1   In the first yeare of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie might be accomplishd, our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of Persians: and he made proclamation in al his kingdom, yea by wryting, saying: ^note

2   Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians: Al the kingdomes of the earth hath the Lord the God of heauen geuen me, & he hath commanded me that I should build him a house in Ierusalem, which is in Iewrie.

3   Who is there among you of al his people? His God be with him. Let him goe vp into Ierusalem, which is in Iewrie, and build the house of the Lord the God of Israel, he is the God that is in Ierusalem.

4   And let al the rest in al places whersoeuer they dwel, let euery man of his place helpe him, with siluer and gold, and substance, and cattel, besides that which they offer voluntarily to the temple of God, which is in Ierusalem.

5   And there rose vp the princes of the fathers of Iuda and Beniamin, & the Priestes, and Leuites, and euerie one, whose spirit God raysed vp, to goe vp to build the temple of our Lord, which was in Ierusalem.

6   And al that were round about, ^note did helpe their handes in vessels of siluer, and of gold, in substance, and beastes, in furniture, besides those thinges which they had offered voluntarily.

7   King Cyrus also brought forth the vessels of the temple of our Lord, which Nabuchodonosor had taken of Ierusalem, and had put them in the temple of his God.

8   But Cyrus the king of Persians brought them forth by the hand of Mithridates the sonne of Gazabar, & numbred them to Sassabasar the prince of Iuda.

9   And this is the number of them; Phials of gold thirtie, phials of siluer a thousand, kniues twentie nine, goblettes

Cyrus. of gold thirtie,

10   goblettes of siluer of the second order, foure hundred tenne: other vessels a thousand.

11   Al the vessels of gold and siluer, fiue thousand foure hundred: Sassabasar tooke al with them, that went vp from the transmigration of Babylon into Ierusalem. Chap. II. The names and number of special men, which returned vnder the conduct of Zorobabel into Ierusalem. 66. their substance of cattel, 68. and their oblations for the reedifying of the Temple.

1   And ^note these are the children of the prouince, that went vp from the captiuitie, which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had transported into Babylon, and returned into Ierusalem and Iuda, euerie man into his citie.

2   They that came with Zorobabel, Iosue, Nehemia, Saraia, Rahelaia, Mardochai, Belsan, Mesphar, Beguai, Rehum, Baana: The number of the men of the people of Israel:

3   The children of Pharos two thousand an hundred seuentie two.

4   The children of Sephatia, three hundred seuentie two.

5   The children of Area, seuen hundred seuentie fiue.

6   The children of Phahath Moab, of the children of Iosue: Iohab, two thousand eight hundred twelue.

7   The children of Aelam, a thousand two hundred fiftie foure.

8   The children of Zethua, nine hundred fourtie fiue.

9   The children of Zachai, seuen hundred sixtie.

10   The children of Bani six hundred fourtie two.

11   The children of Bebai, six hundred twentie three.

12   The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twentie two.

13   The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixtie six.

14   The children of Beguai, two thousand fiftie six.

15   The children of Adin, foure hundred fiftie foure.

16   The children of Ather, which were of Ezechias, ninetie eight.

17   The children of Besai, three hundred and twentie three.

18   The children of Iora, an hundred twelue.

19   The childre of Hasum, two hundred twentie three.

20   The children of Gebbar, ninetie fiue.

21   The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twentie three.

22   The men of Netupha, fiftie six.

23   The men of Anathoth an hundred twentie eight.

24   The children of Azmaueth, fourtie two.

25   The children of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth, seuen hundred fourtie three.

26   The children of Rama and Gabaa, six hundred twentie one.

27   The men of Machmas, an hundred twentie two.

Cyrus. Zorobabel.

28   The men of Bethel and Hai, two hundred twentie three.

29   The children of Nebo, fiftie two.

30   The children of Megbis, an hundred fiftie six.

31   The children of an other Ælam, a thousand two hundred fiftie foure.

32   The children of Harim, three hundred twentie.

33   The children of Lod Hadid and Ono, seuen hundred twentie fiue.

34   The children of Iericho, three hundred fourtie fiue.

35   The children of Senaa, three thousand six hundred thirtie.

36   The Priestes: The children of Iadaia in the house of Iosue, nine hundred seuentie three.

37   The children of Emmer, a thousand fiftie two.

38   The children of Pheshur, a thousand two hundred fourtie seuen.

39   The children of Harim, a thousand and seuentie.

40   The Leuites: The children of Iosue and Cedmiel, the children of Odouia, seuentie foure.

41   The singing men: The children of Asaph, an hundred twentie eight.

42   The children of the Porters: the children of Sellum, the children of Ater, the childreu of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai: al an hundred thirtie nine.

