\NormalFont\ShortTitle{3RD EZRA}

{\MT 3RD EZRA



\par }\ChapOne{CHAPTER 1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And Josiah made pask in Jerusalem to the Lord, and he offered pask the fourteenth day of the month of the first month,


\par }{\PP \VS{2}ordaining priests by
{\EM{their}} whiles of days, clothed in stoles,
{\EM{or long clothes}}, in the temple of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}And he said to the deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, the holy servants of Israel, that they should hallow themselves to the Lord, in setting of the holy ark of the Lord in the house, that king Solomon, the son of David, builded;


\par }{\PP \VS{4}It shall not be to you
{\EM{no more}} to take it upon shoulders; and now serveth to our Lord, and do ye care of that folk of Israel, of the part after towns, and their lineages,


\par }{\PP \VS{5}after the writing of David, king of Israel, and after the great worshipful doing of Solomon, his son, in all the temple, and after your little fathers part of princehood of them, that stand in the sight of the brethren of the sons of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{6}Offer ye pask, and maketh ready the sacrifices to your brethren; and do ye after the behest of the Lord, that is given to Moses.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}And Josiah gave to the folk that was found
{\EM{there}}, sheep, of lambs, and of kids, and of she-goats, thirty thousand; calves, three thousand.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}These
{\EM{gifts}} be given of the king’s own things, after the behest
{\EM{of the Lord}} to the people, and to priests, into pask; sheep in number two thousand, and calves an hundred.


\par }{\PP \VS{9}And Jeconiah, and Samaeas, and Nathanael,
{\EM{his}} brother, and Sabias, and Ochiel, and Joram,
{\EM{gave}} into pask, five thousand sheep, and five hundred calves.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}And when these things were nobly done, the priests and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}} stood, having therf loaves by lineages.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}And after the parts of the prince-hood of fathers, they offered to the Lord in the sight of the people, after those things that be written in the book of Moses.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}And they roasted the pask with fire, as it behooved; and they soddened hosts in seething vessels and in pots, with well-willing.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}And they brought
{\EM{it}} to all that there were of the folk; and after these things they made ready to themselves and to priests.


\par }{\PP \VS{14}Forsooth the priests offered inner fatness
{\ADD{[or tallow]}}, unto the hour was ended; and deacons prepared
{\ADD{[or Levites made ready]}} to themselves, and to their brethren, and to the sons of Aaron.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}And men sacrificing
{\ADD{[or the sacrificers]}} offered
{\EM{their}} daughters, after the order and the behests of David; and Asaph, and Zechariah, and Eddinus, that was of the king;


\par }{\PP \VS{16}and the porters by all the gates
{\EM{offered}}, so that none passed his
{\EM{gate}}. Forsooth their brethren prepared to them.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}And
{\EM{so}} those things, that pertained to the sacrifice of the Lord, be ended. In that day they did pask,


\par }{\PP \VS{18}and offered hosts upon the sacrifice of the Lord, after the behest of king Josiah.


\par }{\PP \VS{19}And the sons of Israel, that were found
{\EM{present}}, did in that time pask, and the feast day of therf loaves by seven days.


\par }{\PP \VS{20}And there was not solemnized such a pask in Israel, from the times of Samuel, the prophet.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}And all the kings of Israel hallowed not such a pask, as did Josiah, and the priests, and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and Jews, and all Israel, that were found in the commemoration,
{\EM{or mind}} -{\EM{making}}, at Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{22}In the eighteenth year, Josiah reigning,
{\EM{this}} pask was hallowed.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}And the works of Josiah be made right in the sight of the Lord, in full dreading heart;


\par }{\PP \VS{24}and those things forsooth that
{\EM{were}} about him be written, in the rather times of them that sinned, and the which were unreligious against the Lord, before,
{\EM{or more than}}, all heathen folk, and the which sinners sought not the words of the Lord upon Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}And after all this deed of Josiah, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, went up, coming to cast away in Carchemish upon Euphrates; and Josiah went into meeting to him.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}And the king of Egypt sent to Josiah, saying, What is to me and to thee, king of Judea?


\par }{\PP \VS{27}I am not sent of the Lord, upon Euphrates forsooth is my battle; hastily
{\EM{therefore}} go down.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}And Josiah was not turned again upon the chariot, but he enforced him to overcome Pharaoh, not taking heed to the word of the prophet, from the mouth of the Lord;


\par }{\PP \VS{29}but he set to him battle in the field of Megiddo; and princes came down to king Josiah.


\par }{\PP \VS{30}And
{\EM{then}} the king said to his children, Moveth me away from the battle; forsooth I am greatly made sick. And anon his children moved him away from the battle array.


\par }{\PP \VS{31}And he went up upon his secondary chariot; and coming to Jerusalem, he died, and was buried in
{\EM{his}} father’s sepulchre.


\par }{\PP \VS{32}And in all Judah they bewailed Josiah, and they that before-set with wives, wailed him unto this day; and this is granted to be done evermore in all the kindred of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}These things forsooth be written in the book of stories of kings of Judah, and the glory of Josiah, and his understanding in the law of God, by all deeds of the doing of him; for evenly those were done of him, and the which be not written in the book of kings of Israel and of Judah.


\par }{\PP \VS{34}And they that were of the kindred took Jeconiah, the son of Josiah, and set him king for Josiah, his father, when he was of three and thirty years.


\par }{\PP \VS{35}And he reigned upon Israel three months; and
{\EM{then}} the king of Egypt put him away, that he reigned not in Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{36}And he polled the folk of an hundred talents of silver, and of a talent of gold.


\par }{\PP \VS{37}And the king of Egypt set Jehoiakim, his brother, king of Judea and of Jerusalem;


\par }{\PP \VS{38}and he bound the master judges of Jehoiakim, and taking Zarius, his brother, he brought him again to
{\EM{or out of}} Egypt.


\par }{\PP \VS{39}Jehoiakim was of five and twenty years, when he reigned in the land of Judah and of Jerusalem; and he did evil things in the sight of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{40}After this forsooth Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, went up, and binding Jehoiakim in a strong bond, brought him into Babylon;


\par }{\PP \VS{41}and Nebuchadnezzar took and brought the holy vessels of God, and
{\EM{made}} sacred
{\EM{those}} in his temple in Babylon.


\par }{\PP \VS{42}Forsooth of his uncleanness and unreligiosity it is written in the book of the times of kings.


\par }{\PP \VS{43}And Jehoiachin, his son, reigned for him; when forsooth he was ordained
{\EM{king}}, he was of eighteen years.


\par }{\PP \VS{44}Forsooth he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and did evil in sight of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{45}And after a year Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him over into Babylon, together with the sacred vessels of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{46}And he set Zedekiah king of Judah and of Jerusalem, when he was of one and twenty years. Forsooth he reigned eleven years;


\par }{\PP \VS{47}and he did evil in sight of the Lord, and was not adread of the words that be said of Jeremy, the prophet, from the mouth of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{48}And he adjured,
{\EM{or charged by oath}}, of king Nebuchadnezzar, for-sworn went away, and his noll made hard, he over-passed the lawful things of the Lord God of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{49}And the dukes of the Lord’s people bare them wickedly many things, and they did unpiously over all the wickednesses
{\ADD{[or the unclean-nesses]}} of Gentiles; and they defouled the temple of the Lord, that was holy in Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{50}And God of their fathers sent by his angel to again-call them, for the which thing he spared to them, and to their tabernacles
{\ADD{[or their tabernacle]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{51}They forsooth scorned in their corners, and that day that the Lord spake, they were bobbing his prophets.


