APOCRYPHA. CHAPTER I. I. ESDRAS. his charge to the priests and Levites. 7 A great passkept. 32 His death is much lamented. 34 His succes53 The temple, city, and people are destroyed. 56 The carried unto Babylon. Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusaunto his Lord, and offered the passover the th day of the first month; ving set the priests according to their daily courg arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the d he spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers , that they should hallow themselves unto the set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that omon the son of David had built: d said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your s: now therefore serve the Lord your God, and unto his people Israel, and prepare you after ilies and kindreds, cording as David the king of Israel prescribed, ording to the magnificence of Solomon his son: ding in the temple according to the several digthe families of you the Levites, who minister in ence of your brethren the children of Israel, er the passover in order, and make ready the for your brethren, and keep the passover acto the commandment of the Lord, which was ito Moses. d unto the people that was found there Josias rty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand these things were given of the king's allowance, g as he promised to the people, to the priests, he Levites. id Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors temple, gave to the priests for the passover two d and six hundred sheep, and three hundred id Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his and Assabias, and Ochiel, and Joram, captains usands, gave to the Levites for the passover five d sheep, and seven hundred calves. And when these things were done, the priests and having the unleavened bread, stood in very comeaccording to the kindreds, fathers before the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses: and thus did they in the morning. 12 And they roasted the passover with fire, as åppertaineth as for the sacrifices, they sod them in brass pots, and pans, with a good savour, 13 And set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron. 14 For the priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites prepared for themselves, and the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron. 15 The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue. 16 Moreover, the porters were at every gate: it was not lawful for any to go from his ordinary service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. 17 Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might hold the passover, 18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias. 19 So the children of Israel which were present held the passover at that time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days. 20 And such a passover was not kept in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel. 21 Yea, all the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias, and the priests, and the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel that were found dwelling at Jerusalem. 22 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover kept. 23 And the works of Josias were upright before his Lord, with an heart full of godliness. 24 As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written in former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel. 25 Now after all these acts of Josias it came to pass, And according to the several dignities of the that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis upon Euphrates: and Josias went out against him. 26 But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, O king of Judea? 27 I am not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war is upon Euphrates: and now the Lord is with me, yea, the Lord is with me hasting me forward: depart from me, and be not against the Lord. 28 Howbeit Josias did not turn back his chariot from, him, but undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremy, spoken by the mouth of the Lord: 29 But joined battle with him in the plain of Megiddo, and the princes came against king Josias. 30 Then said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants took him away out of the battle. 31 Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father's sepulchre. 32 And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him unto this day and this was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Israel. 33 These things are written in the book of the stories of the kings of Judah, and every one of the acts that Josias did, and his glory, and his understanding in the law of the Lord, and the things that he had done before, and the things now recited, are reported in the book of the kings of Israel and Judea. 34 And the people took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three years old. 35 And he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months and then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem. 36 And he set a tax upon the land of an hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. 37 The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of Judea and Jerusalem. 38 And he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he apprehended, and brought him out of Egypt. 39 Five and twenty years old was Joacim when he was made king of the land of Judea and Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord. 40 Wherefore against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon. 41 (Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and set them in his own temple at Babylon.) 42 But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings. 43 And Joacim his son reigned in his stead: he was made king being eighteen years old; 44 And reigned but three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and did evil before the Lord. 45 So after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought into Babylon with the he of the Lord, 46 And made Zedechias king of Judea and when he was one and twenty years old; and eleven years: 47 And he did evil also in the sight of the cared not for the words that were spoken un the prophet Jeremy from the mouth of the L 48 And after that king Nabuchodonosor him to swear by the name of the Lord, he himself and rebelled, and hardening his nee heart, he transgressed the laws of the Lord Go 49 The governors also of the people and of did many things against the laws, and pass pollutions of all nations, and defiled the tem Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem. 50 Nevertheless, the God of their fathers s messengers to call them back, because he sp and his tabernacle also. 51 But they had his messengers in deri look, when the Lord spake unto them, they ma of his prophets : 52 So far forth, that he being wroth with for their great ungodliness, commanded the ki Chaldees to come up against them: 53 Who slew their young men with the s even within the compass of their holy temple, a neither young man nor maid, nor old man among them; for he delivered all into their h 54 And they took all the holy vessels of both great and small, with the vessels of the a and the king's treasures, and carried them Babylon. 