43   The Natheneites: The children of Siha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

44   the children of Ceros, the children of Siaa, the children of Phadon,

45   The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Accub,

46   The children of Hagab, the children of Semlai, the children of Hanan,

47   The children of Gaddel, the children of Gaher, the children of Raaia,

48   The children of Rasin, the children of Necoda, the children of Gazam,

49   The children of Aza, the children of Phasea, the children of Besee,

50   The children of Asena, the children of Munim, the children Nephusim,

51   The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur,

52   The children of Besluth, the children of Mahida, the children of Harsa,

53   The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of Thema,

54   The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha,

55   The children of the seruants of Salomon, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pharuda,

56   The children of Iala, the children of Dercon, the childr&ebar; of Geddel,

57   The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of Phochereth, which were of Asebaim, the children of Ami.

58   Al the Nathineites, and the children of the seruantes of Salomon, three hundred ninetie two.

59   And these are they that came vp from Thelmela, Thelharsa, Cherub,

Iosue. and Adon, and Emer. And they could not shew the house of their fathers and their seede, whether they were of Israel.

60   The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of Necoda, six hundred fiftie two.

61   And of the children of the Priestes: The children of Hobia, the children of Accos, the children of Berzellai, who tooke a wife of the daughters of Berzellai the Galaadite, and was called by their name:

62   these sought the writing of their genealogie, and ^notefound it not, and they were cast out of the Priesthood.

63   And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eate of the Holie of holies, til there rose a priest learned and perfect.

64   Al the multitude as it were one man, ^note fourtie two thousand three hundred sixtie:

65   beside their men seruantes, & wemen seruantes, which were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie seuen: and among them singing men, and singing wemen two hundred.

66   Their horses seuen hundred thirtie six, their mules two hundred fourtie fiue,

67   their cameles, foure hundred thirtie fiue, their asses six thousand seuen hundred twentie.

68   And of the princes of the fathers, when they entred into the temple of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem, they offered voluntarily vnto the house of our Lord to build it in his place.

69   According to their abilities, they gaue the expenses of the worke, of gold sixtie one thousand soldes, of siluer fiue thousand poundes, & garmentes for the priestes an hundred.

70   The Priestes therfore & the Leuites, and they of the people, and the singing men, and the porters, and the Nathinaites dwelt in their cities, and al Israel in their cities. Chap. III. An Altar is built for sacrifice, 4 The feast of Tabernacles solemnly celebrated 8. And in the second yeare (after their returne) the Temple is founded with great ioy of the people, and mourning of some.

1   And now the seuenth moneth was come, and the children of Israel were in their cities: the people therfore was gathered together as it were one man into Ierusalem.

2   And Iosue the sonne of Iosedec rose vp, and his brethren the Priestes, and Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and his brethren, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, that they might offer on it holocaustes, as it is writen in the law of Moyses the man of God.

3   And they placed the altar of God vpon his feete, the people of the lands round about putting

Cyrus. Iosue. them ^note in feare, & they offered vpon it holocaust to our Lord morning and euening.

4   And they made the solemnitie of tabernacles, as it is writen, and holocaust euery day by order according to the præcept, the worke of the day in his day.

5   And after these thinges the continual holocaust, as wel in the Calendes, as in al the solemnities of our Lord, that were consecrated, and in al wherein there was offered voluntarily a gift to our Lord.

6   From the first day of the seuenth moneth they began to offer holocaust to our Lord: moreouer the temple of God was not yet founded.

7   And they gaue money to hewers of stones and to masons: meate also and drinke, and oyle to the Sidonians and Tyrians, that they should bring ceder trees from Libanus to the sea vnto Ioppe, according to that which Cyrus the king of the Persians had commanded them.

8   And in the second yeare of their coming to the temple of God in Ierusalem, the second moneth, began Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and the rest of their brethren the Priestes, and the Leuites, and al that were come from the captiuitie into Ierusalem, and they appoynted Leuites from twentie yeares and vpward, that they should hasten forward the worke of our Lord.

9   And Iosue stood and his sonnes, and his brethren, Cedmihel, and his sonnes, and the children of Iuda, as it were one man, that they might be instant vpon them, that did the worke in the temple of God: the sonnes of Henadad, and their sonnes, and their brethren Leuites.

10   The temple therfore of our Lord being founded by the masons, the Priestes stood in their attyre with trumpettes: and the Leuites the children of Asaph in cymbals, to prayse God ^note by the handes of Dauid the king of Israel.

11   And they sang together in hymnes, and confession to our Lord: Because he is good, because his mercie is for euer vpon Israel.

12   Al the people also made a shoute with a lowde crie in praysing our Lord, because the temple of our Lord was founded.

12   Verie manie also of the Priestes and the Leuites, and the princes of the fathers, & the ancients, that had seene the former temple; when they saw this temple sounded, ^notethey wept with a lowd voyce: and manie shouting in ioy, lifted vp their voyce.

13   Neither could anie man discerne the voice of the crie of them that reioyced, and the voice of the weeping of the people: for one with an other the people showted with a lowd crie, and the voice was heard far of.