\par }{\PP \VS{52}The which
{\EM{Lord}} is stirred to wrath upon his folk, for their irreligiosity.
{\EM{And}} the kings of Chaldees commanded, and went up,


\par }{\PP \VS{53}they slew the young men of them with sword, about
{\ADD{[or in the environ of]}} the holy temple of them; and they spared not to young man, nor to maiden, nor to old man, and to full waxen man; but also all they be taken into the hands of them;


\par }{\PP \VS{54}and they took all the sacred vessels of the Lord, and the king’s coffers, and brought those into Babylon.


\par }{\PP \VS{55}And they burned up the house of the Lord, and destroyed the walls of Jerusalem, and they burned his towers with fire.


\par }{\PP \VS{56}And they wasted all the worship-ful things, and brought
{\EM{them}} to nought; and they brought
{\EM{the people}} left of the sword into Babylon.


\par }{\PP \VS{57}And they were his thralls, unto the time that Persians reigned, in the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, in the mouth of Jeremy;


\par }{\PP \VS{58}till that the land would do benignly their sabbaths, he sabbatized all the time of their forsaking, in the applying of seventy years.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Reigning Cyrus, king of Persia, in the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, in the mouth of Jeremy,


\par }{\PP \VS{2}the Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia; and he preached in all his realm altogether by scripture,


\par }{\PP \VS{3}saying, These things saith Cyrus, king of Persia, The Lord of Israel, the high Lord, hath ordained me king to the world of earths;


\par }{\PP \VS{4}and he signified to me to build to him an house in Jerusalem, that is in Judah.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}If there is any man of your kindred, his Lord go up with him into Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{6}Therefore how many ever dwell in places about, help they them that dwell
{\ADD{[or that be]}} in that place, in gold and silver,


\par }{\PP \VS{7}in gifts, with horses, and beasts, and with other things, the which after vows be laid up into the house of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}And the standing princes of lineages of towns of Judah, of the lineage of Benjamin, and priests and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, whom the Lord stirred to wend
{\ADD{[or to go]}} up, and to build up the house of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem;


\par }{\PP \VS{9}and they, that were in the environ,
{\EM{or in compass}}, of them, should help in all silver and gold of it, and in beasts, and in many vows;
{\EM{and}} many
{\EM{others}}, of whom the wit is stirred,
{\EM{help they also}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}And king Cyrus brought forth the sacred vessels of the Lord, the which Nebuchadnezzar translated
{\EM{or borne over}} from Jerusalem, and
{\EM{made}} sacred them in his maumet
{\EM{temple}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}And Cyrus, king of Persia, bringing them forth, took
{\EM{those}} to Mithridates, that was upon the treasures of him.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}Forsooth by him they be taken to Sanabassar, governor of Judea.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}Of these things forsooth this is the number; silvern hallowed vessels of liquors, two thousand and four hundred; thirty silvern drinking vessels; thirty golden vials; and two thousand and four hundred silvern
{\EM{vials}}; and a thousand other vessels.


\par }{\PP \VS{14}Forsooth all the golden and silvern vessels
{\EM{were}} four thousand and four hundred and eight and sixty.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}And they be delivered out to Sanabassar, together with them, that were come into Jerusalem of the captivity,
{\EM{or thralldom}}, of Babylon.


\par }{\PP \VS{16}Forsooth in the time of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, there wrote to him, of these that dwelled in Judea and in Jerusalem, Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, Beelteth-mus, and Semellius, the scribe, and others dwelling in Samaria, and in other places,
{\EM{they wrote this}} subject letter to king Artaxerxes.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}Lord, thy children Rathumus, and Semellius, the scribe, and other dooms-men of thy court, of things that fall in Coelesyria and Phoenicia.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}And now be it known to the lord the king, that Jews, the which went up from you to us, coming into Jerusalem, a city of fleers-away
{\ADD{[or a city again-flown to]}}, and a full evil
{\EM{city}}, they build up the ovens of it, and they set the walls, and rear the temple.


\par }{\PP \VS{19}That if this city and walls were made up
{\ADD{[or full ended]}}, they shall not suffer to yield tributes, but also they shall against-stand to kings.


\par }{\PP \VS{20}And for cause that that thing is done about the temple, to have
{\EM{it}} rightly we have deemed to not despise that same thing,


\par }{\PP \VS{21}but to make known to the lord
{\ADD{[the]}} king, that if it shall be seen
{\EM{pleasing}} to the king, be it sought in the books of thy fathers;


\par }{\PP \VS{22}and thou shalt find in remem-brances written of them, and thou shalt know, that that city was again-flown, and kings and cities smiting altogether,


\par }{\PP \VS{23}and Jews fleeing again, and making battles in it always; for the which cause this city was forsaken
{\ADD{[or is deserted]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}Now therefore we make known to the lord
{\ADD{[the]}} king, that if this city were built up, and the walls of it were areared, there shall be no coming down to thee into Coelesyria and Phoenicia.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then the king wrote again to Rathumus, that wrote
{\EM{those}} things that befell, and to Beeltethmus, and to Semellius, the scribe, and to others ordained
{\EM{sovereigns}} and dwelling in Syria, and in Phoenicia
{\ADD{[or Phenice]}},
{\EM{he wrote to them}} these things that be set under.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}I have read the letter, that thou sentest to me. Therefore I commanded
{\EM{it}} to be sought; and it was found, that that city was always withstanding to kings,


\par }{\PP \VS{27}and men again-fugitive, and making battles in it; and most strong kings have been lordshipping in Jerusalem, and asking tributes of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}Now therefore I command to prevent those men to build up the city, and to look
{\ADD{[or purvey]}}, that anything be not made hereafter; but that they pass not into full much
{\ADD{[or but go they not forth into more]}},


\par }{\PP \VS{29}since they be of malice, so that grievances be not brought there to kings.