55 As for the house of the Lord, they bur brake down the walls of Jerusalem, and set fire d commanded me to build him an house at Je- hosoever then dwell in the places about, let them th gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other which have been set forth by vow, for the temple ord at Jerusalem. 'hen the chief of the families of Judea and of e of Benjamin stood up: the priests also and ites, and all they whose mind the Lord had o go up, and to build an house for the Lord at m. d they that dwelt round about them, and helped all things with silver and gold, with horses and d with very many free gifts of a great number inds were stirred up thereto. Apocrypha. 21 But to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be thy pleasure, it may be sought out in the books of thy fathers: 22 And thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shalt understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities: 23 And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which cause even this city was made desolate. 24 Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, (O lord the king) that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice. 25 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the story-writer, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria, and Syria, and Phenice, after this manner; 26 I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me; therefore I commanded to make diligent search, and it hath been found, that that city was from the beginning practising against kings: 27 And the men therein were given to rebellion and ing Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels war: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusaabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and had set up in his temple of idols. Phenice. ow when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought th, he delivered them to Mithridates his treas nd by him they were delivered to Sanabassar rnor of Judea. nd this was the number of them; A thousand ups, and a thousand of silver, censers of silver ine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thour hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels. all the vessels of gold and of silver, which ried away, were five thousand four hundred e and nine. hese were brought back by Sanabassar, together m of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem. at in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Perelemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and us, Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, ers that were in commission with them, dwelling 28 Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it; 29 And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings. 30 Then king Artaxerxes, his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste towards Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen, and a multitude of people in battle-array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians. CHAPTER III. 4 Three strive to excel each other in wise speeches. 9 They refer themselves to the judgment of the king. 18 The first declareth the strength of wine. ria and other places, wrote unto him against NOW when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto at dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters 59 ›king Artaxerxes our lord, Thy servants Rathustory-writer, and Semellius the scribe, and the heir council, and the judges that are in CelosyPhenice. e it now known to the lord the king, that the at are come up from you to us, being come into m (that rebellious and wicked city) to build the laces, and repair the walls of it, and do lay the on of the temple. w if this city and the walls thereof be made up ey will not only refuse to give tribute, but also Linst kings. ad forasmuch as the things pertaining to the re now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect Latter, all his subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media and Persia, 2 And to all the governors, and captains, and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces. 3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bed-chamber, and slept, and soon after awaked. 4 Then three young men that were of the guard, and kept the king's body, spake one to another; 5 Let every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall the king Darius give great gifts, and great things in token of victory: 6 As to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an head-tire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck: 7 And he shall sit next to Darius, because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin. 8 And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow. 9 And said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the writings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as was appointed: 10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest. 11 The second wrote, The king is the strongest. 12 The third wrote, Women are the strongest: But above all things truth beareth away the victory. 13 Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them unto him, and so he read them : 14 And sending forth, he called all the princes of Persia and Media, and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief officers; 15 And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them. 16 And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own sentences. So they were called, and came in. 17 And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine; 18 And he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it causeth all men to err that drink it: 19 It maketh the mind of the king, and of the fatherless child, to be all one of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich: 20 It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt: 21 And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by talents; 22 And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords: 23 But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have done. 24 O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace. CHAPTER IV. 1 The second declareth the power of a king: 13 The third the force of woman, 33 and of truth. 41 The third is judged to be wisest, and obtaineth letters of the king to build Jerusalem: 58 He praiseth God, and showeth his brethren what he had done. THEN 'HEN the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say, 2 O ye men, do not men excel in strength, that bear rule over sea and land, and all things in them? 3 But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he commandeth them they do. 4 If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it if he send them out against the enemies, ther and break down mountains, walls, and towers. 