Cyrus. Zorobabel. Chap. IIII. The Schismatical Samaritanes, because they are not admitted to communicate with the Iewes, endeuour to hinder the building of the Temple. 5. which neuertheles procedeth, al the dayes of king Cyrus. 7. but is hundered by Artaxerxes, til the second yeare of Darius.

1   Bvt the enemies of Iuda and Beniamin heard that the children of the captiuitie built a temple to our Lord the God of Israel.

2   And coming to Zorobabel, and the princes of the fathers, they sayd to them: Let vs build with you, because ^noteeuen as you, so do we seeke your God: Behold we haue immolated victimes from the dayes of Asor Haddan the king of Assur, which brought vs hither.

3   And Zorobabel sayd to them, and Iosue, and the rest of the princes of the fathers of Israel: It is not for you and vs to build a house to our God, but we our selues alone wil build to the Lord our God, as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath c&obar;manded vs.

4   It came to passe therfore that the people of the land hindred the handes of the people of Iuda, and trubled them in building.

5   And they hyred counselers agaynst them, to destroy theyr counsel al the dayes of Cyrus the king of the Persians, & vntil the reigne of Darius the king of the Persians

6   And in the reigne of Assuerus in the begining of his reigne, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitantes of Iuda and Ierusalem.

7   And in the dayes of Artaxerxes Beselam, Mitridates, & Thabeel, & the rest that were in theyr counsel writ to Artaxerxes king of the Persians: and the epistle of the accusation was writen in Syriake, and was read in the Sirian language.

8   Reum Beelteem, and Samsai scribe wrote one epistle from Ierusalem to Artaxerxes the king, of this tenure:

9   Reum Beelteem, and Samsai scribe, and the rest of their counselers, the Dineites, and the Apharsathaceites, the Terphaleites, the the Apharseites, the Erchueites, the Babylonians, the Susanecheites, the Dieuites, and the Aelamites,

10   and the rest of the Gentiles, which Asenaphar the great and glorious transported: and made them dwel in the cities of Samaria, and in the rest of the countries beyond the Riuer in peace:

11   (this is the copie of the epistle, which they sent to him) To Artaxerxes the king, thy seruantes, the men that are beyond the Riuer, send greeting.

12   Be it knowen to the king, that the Iewes, which came vp from thee to vs, are come into

Artaxerxes. Ierusalem a rebellious and naughtie citie, which they build making the rampyres thereof, and repayring the walles.

13   Now therfore be it knowen to the king, that if that citie shal be built, and the walles therof repayred, they will not geue tribute, and tolle, & yearly rentes, and this damage wil come euen to the kinges.

14   But we mindful of the salt that we haue eaten in the palace, and because we count it heynous to see the kings harmes, therfore we haue sent and certified the king,

15   that thou recount in the bookes of the histories of thy fathers, and thou shalt finde writen in the commentaries: and shalt know that that citie is a rebellious citie, and hurtful to the kinges, and prouinces, and battels are raysed in it of old time: for the which cause also the citie it selfe was destroyed.

16   We certifie the king, that if that citie shal be built, and the walles therof repayred, thou shalt haue no possession beyond the Riuer.

17   The king sent word to Reum Beelteem, and Samsai scribe, and to the rest that were in their counsel inhabitantes of Samaria, and to the rest beyond the Riuer, sending greeting and peace.

18   The accusation, which you haue sent to vs, was openly read before me.

19   and I gaue commandment: and they recounted, and haue found, that that citie of old time rebelleth agaynst the kinges, and seditions and battels are raysed in it.

20   For there haue beene also most valiant kinges in Ierusalem, which also had dominion ouer al the countrie, that is beyond the Riuer. They tooke also tribute, and tolle, and rentes.

21   Now therfore heare the sentence: Prohibite ye those men, that that citie be not built, til it perhaps shal be commanded by me.

22   See that you doe not negligently accomplish this thing, and by litle there grow euil agaynst the kinges.

23   Therfore the copie of the edict of Artaxerxes the king was read before Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counselers: and they went in hast into Ierusalem to the Iewes, & prohibited them with arme and strength.

24   Then was the worke of the house of our Lord in Ierusalem intermitted, and was not done vntil the second yeare of the reigne of Darius the king of the Persians. Chap. V. By the exhortation of Aggæus, and Zacharias, the people procede in building the Temple. 3. VVhich their enimies striuing to hinder, 5. for decision of the cause, both parties write to king Darius.

Darius

1   And there prophecied Aggeus the Prophete, & Zacharias the sonne of Addo, prophecying to the Iewes, that were in Iewrie and Ierusalem, in the name of the God of Israel.

2   Then rose vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and began to build the temple of God in Ierusalem, and with them the prophetes of God helping them.

3   But at the same time there came to them Thathanai, who was prince beyond the Riuer, and Stharbuzanai, and their counselers: and sayd thus to them: Who hath geuen you counsel to build this house, and to repayre the walles?