\par }{\PP \VS{30}Then after these things were rehearsed, that were written of Artaxerxes, the king, Rathumus, and Semellius, the scribe, and they that were with them ordained, enjoining, hieingly came into Jerusalem, with horsemen, and people, and with company; and they began to prevent the builders. And they
{\EM{were}} voided
{\EM{then}} from the building of the temple
{\ADD{[in Jerusalem]}}, unto the second year of the realm of Darius, king of Persia.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}King Darius made a great supper to all his servants, and to all the master judges of Media and Persia,


\par }{\PP \VS{2}and to all that weared purple, and to governors, and to counsellors, and to prefects under him, from India unto Ethiopia, to an hundred and seven and twenty provinces.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}And when they had eaten and drunken, and were fulfilled, they turned again. Then king Darius went up in his little bed-place, and slept, and was awakened.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Then those three young men, keepers of the body, the which
{\ADD{[or that]}} kept the body of the king, said one to another,


\par }{\PP \VS{5}Say we each of us a word, that before pass
{\EM{in knowing}}; and whose ever word seem wiser
{\EM{than}} of another
{\ADD{[or of the tother]}}, king Darius shall give to him great gifts,


\par }{\PP \VS{6}and to be covered with purple, and to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold;
{\EM{and he shall give him}} a golden chariot, with the bridle, and a mitre of bis, and a bie about the neck;


\par }{\PP \VS{7}and he shall sit in the second place from Darius, for his wisdom; and he shall be called Darius’ cousin.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Then each
{\EM{of them three}} writing his word, sealed, and put
{\EM{those}} under the pillow of king Darius;


\par }{\PP \VS{9}and said, When the king hath risen, they will take
{\ADD{[or shall give]}} to him their things written, and whatever thing the king shall deem of three, and the master judges of Persia, forsooth the word of him is wiser
{\EM{than of the others}}, to him shall be given the victory, as it is written.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}One wrote, Wine is strong.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}Another wrote, The king is stronger.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}The third wrote, Women be strongest; truth overcometh forsooth over all things.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}And when the king had risen up, they took their things written
{\ADD{[or their written things]}}, and gave
{\EM{those}} to him, and he read.


\par }{\PP \VS{14}And he sent and called all the master judges of Persia, and of
{\EM{the land}} Media, and the clothed men in purple, and the rulers of provinces, and prefects;


\par }{\PP \VS{15}and they set in council, and the writings were read before them.


\par }{\PP \VS{16}And the king said, Calleth the young men, and they shall show their words. And they were called, and they came in.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}And Darius said to them, Show ye to us of these things that be written. And the first, that had said of the strength of wine, he began,


\par }{\PP \VS{18}and said to them, Men! full sur-passingly strong is wine; to all men that drink it, it beareth down the mind;


\par }{\PP \VS{19}also it maketh the mind vain, both of king and of the fatherless child; also of servant and of free men, of poor and of rich;


\par }{\PP \VS{20}and it turneth all the mind into secureness, and
{\ADD{[in]}} to gladness; and it remembereth not any sorrow and debt;


\par }{\PP \VS{21}and it maketh all the entrails honest
{\EM{or feel rich}}; and it remembereth not king, nor master judge; and all things it maketh speak by talents;


\par }{\PP \VS{22}and when they have drunken, they remember not friendship nor brotherhood, and not long after they take swords;


\par }{\PP \VS{23}and when they have been drenched of wine, and rise, they have no mind what things they did.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}O men! whether wine is not surpassingly strong, that thus constrain-eth men to do? And this thing said, he held his peace.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And the
{\EM{next}} follower began to say, that said of the strength of a king,


\par }{\PP \VS{2}O men! whether men be not surpassingly strong, the which hold land and sea, and all things that be in them?


\par }{\PP \VS{3}The king forsooth surpasseth above all things, and he hath lordship of them, and they do all things, whatever he will say to them.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}And if he send them to fighters, they go, and destroy hills, and walls, and towers;


\par }{\PP \VS{5}they be slain and slay, and they pass not the word of the king; for if they overcome, they bring to the king all things, whatever things they have spoiled evermore, and all other things.


\par }{\PP \VS{6}And how many ever bear not knighthood, nor fight, but ear the land, again when they shall reap, they bring tributes to the king.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}And he
{\EM{is}} one alone; and if he bid to slay, they slay; and if he bid them to forgive, they forgive;


\par }{\PP \VS{8}and if he say
{\EM{them}} to smite
{\ADD{[or if he say to smite]}}, they smite; if he say to outlaw, they outlaw; if he bid
{\EM{them}} to build, they build;


\par }{\PP \VS{9}if he bid to throw down, they throw adown; if he bid to plant, they plant;


\par }{\PP \VS{10}and all folk and virtues obey to him; and over
{\EM{all}} these things he shall sit, and drink, and sleep.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}These forsooth keep him about
{\ADD{[or in environ keep him]}}, and may not go each one, and do their own works, but in
{\EM{his}} word men obey to him.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}What manner-wise surpasseth not the king before
{\EM{others}}, that thus is loosed? And he held his peace.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}The third, that had said of women, and of truth; this is
{\EM{said}} Zerubbabel; he began to speak,


\par }{\PP \VS{14}O men! the king is not
{\EM{most}} great, neither many
{\EM{other}} men, nor wine surpasseth before; who is it then that hath lordship of them?


\par }{\PP \VS{15}Whether not women, that have begotten kings, and all the people, the which
{\EM{kings}} have lordship both of sea and of land, and of women they be born?


\par }{\PP \VS{16}And they brought forth them that planted vines, of the which wine is made.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}And they make the stoles,
{\EM{or long clothes}}, of all men, and they do glory to men, and men may not be severed from women.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}If they gather together gold and silver, and all fair thing, and see a woman in goodly array, and in good fairness,


\par }{\PP \VS{19}they, forsaking all these things, take heed to her, and the mouth opened, they behold
{\EM{her}}, and they draw more to her than to gold and
{\ADD{[or]}} silver, or any precious thing.


\par }{\PP \VS{20}A man shall forsake his father, that nourished him, and his own land, and to a woman he joineth him together,


\par }{\PP \VS{21}and with a woman he liveth his life, and neither remembereth father, nor mother, nor the land of his birth.


\par }{\PP \VS{22}And therefore it behooveth us to know, that women have lordship of us. Whether ye sorrow not?


\par }{\PP \VS{23}And
{\EM{also}} a man taketh his sword, and goeth in the way to do thefts, and manslaughters, and to sail over the sea, and
{\EM{over}} floods;


\par }{\PP \VS{24}and he seeth a lion, and he goeth in darknesses; and when he hath done
{\EM{his}} theft, and guiles, and ravens, he bringeth it to his lief.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}And again a man loveth his wife more than father or mother;


\par }{\PP \VS{26}and many men be made mad for their wives, and
{\EM{many}} be made thralls for them;


\par }{\PP \VS{27}and many perished, and were strangled, and many have sinned for women.
{\ADD{[and many perished, and be strangled, and sinned, for women.]}}


\par }{\PP \VS{28}And now believeth me; forsooth a king is great, and his power,
{\ADD{[or for great is the king in his power]}}, for all regions,
{\EM{or kingdoms about}}, be afeared to touch him.


\par }{\PP \VS{29}I saw neverthelater Apame, the daughter of Bartacus, the wonderful man, the secondary wife of the king, sitting beside the king at the right side;


\par }{\PP \VS{30}and taking away the diadem from his head, and putting it on herself, and with the palm of her left hand she smote the king.


\par }{\PP \VS{31}And over these things, the mouth opened, he beheld her, and if she laugh to him, he laughed, and if she were wroth to him, he glosseth,
{\EM{or pleaseth}}, unto the time that he be reconciled
{\ADD{[in]}} to grace.


