of
&yogh;oure God doth;
19 also the vesselis that ben
&yogh;iue in the seruise of the hous of thi God,
tac in the si&yogh;te of God in to Jerusalem.
20 But and othere thingus the whiche nede
were in the hous of thi God, hou miche
euere is nede, that thou spende, thou shalt
&yogh;iue of the tresor of the king and of the
comun bagge, and of me.
21 I, Artaxerses,
king, haue ordeined, and demed to alle
the keperis of the comun cofre, that ben
be&yogh;onde the flod, that what euer aske of
&yogh;ou Esdras, prest, scribe of the lawe of
God of heuene, withoute tariyng &yogh;iue
&yogh;ee,
22 vnto an hundrid talentus of siluir,
and vnto an hundrid batus of win, and
vnto an hundrid choris of whete, and
vnto an hundrid batus of oile, salt forsothe
withoute mesure.
23 Al that to the
rit of God of heuene perteneth, be it &yogh;iue
bisili in the hous of God of heuene, lest
perauenture he be wroth a&yogh;en the reume
of the king and of his sonus.
24 To &yogh;ou
also we maken knowen of alle the prestus,
and Leuitus, singeres, porteris, sodeknys,
and mynystris of the hous of this God,
and pedage and tribute and &yogh;eris frutus
haue &yogh;ee no power of putting `vpon
hem.
25 Thou forsothe, Esdra, after the
wisdam of thi God, that is in thin hond,
ordeine thou domysmen and gouernoures,
that thei deme to al the puple, that is
-- --
be&yogh;onde the flod, to hem, that is, that
knewen the lawe of thi God, and the
lawe of the king; but and vnwise men
techeth freely.
26 And eche that doth not
the lawe of thi God, and the lawe of the
king bisili, dom shal ben of hym, or in
to deth, or in to outlawe, or in to condempnacioun
of his substaunce, or certis
in to prisoun. And Esdras, scribe, seide,
Blessid the Lord God of oure fadris,
27 that
&yogh;af this in the herte of the king, that he
shulde glorifie the hous of the Lord, that
is in Jerusalem,
28 and in me hath in bowid
his merci befor the king, and his counseileris,
and alle the my&yogh;ti princis of the
king And I, coumfortid bi the hond of
the Lord, of my God, that was in me,
I gaderede of the sonus of Irael princis,
that ste&yogh;eden vp with me.
CAP. VIII.
1 These thanne ben the princis of meines,
and this the genelogie of hem, that ste&yogh;eden
vp with me in the reume of Artaxerses,
king, fro Babiloine.
2 Of the sonus
of Finees, Jerson; of the sonus of Ithamar,
Danyel; of the sonus of Dauid,
Archus;
3 of the sonus of Sechemye and of
the sonus of Faros, Zacharias, and with
hym ben noumbrid an hundrid and fifti
men;
4 of the sonus of Fethmoab and of
Eleoenai, sone of Zacharie, and with
hym two hundrid men;
5 of the sonus of
Sechemye, sone of Jesechiel, and with
hym thre hundrid men;
6 of the sonus of
-- --
Addaenebeth, sone of Jonathan, and with
hym fifti men;
7 of the sonys of Elam,
Isaias, the sone of Italie, and with hym
seuenti men;
8 of the sonus of Safacie, Zebedias,
the sone of Mychael, and with
hym ei&yogh;teti men;
9 of the sonus of Joab,
Obedia, the sone of Jehiel, and with hym
two hundrid and ei&yogh;tetene men;
10 of the
sonus of Salomyth, the sone of Josfie,
and with hym an hundrid and sixti
men;
11 of the sonus of Belbai, Zacharias,
the sone of Bebai, and with hym twenti
and ei&yogh;te men;
12 of the sonus of Esiad,
Johannan, the sone of Esethan, and with
hym an hundrid and ten men; of the
sonus of Odonycham,
13 that last weren,
and these the namus of hem, Elifilech,
and Heiel, and Samaias, and with hem
sixti men;
14 of the sonus of Beguy, Vthai,
and Saccur, and with hem seuenti men.
15 I gederede hem forsothe to the flod, that
renneth to Hanna; and wee dwelten
there thre da&yogh;is. And I so&yogh;te in the puple,
and in the prestus of the sonus of Leuy,
and I fond not there.
16 And so I sente
Elizer, and Arihel, and Semeiam, and
Elnathan, and Jaubeth, and an other
Elnathan, and Nathan, and Zacharie, and
Mesollam, princis; and Joarib, and Elnathan,
wise men;
17 and I sente hem to
Heldo, the whiche is the firste in the
place off Casfee, and I putte in the mouth
of hem woordis, that thei shulden speken
to Eldo, and to the brethern of hym,
sodeknys, in the place of Casfee, that
thei shulden bringe to vs mynystris of
the hous of oure God.
18 And thei bro&yogh;ten
to vs, bi the goode hond of oure God
vpon vs, a most wis man of the sonus of
Mooli, sone of Leui, sone of Irael; and
Sarabiam, and the sonus of hym, twenti,
and the brethern of hym,
19 ei&yogh;tetene; and
Azabie, and with hym, Isaie, of the sonys
-- --
of Merari, the brethern of hym, and the
sonys of hym,
20 twenti; and of the sodeknys,
that Dauid hadde &yogh;iue and princis
to the seruise of Leuitys, sodeknys two
hundrid and twenti; alle these bi ther
namys weren clepid.
21 And I prechide
there fasting beside the flod of Hanna,
that we shulden ben trauailid in penaunce
befor the Lord oure God, and
asken of hym a ri&yogh;t weie to vs, and to
oure sonus, and to al oure substaunce.
22 Forsothe I was ashamyd to asken the
king helpe, and horse men, that my&yogh;ten
defenden vs fro the enemy in the weie,
for wee hadden seid to the king, The
hond of oure God is vpon alle that sechen
hym in goodnesse; and the empire of
hym, and the strengthe of hym, and
wodnesse vpon alle that forsaken hym.
23 Wee fasteden forsothe, and pre&yogh;eden oure
God for this, and it cam to vs welsumli.
24 And I seuerede of the princis of prestis
twelue, Sarabiam, Sazabiam, and with hem
of the brethern of hem, ten;
25 and I peisede
to hem the siluer and gold, and the sacride
vesselis of the hous of oure God, the
whiche the king hadde offrid, and the
counseileris of hym, and the princis of
hym, and al Irael, of hem that weren
founden.
26 And I peisede in the hondis of
hem of siluer talentis sixe hundrid and
fifti, and siluerene vesselys an hundrid;
of gold an hundrid talentus,
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