4   Wherto we answered them, what the names were of the men that were authors of that building.

5   And ^note the eye of theyr God was set vpon the ancientes of the Iewes, and they could not inhibite them. And it pleased them that the matter should be referred to Darius, and then they would satisfie agaynst that accusation.

6   The copie of the epistle, which Thathanai prince of the countrie beyond the Riuer sent, and Stharbuzanai, and his counselers the Arphasacheites, which were beyond the Riuer, to Darius the king.

7   The word, which they sent him, was writen thus: To Darius the king al peace.

8   Be it knowen to the king, that we went to Iurie, the prouince, to the house of the great God, which is in building with stone vnpolished, and timber is put in the walles: and that worke is in building diligently, and groweth in their handes.

9   We therfore demanded of those ancientes, and thus we sayd to them: Who hath geuen you authoritie to build this house, & to repaire these walles?

10   Yea and their names we asked of them, that we might certifie thee: and we writte the names of those men, that are the chiefe amongst them.

11   And they answered vs these wordes, sayng: We are the seruantes of the God of heauen & earth, and we do build a temple, that was built these manie yeares before, and which a great king of Israel built and set vp.

12   But after that our fathers prouoked the God of heauen to wrath, he deliuered them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon the Chaldee: this house also he destroyed, and his people he transported into Babylon.

13   But in the first yeare of Cyrus the king of Babylon, Cyrus the king put forth an edict, that this house of God should be built.

14   For the vesseles also of the temple of God, of gold and of siluer, which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of

Darius the temple, that was in Ierusalem, and had caried them into the temple of Babylon, Cyrus the king brought forth out of the temple of Babylon, and they were geuen to Sassabasar so called, whom also he appointed the chiefe,

15   and sayd to him: Take these vessels, and goe, and put them in the temple, that is in Ierusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place.

16   Then therfore came this Sassabasar, and layd the foundations of the temple of God in Ierusalem, and from that time vntil now it is in building, and is not yet finished.

17   Now therfore if it seeme good to the king, let him search in the kings librarie, which is in Babylon, whether it hath beene commanded by Cyrus the king, that the house of God in Ierusalem should be built, and let him send the kings pleasure concerning this thing vnto vs. Chap. VI. Darius finding in the register, that Cyrus gaue licence to build the Temple, commandeth that none hinder it. 8. geueth also money towardes the charges, and hostes for sacrifice.

1   Then Darius the king commanded, and they searched in the librarie of the bookes, that were layd vp in Babylon,

2   and there was found in Ecbatanis, which is a castle in the prouince Medena, one volume, and there was such a c&obar;mentarie writen therein:

3   In the first yeare of Cyrus the king: Cyrus the king decreed, that the house of God should be built, which is in Ierusalem, in the place where they immolate hostes, and that they lay the foundations supporting the height of threescore cubites, & the bredth of threescore cubites,

4   three rewes of stones vnpolished, & so rewes of new timber: and the costes shal be geuen out of the kings house.

5   Yea & the vessels of the temple of God, of gold & of siluer which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the Temple of Ierusalem, and had brought them into Babylon, let them be restored, & brought backe into the temple of Ierusalem vnto their place, which also were put in the temple of God.

6   Now therfore Thathanai prince of the countrie, that is beyond the Riuer, Stharubazanai, and your counselers the Apharsacheites, which are beyond the Riuer, depart farre from them,

7   and suffer that temple of God to be made of the duke of the Iewes, and of their ancientes, that they may build that house of God in his place.

8   Also there is c&obar;mandment

Darius geuen from me what must be done of those ancientes of the Iewes, that the house of God may be built, to witte, that of the kings coffer, that is, of the tributes, that are geuen out of the countrie beyond the Riuer, the charges be diligently geuen to those men, lest the worke be hindred.

9   And if it shal be necessarie, calues also, and lambes, and kiddes, for holocaust to the God of heauen, wheate, salt, wyne, and oyle, according to the rite of the Priestes, that are in Ierusalem, let there be geuen them day dy day, that there be no complaynte in any thing.

10   And let them offer oblations to the God of heauen, and pray for the life of the king, and of his children.

11   By me therfore there is a decree made; That euerie man, which shal alter this commandement, there be a beame taken of his house, and set vp, and he be fast hanged vpon it, and his house be confiscate.

12   And the God, that hath made his name to dwel there, destroy al kingdomes, and the people that shal extend theyr hand to resist, & to destroy the house of God, that is in Ierusal&ebar;. I Darius haue made the decree, which I wil to be diligently acc&obar;plished.

13   Therfore Thathanai the prince of the countrie beyond the Riuer, and Stharbuzani, and his counselers, according to that which Darius the king had commanded, so did execute it diligently.

14   And the ancientes of the Iewes built, and prospered according to the prophecie of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias the sonne of Addo: and they built and set vp, the God of Israel commanding, and ^note Cyrus commanding, and Darius, and Artaxerxes the kings of the Persians.