\par }{\PP \VS{32}O men! why be not women strongest? Great is the earth, and heaven is high, that do these things.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}Then the king and the purpled men beheld either into other; and he began to speak of truth.


\par }{\PP \VS{34}O men! whether women be not strong? Great is the earth, and heaven is high, and the course of the sun is swift; it is turned in the compass of heaven, and again it runneth again into the same place in a day.


\par }{\PP \VS{35}Whether he is not a great doer, that maketh these things? and truth great, and stronger before all things?


\par }{\PP \VS{36}All earth calleth inwardly truth, also it blesseth heaven, and all works be moved and dread it; and there is no wicked thing with it.


\par }{\PP \VS{37}Wicked king,
{\EM{and}} wicked women, and all the sons of men
{\EM{be}} wicked,
{\ADD{[or and wicked all the works of them]}}, and there is not truth in them, and in their wickedness they shall perish;


\par }{\PP \VS{38}and truth dwelleth, and waxeth into without end, and it liveth, and wieldeth, into worlds of worlds.


\par }{\PP \VS{39}It is not with truth to out-take
{\EM{or accept}} persons, and differences; but it doeth those things that be rightful
{\ADD{[or rightwise]}}, to all unrightwise and evil men; and all men be made benign in his works.


\par }{\PP \VS{40}And there is not wickedness in his doom, but
{\EM{there is}} strength, and realm, and power, and majesty of all endurings above time. Blessed be the God of truth!


\par }{\PP \VS{41}And
{\EM{then}} he left
{\EM{off}} in speaking. And all the peoples cried, and said, Great is truth, and it surpasseth before
{\EM{all others}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{42}Then the king said to him, Ask, if thou wilt, anything moreover, than there be written, and I shall give to thee, after that thou art found wiser; and next to me thou shalt sit, and thou shalt be called my cousin.


\par }{\PP \VS{43}Then said he to the king, Be thou mindful of the vow, that thou vowedest, to build up Jerusalem, in the day in which thou took the realm;


\par }{\PP \VS{44}and to send again all the vessels, that be taken from Jerusalem, the which Cyrus parted or set apart, when he slew Babylon, and would send again those things thither.


\par }{\PP \VS{45}And thou wouldest build up the temple, that Idumeans burned, for Judea is put out of their terms,
{\EM{or marches}}, of the Chaldees.


\par }{\PP \VS{46}And now, lord, this it is that I ask, and that I bid; this is the majesty that I ask of thee, that thou do the vow that thou vowedest to the King of heaven, of thy mouth.


\par }{\PP \VS{47}Then Darius, the king, rising kissed him, and wrote epistles to all the dispensators, and prefects, and to men clothed in purple, that they should lead him forth, and them that were with him, all wending
{\ADD{[or going]}} up to build Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{48}And to all the prefects that were in Syria and Phoenicia, and Lebanon, he wrote epistles, that they should draw cedar trees from the
{\EM{hill}} Lebanon into Jerusalem, that they build up the city with them.


\par }{\PP \VS{49}And he wrote to all the Jews, that went up from the realm in Judea, for freedom, that any man of power, or master judge, and prefect, should not come over to the gates of them,


\par }{\PP \VS{50}and each region, that they had hold
{\ADD{[or wielded]}}, to be free from them; and that Idumeans leave up
{\ADD{[or let go]}} the castles of Jews, that they withheld,


\par }{\PP \VS{51}and to give year by year twenty talents, into making of the temple, unto the time that it be fully builded;


\par }{\PP \VS{52}and each day to offer hosts upon the place of sacred things, as they be commanded; to offer, by all years, another ten talents;


\par }{\PP \VS{53}and to all men, that go forth from Babylon, to make the city, as freedom were, both to them, and to the sons of them, and to
{\ADD{[all]}} the priests that go before.


\par }{\PP \VS{54}Forsooth also he wrote the quantity; and he commanded the sacred stoles,
{\EM{or vestments}}, to be given, in which they should serve;


\par }{\PP \VS{55}and he wrote wages to be given to the deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, unto the day that the house should be fully ended, and Jerusalem made out;


\par }{\PP \VS{56}and he wrote to all men keeping the city, to give to the builders lots and wages.


\par }{\PP \VS{57}And he left them all the vessels, that Cyrus had parted or set apart from Babylon; and all things, whatever Cyrus said, he commanded
{\EM{it}} to be done, and to be sent to Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{58}And when that young man had gone forth, raising his face toward Jerusalem, he blessed the King of heaven,


\par }{\PP \VS{59}and said, Of thee,
{\EM{Lord}}, is victory, and of thee is wisdom, and clearness, and I am thy servant.


\par }{\PP \VS{60}Thou art blessed, for thou hast given to me wisdom, and I acknowledge to thee, Lord of our fathers.


\par }{\PP \VS{61}And he took the epistles,
{\EM{or letters}}, and went forth into Babylon; and he came, and told to all his brethren, that were in Babylon.


\par }{\PP \VS{62}And they blessed the God of their fathers, that gave to them forgiveness and refreshing,


\par }{\PP \VS{63}that they should go up, and build Jerusalem, and the temple, where his name is named in it; and they joyed
{\ADD{[full out]}} with musics and with gladness seven days.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After these things forsooth there were princes chosen of towns, that they should wend
{\ADD{[or go]}} up, by houses, by their lineages, and the wives of them, and the sons and daughters of them, and servants and handmaidens of them, and their beasts.


\par }{\PP \VS{2}And king Darius sent together with them a thousand horsemen, to the time that they brought them into Jerusalem, with peace, and with musics, and timbrels, and trumps;


\par }{\PP \VS{3}and all the brethren were playing. And he made them to go up together with them.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}And these be the names of the men, that went up, by their towns, into lineages, and into part of the princehood of them.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}Priests; the sons of Phinehas, the sons of Aaron, Joshua, the son of Jozadak, the son of Seraiah, Jehoi-akim, the son of Zerubbabel, son of Salathiel, of the house of David, of the progeny of Phares, of the lineage forsooth of Judah,


\par }{\PP \VS{6}that spake under Darius, king of Persia, marvellous doing words, in the second year of his realm
{\ADD{[or reign]}}, in April, the first month.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}Forsooth these it be, that went up of Judah from the captivity,
{\EM{or thralldom}}, of the transmigration, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, translated
{\EM{or brought over}} into Babylon;


\par }{\PP \VS{8}and each is turned again into Jerusalem, and into all the cities of Judea, each into his own city, that came with Zerubbabel, and with Joshua; Nehemiah, Seraiah, and Resa-iah, Eneneus, Mordecai, Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reeliah, Rehum, Baanah, one of the princes of them.