5 They slay and are slain, and transgres king's commandment: if they get the vi bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all t 6 Likewise for those that are no soldiers not to do with wars, but use husbandry, when reaped again that which they had sown, they the king, and compel one another to pay tribut king. 7 And yet he is but one man: if he comm they kill; if he command to spare, they spar 8 If he command to smite, they smite; if he to make desolate, they make desolate; if he to build, they build: 9 If he command to cut down, they cut do command to plant, they plant. 10 So all his people and his armies obey thermore he lieth down, he eateth and drin taketh his rest : 11 And these keep watch round about hi may any one depart, and do his own busine disobey him in any thing. 12 O ye men, how should not the king be when in such sort he is obeyed? And he tongue. 13Then the third, who had spoken of wo of the truth (this was Zorobabel) began to spe 14 O ye men, it is not the great king, nor tude of men, neither is it wine that excellet it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship o are they not women? 15 Women have born the king and all the p bear rule by sea and land. 16 Even of them came they and they them up that planted the vineyards from w wine cometh. 17 These also make garments for men; th glory unto men; and without women cannot n 18 Yea, and if men have gathered together silver, or any other goodly thing, do they n woman which is comely in favour and beauty? 19 And letting all those things go, do they and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on have not all men more desire unto her than uz or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever? 20 A man leaveth his own father that bro up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his 21 He sticketh not to spend his life with and remembereth neither father, nor mother, try. 22 By this also ye must know that women minion over you: do ye not labour and toil, and bring all to the woman? 23 Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth to rob and to steal, to sail upon the sea and up 24 And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in t ness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and re bringeth it to his love. 25 Wherefore a man loveth his wife better the or mother. 26 Yea, many there be that have run out wits for women, and become servants for their s ” 28 And now do ye not believe me? Is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him? 29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concuWine, the daughter of the admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king, 30 And taking the crown from the king's head, and etting it upon her own head; she also struck the king vith her left hand. 31 And yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he aughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, he king was fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled o him again. 32 O ye men, how can it be but women should be trong, seeing they do thus? 33 Then the king and the princes looked one upon nother: so he began to speak of the truth. 340 ye men, are not women strong? great is the arth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, or he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth is course again to his own place in one day. 35 Is he not great that maketh these things? thereore great is the truth, and stronger than all things. 36 All the earth calleth upon the truth, and the hea en blesseth it: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing. 37 Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are icked, all the children of men are wicked, and such re all their wicked works; and there is no truth in nem; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish. 38 As for the truth, it endureth, and is always strong; liveth and conquereth for evermore. 39 With her there is no accepting of persons or reard but she doeth the things that are just, and reaineth from all unjust and wicked things; and all men o well like of her works. 40 Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; ad she is the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty of Blessed be the God of truth. 1 ages. 41 And with that he held his peace. And all the eople then shouted, and said, Great is truth, and mighty Dove all things. 42 Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt ore than is appointed in the writing, and we will give thee, because thou art found wisest; and thou shalt t next me, and shalt be called my cousin. 43 Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, hich thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day hen thou camest to thy kingdom, 44 And to send away all the vessels that were taken vay out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when e vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again ither. 45 Thou also hast vowed to build up the temple, hich the Edomites burned, when Judea was made desote by the Chaldees. Apocrypha. 46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality proceeding from thyself: I desire therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast vowed to the King of heaven. 47 Then Darius the king stood up and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers, and lieutenants, and captains, and governors, that they should safely convey on their way both him, and all those that go up with him to build Jerusalem. 48 He wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria, and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar-wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him. 49 Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors; 50 And that all the country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held: 51 Yea, that there should be yearly given twenty. talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built; burnt-offerings upon the altar every day, as they had a 52 And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the commandment to offer seventeen: 53 And that all they that went from Babylon to build the city should have free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that went away. priests' vestments wherein they minister; 54 He wrote also concerning the charges, and the 55 And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them, until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up. 56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages. 57 He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem. 58 Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven, towards Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven, 59 And said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and thine is the glory, and I am thy servant. 60 Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers. 61 And so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon, and told it all his brethren. 62 And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and liberty 63 To go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and they feasted with instruments of music and gladness seven days. |