15   And they were finishing this house of God, vntil the third day of the moneth of Adar, which is the sixth yeare of Darius the king.

16   And the children of Israel, the Priestes and the Leuites, and the rest of the transmigration, made the dedication of the house of God in ioy.

17   And they offered in the dedication of the house of God, calues an hundred, rammes two hundred, lambes foure hundred, buckgoates for the sinne of al Israel twelue, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18   And they set the Priestes in theyr orders, and the Leuites in theyr courses ouer the workes of God in Ierusalem, as it is writen in the booke of Moyses.

19   And the children of Israel of the transmigration made the Phase, the fourtenth day of the first moneth.

20   For al the Priestes and the Leuites were purified as it were one man: al cleane to

Artaxerxes. immolate the Phase for al the children of the transmigration, and for theyr brethren the Priestes, and them selues.

21   And the children of Israel that were returned from the transmigration, did eate, and al that had separated them selues from the coinquination of the Gentiles of the earth vnto them, to seeke our Lord the God of Israel.

22   And they made the solemnitie of Azymes seuen dayes in ioy, because our Lord had made them ioyful, and had turned the hart of the king of Assur to them, that he should helpe theyr handes in the worke of the house of our Lord the God of Israel. Chap. VII. Esdras, with manie other Priestes and Leuites, ascendeth to Ierusalem to teach, and assist the people. 11. bringing Artaxerxes Edict, declareth it to the people, 27. and geueth thankes to God.

1   And after these thinges in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of Persians, Esdras the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Helcias, ^note

2   the sonne of Sellum, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob,

3   the sonne of Amarias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Maraioth,

4   the sonne of Zarahias, the sonne of Ozi, the sonne of Bocci,

5   the sonne of Abisne, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the Priest from the begynning.

6   The same Esdras ^note came vp from Babylon, and he was a quicke scribe in the law of Moyses, which our Lord God gaue to Israel: and the king gaue him according to the hand of our Lord his God vpon him al his petition.

7   And there came vp of the children of Israel, and of the children of the Priestes, and of the children of the Leuites, and of the singing men, and of the porters, and of the Nathineites into Ierusalem in the seuenth yeare of Artaxerxes the king.

8   And they came into Ierusalem the fifth moneth, that is the seuenth yeare of the king.

9   For in the first day of the first moneth he began to goe vp from Babylon, and in the first day of the fifth moneth he came into Ierusalem according to the good hand of his God vpon him.

10   For Esdras prepared his hart to search the law of our Lord, and to doe and to teach in Israel preceptes and iudgement.

11   And this is the copie of the epistle of the edict, which king Artaxerxes gaue to Esdras the Priest, the learned scribe, in the wordes and preceptes of our Lord, and his ceremonies in Israel.

12   Artaxerxes the king of kings to

Artaxerxes. Esdras the Priest, the most learned scribe of the law of God of heau&ebar;, greeting.

13   It is decreed by me that wh&obar;soeuer it shal please in my kingdom of the people of Israel, and of the Priestes and Leuites, to goe into Ierusal&ebar;, let him goe with thee.

14   For thou art sent from the face of the king, and of his seuen counselers, that thou mayst visite Iewrie and Ierusalem in the law of thy God, which is in thy hand.

15   And that thou maist carie the siluer & gold, which the king & his counselers haue voluntarily offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle is in Ierusalem.

16   And al the siluer and gold whatsoeuer thou shalt finde in al the prouince of Babylon, and the people wil offer, and of the Priestes that shal voluntarely offer to the house of theyr God, which is in Ierusalem,

17   take freely, and bye diligently of this money calues, rammes, lambes, and the sacrifices and libamentes of them, and offer them vpon the altar of the temple of your God, that is in Ierusalem.

18   Yea and if it shal please thee, and thy brethren to doe any thing with the rest of the siluer and gold, doe ye according to the wil of your God.

19   The vessels also, which are geuen thee for the ministerie of the house of thy God, deliuer thou in the sight of God in Ierusalem.

20   Yea and other thinges wherof neede shal be for the house of thy God, how much soeuer is necessarie for thee to spend, thou shalt geue it out of the treasure, and excheker of the king, and from me.

21   I Artaxerxes the king haue appointed and decreed to al the keepers of the common coffer, that are beyond the Riuer, that whatsoeuer Esdras the Priest, the scribe of the law of God of heauen, shal aske of you, you geue it without delay,

22   vnto an hundred talentes of siluer, and vnto an hundred cores of wheat, and vnto an hundred bates of wyne, and vnto an hundred bates of oyle, but salt without measure.

23   Al that pertayneth to the rite of the God of heauen, let it be geuen diligently in the house of the God of heauen: lest perhaps he be angrie agaynst the kingdom of the king, and of his sonnes.

24   We doe you also to vnderstand concerning al the Priestes, and Leuites, and the singers, and the porters, the Nathineites, and ministers of the house of this God, that you haue no authoritie to put tolle and tribute, and yearlie rentes vpon them.