\par }{\PP \VS{9}And the number from the Gentiles of them, from the provosts,
{\EM{or reeves}}, of them; the sons of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two;
{\EM{the sons of Saphat, four hundred seventy and two}};


\par }{\PP \VS{10}K the sons of Ares, seven hundred fifty and six;


\par }{\PP \VS{11}k the sons of Pahath-moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve;


\par }{\PP \VS{12}k the sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four; the sons of Zathui, nine hundred forty and five; the sons of Corbe, seven hundred and five; the sons of Bani, six hundred forty and eight;


\par }{\PP \VS{13}k the sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three; the sons of Azgad, three thousand two hundred twenty and two;


\par }{\PP \VS{14}k the sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and seven; the sons of Bagoi, two thousand sixty and six; the sons of Adin, four hundred fifty and four;


\par }{\PP \VS{15}k the sons of Ater
{\EM{the son of}} Hezekiah, ninety and two; the sons of Ceilan and Azetas, threescore and seven; the sons of Azuran, four hundred thirty and two;


\par }{\PP \VS{16}k the sons of Ananias, an hundred and one; the sons of Arom, thirty-two; the sons of Bassa, three hundred twenty and three; the sons of Azephurith, an hundred and two
{\EM{or twelve}};


\par }{\PP \VS{17}k the sons of Meterus, three thousand and five; the sons of Bethlomon, an hundred twenty and three;


\par }{\PP \VS{18}k the sons of Netophah, fifty and five; the sons of Anathoth, an hundred fifty and eight; the sons of Bethsamos, forty and two;


\par }{\PP \VS{19}k the sons of Kiriathiarius, twenty and five; the sons of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred forty and three; the sons of Pira, seven hundred;


\par }{\PP \VS{20}k the sons of Chadias and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two; the sons of Cirama and Gabdes, six hundred twenty and one;


\par }{\PP \VS{21}k the sons of Macalon, an hundred twenty and two; the sons of Betolius, fifty and two; the sons of Nephis, an hundred fifty and six;


\par }{\PP \VS{22}k the sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred twenty and five; the sons of Jerechus, two hundred forty and five;


\par }{\PP \VS{23}k the sons of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}k Priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jeshua, among the sons of Sanasib, nine hundred seventy and two; the sons of Emmeruth, a thousand fifty and two;


\par }{\PP \VS{25}k the sons of Phassaron, a thousand forty and seven; the sons of Carme, a thousand and seventeen.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}Deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}; the sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and Sudias, four and seventy; all the number from the two and twenty year, thirty thousand four hundred and two and sixty; sons, and daughters, and wives, all the numbering, sixty thousand two hundred and two and forty.


\par }{\PP \VS{27}The sons of priests, that sung in the temple; the sons of Asaph, an hundred and eight and twenty.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}Ushers forsooth; the sons of Salum, the sons of Jatal, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Dacobi, the sons of Teta, the sons of Sami, all an hundred and nine and thirty.


\par }{\PP \VS{29}Priests, serving in the temple; sons of Esau, the sons of Asipha, the sons of Tabaoth, the sons of Ceras, the sons of Sud, the sons of Phaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons of Graba,


\par }{\PP \VS{30}the sons of Acua, the sons of Uta, the sons of Cetab, the sons of Agaba, the sons of Subai, the sons of Anan, the sons of Cathua, the sons of Geddur,


\par }{\PP \VS{31}the sons of Airus, the sons of Daisan, the sons of Noeba, the sons of Chaseba, the sons of Gazera, the sons of Azia, the sons of Phinees, the sons of Azara, the sons of Bastai, the sons of Asana, the sons of Meani, the sons of Naphisi, the sons of Acub, the sons of Acipha, the sons of Assur, the sons of Pharacim, the sons of Basaloth,


\par }{\PP \VS{32}the sons of Meeda, the sons of Coutha, the sons of Charea, the sons of Charcus, the sons of Aserer, the sons of Thomoi, the sons of Nasith, the sons of Atipha.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}Solomon, the sons of him; the sons of Azaphion, the sons of Pharira, the sons of Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Israel, the sons of Sapheth,


\par }{\PP \VS{34}the sons of Hagia, the sons of Pharacareth, the sons of Sabi, the sons of Sarothie, the sons of Masias, the sons of Gar, the sons of Addus, the sons of Suba, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons of Sabat, the sons of Allom.


\par }{\PP \VS{35}All
{\EM{these were}} in holy serving; and the children
{\EM{or servants}} of Solomon
{\EM{were}} four hundred fourscore and two.


\par }{\PP \VS{36}These be the sons that went up to Thermeleth and Thelersas; the princes of them
{\EM{were}} Charaathalar and Aalar;


\par }{\PP \VS{37}and they might not tell out their cities, and their progenies, what manner they be; and of Israel, the sons of Ladan, the sons of Ban, the sons of Necodan,
{\EM{six hundred and fifty}} -{\EM{two}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{38}And of the priests, that used priesthood, and were
{\ADD{[not]}} found; the sons of Obdia, the sons of Accoz, the sons of Addus, that took Augia wife, one of the daughters of Barzillai, and they be called by the name of her;


\par }{\PP \VS{39}and of these is sought the genealogy written
{\ADD{[or the written genealogy]}} of the kindred, and they be prevented to use priesthood.


\par }{\PP \VS{40}And Nehemiah said to them, and Atharias, that they take not part of the holy things, till the time that there arise a taught bishop, into showing and truth.


\par }{\PP \VS{41}All Israel forsooth was twelve thousand, besides servants and hand-maidens, two and forty thousand three hundred and sixty.


\par }{\PP \VS{42}The servants of
{\ADD{[them, and]}} handmaidens
{\EM{were}} seven thousand three hundred and seven and thirty; singers and singsters
{\ADD{[or singeresses]}}, two hundred and five and sixty;


\par }{\PP \VS{43}camels, four hundred and five and thirty; horses, seven thousand six and thirty; mules, two hundred thousand
{\EM{or two hundred}} and five and forty; beasts under yoke, five thousand
{\EM{and five hundred}} and five and twenty.


\par }{\PP \VS{44}And of those provosts,
{\EM{or reeves}}, by towns, while they should come into the temple of God, that was in Jerusalem, to be avowed to rear up the temple in his place, after their virtue;


\par }{\PP \VS{45}and the holy treasury to be given into the temple of works,
{\EM{were}} eleven thousand bezants, and an hundred priests’ stoles.


\par }{\PP \VS{46}And there dwelled priests, and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and
{\EM{others}}, that were of the people, in Jerusalem, and in the realm
{\ADD{[or region]}}; and the holy singers, and ushers, and all Israel, in their regions.


\par }{\PP \VS{47}While the seventh month
{\EM{yet}} lasted, and when the sons of Israel were each in his own things, they came together of one accord into the porch, that was before the east gate.


\par }{\PP \VS{48}And while Jeshua, the son of Josedek, and his brethren, priests, stood, and Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, they made ready an altar,


\par }{\PP \VS{49}that they would offer on it burnt sacrifices, after those things that be written in the book of Moses, the man of God.


\par }{\PP \VS{50}And there came to them of other nations of the land, and reared the holy treasury in his place, all the folk of the land; and they offered hosts, and burnt sacrifices of the morrowtide to the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{51}And they did the feast of tabernacles, and a solemn day, as it is written in the law, and sacrifices each day, as it behooved.


\par }{\PP \VS{52}And after these things they ordained offerings, and hosts of sabbaths, and of new moons, and of all solemn days hallowed
{\ADD{[or all hallowed solemn days]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{53}And how many ever vowed to the Lord, from the
{\EM{time of the}} new moon of the seventh month, they took hosts to offer to God; and the temple of the Lord was not yet builded up
{\ADD{[or yet was not built up]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{54}And they gave money to masons, and to wrights, and drinks
{\ADD{[or and drink]}} and meats, with joy.


\par }{\PP \VS{55}And they gave carts to Sidonians and to Tyrians, that they should carry over to them from Lebanon wood cedar beams, and to make a navy into the haven of Joppa, after the decree that was written to them from Cyrus, king of Persia.


\par }{\PP \VS{56}And in the second year they came into the temple of God, into Jerusalem; the second month Zerubbabel began, the son of Salathiel, and Jeshua, the son of Josedek, and the brethren of them, and priests, and Levites, and all they that came from the captivity into Jerusalem;


\par }{\PP \VS{57}and founded the temple of God, in the new moon of the second month of the second year, when they had come into Judea and to Jerusalem;


\par }{\PP \VS{58}and set deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}} from
{\EM{the age of}} twenty years upon the works of the Lord. And Jeshua stood
{\EM{up}}, his sons, and his brethren, all the deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}} together casting, and executors,
{\EM{or followers}}, of the law, and doing works in the house of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{59}And there stood
{\EM{up}} priests, having stoles,
{\EM{or long clothes}}, with trumps, and Levites, the sons of Asaph, having cymbals,


\par }{\PP \VS{60}together praising the Lord, and blessing him, after
{\EM{the manner of}} David, king of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{61}And they sung a song to the Lord, for his sweetness and his worship into worlds,
{\EM{or for ever}}, upon all Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{62}And all the people sung with trumps, and cried with great voice, praising together the Lord, in the rearing of the Lord’s house.


\par }{\PP \VS{63}And there came
{\EM{many}} of the priests, and of deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and of presidents after towns, to the elders that had seen the rather house, and at the building up of this
{\EM{house}}, with cry, and with great wailing;


\par }{\PP \VS{64}and many with trumps, and great joy,


\par }{\PP \VS{65}so that the people heard not the trumps, for the great wailing of the people. Forsooth there was a company singing worshipfully in trumps, so that it was heard afar.


\par }{\PP \VS{66}And the enemies heard the lineages of Judah and of Benjamin, and came to know, what was this voice of trumps.


\par }{\PP \VS{67}And they knew, that they that were of the captivity builded
{\ADD{[or built]}} the temple to the Lord God of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{68}And
{\EM{the enemies}} coming nigh to Zerubbabel, and to Jeshua, and to the reeves of towns, they said to them, We shall build together with you.


\par }{\PP \VS{69}In like manner forsooth we have heard our Lord, and we have gone together from the days of Azbazareth
{\EM{or Esarhaddon}}, king of Assyrians, that over-passed from hence
{\ADD{[or that went over hence]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{70}And Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the princes of the towns of Israel said to them, It belongeth not to us and to you
{\EM{together}}{\ADD{[or It is not to us and to you]}} to build up the house of our God;


\par }{\PP \VS{71}forsooth we alone shall build the house of our God, after those things, that Cyrus, king of Persia, commanded.


\par }{\PP \VS{72}The Gentiles forsooth of the land living with them that be in Judea, and rearing up the work of building, and bringing forth both espies and people, they forfended them to build up;


\par }{\PP \VS{73}and they hindered men, haunting the goings-to, that the building should not be ended in all the time of the life of the king Cyrus; and they drew along the making-up by two years, unto the reign of Darius.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Forsooth in the second year of the realm of Darius, Haggai prophesied, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, a prophet, with Judea and in Jerusalem, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, upon them.


\par }{\PP \VS{2}Then standing Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, and Jeshua, the son of Josedek,
{\EM{they}} began to build up the house of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem; when there were nigh to them, prophets of the Lord, and helped them.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}In that time came to them Sisinnes, the under-little-king of Syria and of Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and his fellows. And they said to them,


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Who commanded to you, that ye build this house, and this roof, and many other things ye perform? and who be those builders
{\ADD{[or the builders]}}, that build up these things?


\par }{\PP \VS{5}And the elder men of Israel had grace of the Lord, when the visitation of them was made upon them that were of the captivity;


\par }{\PP \VS{6}and they were not hindered to build up, to the time that it were signified to Darius of all these things, and an answer were taken
{\EM{again}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}{\EM{This is}} the ensample of the letter, that Sisinnes, the under-{\EM{little}} -king of Syria and of Phoenicia, and Sathra-buzanes, and their fellows, rulers in Syria and in Phoenicia, sent
{\EM{to the king}}. To king Darius, greetings.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}All things be they known to the lord the king; forsooth when we came into the region of Judea, and went into Jerusalem, we found men


\par }{\PP \VS{9}building a great house of God, and a temple of great polished stones, and of precious materials in the walls;


\par }{\PP \VS{10}and those works busily in making, and to help, and to make welsome in the hands of them, and in all glory, full diligently to be performed.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}Then we asked the elder men, saying, Who suffered you to build this house, and to build
{\ADD{[or ‘found’]}} these works?


\par }{\PP \VS{12}Therefore forsooth we asked them, that we might make known to thee the men, and the provosts,
{\EM{or reeves}}; and we asked them the writing of the names of the masters of the work.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}And they answered to us, saying, We be servants of the Lord, that made both heaven and earth
{\ADD{[or that made heaven and earth]}};


\par }{\PP \VS{14}and this house was builded
{\ADD{[or built]}} before these many years of the king of Israel, that was great, and a full strong king, and it was destroyed
{\EM{again}}{\ADD{[or full ended]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}And for our fathers stirred and sinned against
{\ADD{[the]}} God of Israel, he betook them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, king of Chaldees;


\par }{\PP \VS{16}and they destroyed and burned up this house, and they brought the people made thrall
{\ADD{[or captive]}} into Babylon.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}In the first year reigning Cyrus, king of Babylon, king Cyrus wrote to build up this house;


\par }{\PP \VS{18}and those holy golden vessels and silvern, that Nebuchadnezzar had borne away from the house
{\EM{of God}}, that is in Jerusalem, and had
{\EM{made}} sacred them in his temple, again king Cyrus brought them forth from the temple that was in Babylon, and they were betaken to Zerubbabel, and to Sanabassar, the under-little-king.


\par }{\PP \VS{19}And it was commanded to them, that they offer these vessels, and they should lay them up in the temple, that was in Jerusalem, and to build up that temple of God in that place.


\par }{\PP \VS{20}Then Sanabassar under-laid the foundaments of the house of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem; and from thence unto now is abuilding, and hath taken no full ending.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}Now then, O king! if it is deemed of thee, that it be perfectly sought
{\ADD{[or be it perfectly sought]}} in the king’s libraries of king Cyrus, that be in Babylon;


\par }{\PP \VS{22}and if it were found in the counsel of king Cyrus, the making of the house of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem, to be begun, and
{\EM{if}} it shall be showed of the lord our king, write he to us of these things.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}Then king Darius commanded to be inwardly sought in the libraries; and there was found in Ecbatana, a borough town, that is in the middle region, a place
{\ADD{[or one place]}}, in the which were written these things.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}The first year reigning Cyrus king, Cyrus commanded to build up the house of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem, where they burned with continual fire;


\par }{\PP \VS{25}whose height was made of sixty cubits, and the breadth of sixty cubits, squared with three polished stones, and with solar tree of the same region, and with one new solar; and costs to be given of the house of king Cyrus;


\par }{\PP \VS{26}and the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both golden and silvern, that Nebuchadnezzar bare away, that those
{\ADD{[or they]}} be put thither into the house, that is in Jerusalem, where they were put.