25   And thou Esdras according to the wisedom of thy God, which is in thy hand, appoynt iudges and presidentes, that they may iudge for al the people, that is beyond the

Artaxerxes. Riuer, that is for them which know the law of thy God, yea and the ignorant teach ye frely.

26   And euerie one that shal not doe the law of thy God, and the law of thy king diligently, there shal be iudgement of him, either vnto death, or into banishment, or to the confiscation of his substance, or at the least into prison.

27   Blessed be our Lord the God of our fathers, which hath put this in the kinges hart, that he would glorifie the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem,

28   and hath inclined his mercie toward me before the king and his counselers, and al the mightie princes of the king: and I taking courage by the hand of our Lord my God, which was on me, gathered together out of Israel princes that should goe vp with me. Chap. VIII. Esdras reciteth those that came with him from Babylon. 21. the fast which he appointed. 33. and how they brought the holie vessel into the Temple.

1   These therfore are the princes of the families, and the genealogie of them, that came vp with me in the reigne of Artaxerxes the king ^note out of Babylon.

2   Of the children of Phinees, Gersom. Of the children of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the children of Dauid, Hattus.

3   Of the children of Sechenias, the children of Pharos, Zacharias: and with him were numbered an hundred fiftie men.

4   Of the children of Phahath Moab, Eleoenai the sonne of Zarcha, and with him two hundred men.

5   Of the children of Sechenias, the sonne of Ezechiel, and with him three hundred men.

6   Of the children of Adan, Abed the sonne of Ionathan, and with him fiftie men.

7   Of the children of Alam, Isaias the sonne of Athalia, and with him seuentie men

8   Of the children of Saphatia, Zebedia the sonne of Michael, and with him eightie men.

9   Of the children of Ioab, Obedia the sonne of Iahiel, and with him two hundred and eightene men.

10   Of the children of Selomith, the sonne of Iosphia, and with him an hundred sixtie men.

11   Of the children of Bebai, Zacharias the sonne of Bebai: and with him twentie eight men.

12   Of the children of Azgad, Ioanan the sonne of Eccetan, and with him an hundred and ten men.

13   Of the children of Adonicam, which were the last: and these are theyr names: Elipheleth, and Iebiel, and Samaias, and with them sixtie men.

14   Of the children of Begui, Vthai and Zachur, and with them seuentie men.

15   And I gathered them to

Artaxerxes. the riuer, which runneth downe to Ahaua, and we taried there three daies: and I sought among the people and among the Priestes for the children of Leui, and found none there.

16   Therfore I sent Eliezer, and Ariel, and Semeias, and Elnathan, and Iarib, and other Elnathan, and Nathan, and Zacharias, and Mosollam princes: and Ioiarib, and Elnathan wise men.

17   And I sent them to Eddo, which is chiefe in the place of Chasphia, and I did put in theyr mouth the wordes that they should speake to Eddo, and his brethren the Nathineites in the place of Chasphia, that they should bring vs ministers of the house of our God.

18   And they brought vs by the good hand of our God vpon vs a most learned man of the children of Mocholi the sonne of Leui the sonne of Israel, and Sarabias and his sonnes, and his brethren eightene,

19   and Hasabias, and with him Isaias of the children of Merari, and his brethren, and his sonnes twentie.

20   And al the Nathineites, which Dauid gaue, and the princes for the ministeries of the Leuites, Natineites two hundred twentie: al these were called by theyr names.

21   And I proclaymed there ^note a fast beside the Riuer of Ahaua, that we might be afflicted before the Lord our God, and might desire of him a right way for vs and our children, and al our substance.

22   For I was ashamed to aske the king ayde and horsemen, that might defend vs from the enemie in the way: because we had sayd to the king: The hand of our God is vpon al them, that seeke him in goodnesse: and his empire and strength, and furie vpon al them that forsake him.

23   And we fasted, and besought our God hereby: and it fel out prosperousely vnto vs.

24   And I separated twelue of the chief Priestes. Sarabias, and Hasabias, and with them ten of theyr brethren.

25   And I weyed vnto them the siluer and gold, and the consecrated vessels of the house of our God, which the king had offered and his counselers, and his princes, and al Israel of them, that were found:

26   and I weyed in theyr handes of siluer six hundred fiftie talentes, and vessels of siluer an hundred, of gold an hundred talentes:

27   and cuppes of gold twentie, which had a thousand solides, and two vessels of the best shyning brasse, fayre, as gold.

28   And I sayd to them: You are the holie of our Lord, and the vessels are holie, and the siluer and gold, that is voluntarely offered to our Lord the God of our fathers:

29   Watch & keepe it, vntil you deliuer it by weight before the princes

Artaxerxes. of the Priestes, and of the Leuites, and the princes of the families of Israel in Ierusalem, into the treasure of the house of our Lord.