\par }{\PP \VS{27}And he commanded Sisinnes, the under-little-king of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and his fellows, to do
{\EM{their}} business, and they that were in Syria and Phoenicia ordained rulers, that they should abstain them from the same place.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}And I also commanded to make
{\EM{it}} up all, and I looked forth, that they help them that be of the captivity of Jews, unto the time that the temple of the house of the Lord be fully ended;


\par }{\PP \VS{29}and a quantity to be given diligently to these men of the travail of the tributes of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, to the sacrifice of the Lord, to Zerubbabel, the prefect, to bulls, and wethers, and to lambs;


\par }{\PP \VS{30}also forsooth both wheat, and salt, wine, and oil, busily by all years, as the priests, that be in Jerusalem, ordained to be fulfilled each day, without any delay;


\par }{\PP \VS{31}{\EM{also}} that there be offered offerings of liquors to the highest God, for the king, and for his children, and pray they for the life of them.


\par }{\PP \VS{32}And be it announced, that whosoever over-pass anything of these things that be written, either despise, be there taken a tree of their own, and be they hanged
{\EM{thereon}}, and their goods be escheated to the king.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}Therefore also the Lord, whose name is inwardly called there, outlaw he each king and folk, that stretch out their hand to offend
{\ADD{[or to forfend]}}, or to evil treat that house of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{34}I, king Darius, have made a decree, to be done as most diligently after these things.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then Sisinnes, the under-little-king of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and
{\EM{their}} fellows, obeyed to these things, that were deemed of king Darius,


\par }{\PP \VS{2}and stood full diligently into the holy works, working together with the elder men of Jews, princes of Syria.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}And the holy works be made welsome, as the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}And they fulfilled all things, after the behest of the Lord God of Israel, and after the counsel of Cyrus, and of Darius, and of Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}And our house is ended
{\EM{or completed}}, in the three and twentieth day of the month of March, in the sixth year of king Darius.


\par }{\PP \VS{6}And the sons of Israel, and the priests, and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and others that were of the captivity, the which be set to, did after those things that be written in the book of Moses.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}And they offered into the dedication of the temple of the Lord, an hundred bulls, two hundred wethers, four hundred lambs;


\par }{\PP \VS{8}twelve kids, for the sins of all Israel, after the number of the twelve lineages of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{9}And the priests and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}} stood, clothed
{\ADD{[or clad]}} with the stoles, by
{\EM{their}} lineages, upon the works of the Lord God of Israel, after the book of Moses; and
{\EM{there were}} porters
{\ADD{[or ushers]}} by all the gates.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}And the sons of Israel did that pask, with them that were of the captivity, in the moon of the first month, the fourteenth
{\EM{day}}, when the priests and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}} be hallowed.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}And all the sons of captivity they be not hallowed together, for all the Levites be hallowed together.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}And they offered pask to all the sons of captivity, and to their brethren priests, and to themselves.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}And the sons of Israel, the which were of the captivity, all they that had left from all the cursednesses of Gentiles,
{\EM{or heathen folk}}, of the earth, ate, and sought the Lord;


\par }{\PP \VS{14}and they hallowed the feast day of therf loaves, seven days eating in the sight of the Lord;


\par }{\PP \VS{15}for he converted the counsel of the king of Assyria in them, to comfort the hands of them to the works of the Lord God of Israel.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And after this, while Artaxerxes, king of Persia, reigned, there went to Ezra,
{\EM{a man that was}} the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum,


\par }{\PP \VS{2}son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the first priest.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}This Ezra went up from Babylon, when he was scribe, and witting in the law of Moses, the which was given of the Lord of Israel, to say
{\EM{it}} and do
{\EM{it}}{\ADD{[or to say and to do]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}And the king gave to him glory, that he had found grace in all dignity, and in desire
{\ADD{[or and desire]}}, in the sight of him.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}And there went up with him into Jerusalem of the sons of Israel, both priests, and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and holy singers of the temple, and ushers, and servants of the temple.


\par }{\PP \VS{6}In the seventh year reigning Artaxerxes, in the fifth month, this is the seventh year of the realm
{\ADD{[or the reign]}}, going out forsooth from Babylon in the new moon of the fifth month, they came to Jerusalem, after the behests of him, when the prosperity of the way was granted
{\ADD{[or given]}} to them of that Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}In these things forsooth Ezra wielded great discipline, lest he passed anything of those things that were of the law of the Lord, and of the behests, and in teaching all Israel all rightwiseness and doom.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}They forsooth that write the writings of king Artaxerxes, coming nigh, took writing that, that came from king Artaxerxes to Ezra, the priest, and reader of the law of the Lord, the ensample of the which thing
{\EM{written}} is set next after
{\ADD{[or is laid under]}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{9}King Artaxerxes to Ezra, the priest, and reader of the law of the Lord,
{\EM{sendeth}} greetings.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}More benign I deeming also to benefits, commanded to them that desire of the folk of Jews their own things willfully, and of the priests, and of deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, that be in my realm, to fellowship with thee into Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}Then if any covet to go with thee, come they together, and go they forth, as it pleaseth to me, and to my seven friends counsellors;


\par }{\PP \VS{12}that they visit those things, that be done after Judea and Jerusalem, keeping
{\EM{the law}}, as thou hast in the law of the Lord;


\par }{\PP \VS{13}and bear they gifts to the Lord of Israel, whom I knew, and the friends of Jerusalem, and all the gold and the silver
{\ADD{[or all the gold and silver]}}, that were found in the realm of Babylon,
{\EM{be it borne}} to the Lord in Jerusalem,


\par }{\PP \VS{14}with that that is given of those folk in the temple of the Lord, of them that is in Jerusalem; that this gold be gathered and silver
{\ADD{[or that be gathered this gold and silver]}}, to bulls, and wethers, and to lambs, and kids, and that to these be covenable;


\par }{\PP \VS{15}that they offer hosts to the Lord, upon the altar of the Lord of them, that is in Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{16}And all things whatever thou wilt do with thy brethren, perform
{\EM{it}} with gold and silver, for
{\EM{thy}} will, after the behest of the Lord thy God.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}And the sacred holy vessels, the which were given to thee, to the works of the Lord’s house, thy God, that is in Jerusalem,


\par }{\PP \VS{18}and other things, whatever will help to the works of the temple of thy God, thou shalt give
{\EM{it}} of the king’s treasury, when thou wilt make the work with thy brethren, with gold and silver; and perform thou all things after the will of thy Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{19}And I, king Artaxerxes, have commanded to
{\ADD{[the]}} keepers of the treasures of Syria and of Phoenicia, that whatever things Ezra, the priest, and reader of the law of the Lord, write for, busily be it given to him,


\par }{\PP \VS{20}unto an hundred talents of silver, also and of gold
{\ADD{[or like manner and of gold]}}; and unto an hundred bushels of wheat, and an hundred vessels of wine, and other things, whatever abound, without taxing.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}All things be done unto the highest God, after the law of God, lest peradventure wrath arise up in the realm of the king, and of his son, and of the sons of him.