30   And the Priestes and the Leuites receiued the weight of the siluer and gold, and of the vessels, to carie it to Ierusalem into the house of our God.

31   We therfore did sette forward from the riuer of Ahaua the twelfth day of the first moneth to goe on to Ierusalem: and the hand of our God was vpon vs, and deliuered vs from the hand of the enemie, and the lyer in wayte by the way.

32   And we came to Ierusalem, and we taried there three dayes.

33   And in the fourth day the siluer was weyed, and the gold, and the vessels in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the sonne of Vrias the Priest, and with him Eleazar the sonne of Phimees, and with them Iozabed the sonne of Iosue, and Noadaia the sonne of Bemai Leuites,

34   according to the number and weight of al: and al the weight was described at that tyme.

35   Yea and the children of the transmigration that were come from the captiuitie, offered holocaustes to the God of Israel, calues twelue for al the people of Israel, rammes nyntie six, lambes seuentie seuen, buckegoates for sinne twelue: al for holocaust to our Lord.

36   And they gaue the kings edictes to the princes, that were ouerseers for the king, and the dukes beyond the Riuer, and they aduanced the people and the house of God. Chap. IX. For mariages and other association which the Iewes had with Gentiles, Esdras lamenteth, 5. and confe&esset;ing the peoples iniquitie, prayeth God to conserue them from vtter destruction.

1   And after these thinges were accomplished, the princes came to me, saying: The people of Israel, and the Priests and Leuites ^note are not seperated from the people of the landes, and from the abhominations of them, to witte, of the Chananeite, and Hetheite, and Pherezeite, and Iebuseite, and of the Ammonites, and Moabites, and the Ægyptians, and Amorrheites.

2   For they haue taken of their daughters to them and to their sonnes, and haue mingled the holie seede with the people of the landes. The hand also of the princes and magistrates hath bene first in this transgression.

3   And when I had heard this word, I rent my cloke and my coate, and plucked of the heares of my head and bearde, and

Artaxerxes. sate mourning.

4   And there assembled to me al that feared the God of Israel, for the trangression of them, that were come from the captiuitie, and I sate sorowful, vntil the euening sacrifice.

5   And at the euening sacrifice I rose out of my affliction, and my cloke and coate being rent I fell vpon my knees, and spred forth my hands to our Lord my God,

6   And said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lifte vp my face to thee: because our iniquities are multiplied ouer our head, and our sinnes haue growen euen vnto heauen,

7   from the dayes of our fathers: yea and we our selues also haue sinned greuously vnto this day, and in our iniquities haue we bene deliuered our selues, and our Kinges, and our Priestes into the hand of the kinges of the landes, and into the sword, and into captuitie, and into spoyle, and into confusion of countenance, as also at this day.

8   And now as it were a litle, and for a moment was our prayer made before the Lord our God, that a remnant might be left vs, and ^note a nayle might be geuen vs in his holie place, and that our God would illuminate our eies, and would geue vs a litle life in our bondage.

9   Because we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God did not forsake vs, & he inclined mercie vpon vs before the king of the Persians, to geue vs life, and to aduance the house of our God, and to build the desolations therof and to geue vs a hedge in Iuda and Ierusalem.

10   And now what shal we say, ô our God, after these thinges? because we haue forsaken thy c&obar;mandm&ebar;ts,

11   which thou hast c&obar;manded in the hand of thy seruantes the prophetes, saying: The land, to the which you enter to possesse it, is an vncleane land, according to the vncleannesse of peoples, and of other landes, by the abhominations of them that haue filled it from mouth vnto mouth in theier coinquination.

12   Now therfore geue not your daughters to their sonnes, and their daughters take not for your sonnes, and doe ye not seeke their peace, and their prosperity for euer: that you may be strengthned, and may eate the goodes that are of the land, and may haue your children heyres for euer.

13   And after al thinges that come vpon vs in our most wicked workes, and our most great sinne, because thou our God hast deliuered vs from our iniquitie, and hast geuen vs health as it is at this day,

14   that we shal not turne away, and make frustrate thy commandementes, neither should ioyne matrimonies with the peoples of these abominations.

Artaxerxes. Why art thou angrie with vs vnto vtter destruction, not to leaue vs a remnant vnto saluation?

15   Lord God of Israel thou art iust: because we are leift, which should be saued as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sinne, for there can be no standing before thee vpon this. Chap. X Esdras calling the people together commandeth them to dismi&esset;e the strange wemen, which they haue married: 14 appointing officers to see it executed, 18 and reciteth those which had married such wemen.

1   Esdras therfore thus praying, and beseeching, and weeping, and lying before the temple of God, there was gathered to him of Israel an exceeding great companie of men and wemen and children, and the people wept with much lamentation.

2   And Sechenias the sonne of Iehiel of the children of Aelam answered, and said to Esdras: We haue transgressed against our God, and haue taken to wiues strange wemen of the peoples of the land: and now if there be penance in Israel vpon this,

3   let vs make a couenant with the Lord our God, to put away al the wiues, and them that are borne of them, according to the wil of our Lord, and of them that feare the precept of the Lord our God: be it done according to the law.

4   Arise, it is thy part to discerne, and we wil be with thee: take courage, and doe it.

5   Esdras therefore rose vp, and adiured the Princes of the Priestes and of the Leuites, and al Israel, that they should doe according to this word, and they sware.

6   And Esdras rose vp before the house of God, and went to the chamber of ^note Iohanan the sonne of Eliasib, and entered into it, he did eate no bread, and dranke no water: for he mourned for the transgression of them, that were come out of the captiuitie.

7   And there was a proclamation sent in Iuda and Ierusalem to al the children of the transmigration, that they should assemble together into Ierusalem.

8   And eurie one that shal not come within three dayes, according to the counsel of the princes and ancientes, al his substance shal be taken away, and him selfe shal be cast out of the companie of the transmigration.

9   There assembled therfore al the men of Iuda, and Beniamin into Ierusalem within three dayes, that is the ninth moneth, the twenteth day of the moneth: and al the people sate in the streate of the house of God, trembling for the sinne, and ^note the rayne.

10   And

Esdras the Priest arose, and sayd to them: You haue transgressed, and taken strange wemen to wife, to adde vpon the sinne of Israel.

11   And now geue confession to our Lord the God of your fathers, and doe his pleasure, and be separated from the peoples of the land, and from your wiues the strangers.

12   And al the multitude answered, and sayd with a lowde voyce: According to thy word vnto vs, so be it done.

13   Neuerthelesse because there is much people, and a tyme of rayne, and we can not abyde to stand without, and it is not a worke of one day or two (for we haue excedingly sinned in this thing)

14   let there be princes appoynted in al the multitude: and let al in our cities that haue taken strangers to wife, come at sette tymes, and with them the ancientes by citie and citie, and the iudges therof, vntil the wrath of our God be turned away from vs for this sinne.

15   Therfore Ionathan the sonne of Azahel, and Iaazia the sonne of Thecua were appoynted ouer this, and Mesollam and Sebethai Leuites did helpe them:

16   and the children of the transmigration did so. And Esdras the Priest, and the men, princes of the families went into the houses of theyr fathers, and al by theyr names, and they sate in the first day of the tenth moneth to search out the matter.

17   And al the men were fully counted that had taken strangers to wife, vnto the first day of the first mosneth.

18   And there were found of the sonnes of the Priestes that had taken strangers to wife. Of the children of Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and his brethren, Maasia, and Eliezer, and Iarib, and Godolia.

19   And they gaue theyr handes to put away theyr wiues, and to offer for theyr offence a ramme of the flocke.

20   And of the children of Emmer, Hanani, and Zebedia.

21   And of the children of Harim, Maasia, and Elia, and Semeia, and Iehiel, and Ozias.

22   And of the children of Pheshur, Elionai, Maasia, Ismael, Nathanael, Iozabed, and Elasa.

23   And of the children of the Leuites, Iozabed, and Semei, and Celaia, the same is Calita, Phataia, Iuda, and Eliezer.

24   And of the singing men Eliasib: and of the porters, Sellum, and Thelem, and Vri.

25   And of Israel, of the children of Pharos, Remeia, and Iezia, and Melchia, and Miamin, and Eliezer, and Melchia, and Banea.

26   And of the children of Aelam, Mathania, Zacharias, and Iehiel, and Abdi, and Ierimoth, and Elia.

27   And of the children of Zethua, Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania, Ierimuth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

Artaxerxes.

28   And of the children of Bebai, Iohanan, Hanamia, Zabbai, Athalai:

29   And of the children of Bani, Mosollam, and Melluch, and Adaia, Iasub, and Saal, and Ramoth.

30   And of the children of Phahath Moab, Edna and Chalal, Bananias, and Maasias, Mathanias, Beseleel, Bennui, and Manasse.

31   And of the children of Herem, Eliezer, Iosue, Melchias, Semeias, Simeon,

32   Beniamin, Maloch, Samarias.

33   And of the children of Hasom, Mathanai, Mathatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, Iermai, Manasse, Semei.

34   Of the children of Bani, Maaddi, Amram, and Vel,

35   Baneas, and Badaias, Cheliau,

36   Vania, Marimuth, and Eliasib,

37   Mathanias, Mathanai, and Iasi,

38   and Bani, and Bennui, Semei,

39   and Salmias, and Nathan, and Adaias,

40   and Mechnedebai, Sisai, Sarai,

41   Ezrel, and Selemiau, Semeria,

42   Sellum, Amaria, Ioseph

43   Of the children of Nebo, Iehiel, Mathathias, Zabad, Zabina, Ieddu, and Ioel. and Banaia.

44   Al these had taken strangers to wife, and there were of them that had borne ^note children.

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