\par }{\PP \VS{22}To you forsooth it was said, that to all the priests, and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and to holy singers, and servants of the temple, and to scribes of this temple, no tribute, nor any other forfending be borne to
{\EM{them}}, nor have there any man power to against-cast anything to them.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}Thou forsooth, Ezra, after the wisdom of God ordain doomsmen and arbitrators, in all Syria and Phoenicia, and teach all that know the law of thy God;


\par }{\PP \VS{24}that how many ever
{\ADD{[over-]}} pass the law, they be busily punished, or by death, or by torment, or also by mulcting,
{\EM{or punishing}}, of money, or by departing
{\ADD{[or severing]}} away.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}And Ezra, the scribe, said, Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, that gave this will into the heart of the king, to clarify his house, that is in Jerusalem;


\par }{\PP \VS{26}and hath worshipped me in sight of the king, and of his counsellors, and of his friends, and of his purpled men.


\par }{\PP \VS{27}And I am made steadfast in inwit, after the helping of the Lord our God; and I gathered of Israel men, that they should go up together with me.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}And these be the provosts, after their countries, and apportional prince-hoods of them, that with me went up from Babylon, in the realm of Artaxerxes.


\par }{\PP \VS{29}Of the sons of Phinehas
{\EM{was}} Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael; of the sons of David, Lettus, the son of Sechenias;


\par }{\PP \VS{30}of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him be turned again an hundred men and fifty;


\par }{\PP \VS{31}of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliaonias,
{\EM{the son of}} Zaraeas, and with him two hundred men and fifty;


\par }{\PP \VS{32}of the sons of Zathoe, Sechenias
{\EM{the son of}} Jezelus, and with him two hundred men and fifty; of the sons of Adin, Obeth
{\EM{the son of}} Jonathan, and with him two hundred men and fifty;


\par }{\PP \VS{33}of the sons of Elam, Jessias
{\EM{the son of}} Gotholias, and with him seventy men;


\par }{\PP \VS{34}of the sons of Sophotias, Zerahiah
{\EM{the son of}} Michael, and with him fourscore men;


\par }{\PP \VS{35}of the sons of Joab, Abadias
{\EM{the son of}} Jezelus, and with him two hundred men and twelve;


\par }{\PP \VS{36}of the sons of Bani, Assalimoth
{\EM{the son of}} Josiphiah, and with him an hundred men and sixty;


\par }{\PP \VS{37}of the sons of Babi, Zechariah
{\EM{the son of}} Bebai, and with him two hundred men and eight
{\EM{or twenty}} -{\EM{eight men}};


\par }{\PP \VS{38}of the sons of Astath, Johanan
{\EM{the son of}} Hacatan, and with him an hundred men and ten;


\par }{\PP \VS{39}of the sons of Adonikam,
{\EM{that be}} the last, and these be the names of them, Eliphalatus, Jeuel, and Samaeas, and with them seventy men;


\par }{\PP \VS{40}(This verse is omitted in the original text.)


\par }{\PP \VS{41}And I gathered them to the flood, that is said Theras and Methati; there we were three days, and I knew them.


\par }{\PP \VS{42}And of the sons of priests and of Levites I found not there.


\par }{\PP \VS{43}And I sent to Eleazar, and to Iduel, and Maasmas,


\par }{\PP \VS{44}and Elnathan, and Samaeas, and Joribus, Nathan, Ennatas, Zechariah,
{\ADD{[and]}} Mosollamus,
{\EM{the which}} were leaders and wise men.


\par }{\PP \VS{45}And I said to them that they should come to Doldaeus, that was at the place of the treasury.


\par }{\PP \VS{46}And I sent to them, that they should say to Doldaeus, and his brethren, and to them that were in the treasury, that they should send to us them that should use priesthood in the house of the Lord our God.


\par }{\PP \VS{47}And they brought to us, after the strong hand of the Lord our God, wise men of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, Asebebias, and sons, and brethren, that were eighteen;


\par }{\PP \VS{48}Asebias, and Annunus, and Hosaeas, his brother, of the sons of Chanunaeus; and the sons of them,
{\EM{were}} twenty men.


\par }{\PP \VS{49}And of them that served in the temple, the which David and they princes gave
{\ADD{[or the which David gave, and they princes]}}, to the working to the Levites, to the temple, of men serving, two hundred and twenty. The names of all be signified in scriptures.


\par }{\PP \VS{50}And I vowed there fasting to young men, in the sight of the Lord, that I should seek of him a good way to us, and
{\EM{to them}} that were with us, of sons, and beasts, for espies.


\par }{\PP \VS{51}Forsooth I shamed to ask of the king footmen and horsemen, in fellow-ship of grace, of keeping against our adversaries.


\par }{\PP \VS{52}Forsooth we said to the king, For the virtue of the Lord shall be with them, that inwardly seek him in all effect.


\par }{\PP \VS{53}And again we prayed the Lord our God, after these things, whom also we had benignly; and we be made whole to our God.


\par }{\PP \VS{54}And I set apart of the provosts of the folk, and of the priests of the temple, twelve men, and Sarabias, and Asamias, and ten men with them of their brethren.


\par }{\PP \VS{55}And I weighed to them silver and gold, and priests’ vessels, of the house of the Lord our God, the which the king had given, and his counsellors, and princes, and all Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{56}And when I had peised
{\EM{it}}, I took an hundred talents of silver and fifty, and silvern vessels of an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents,


\par }{\PP \VS{57}and of golden vessels sevenscore, and twelve brazen vessels of good shining metal, yielding the likeness of gold.


\par }{\PP \VS{58}And I said to them, Both ye be holy to the Lord, and the vessels be holy, and the gold and the silver is of the avow to the Lord God of our fathers.


\par }{\PP \VS{59}Wake ye, and keep
{\EM{it}}, till the time that ye take
{\EM{it}} of the provosts of the people, and of the priests, and of the deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and of princes of the cities of Israel, and Jerusalem
{\ADD{[or in Jerusalem]}}, in the privy chamber of the house of our God.


\par }{\PP \VS{60}And these priests and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, that took gold and silver, and vessels, that were in Jerusalem, they brought
{\EM{those}} into the temple of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{61}And we moved forth from the flood of Theras, the twelfth day of the first month, till that we went into Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{62}And when the third day was done, the fourth day forsooth the peised gold and silver was betaken into the house of the Lord our God, to Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest;


\par }{\PP \VS{63}and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and there were with them Jozabdus, the son of Jeshua, and Moeth, and Sabannus, the son of a deacon
{\ADD{[or Levite]}}; all things at number and weight.


\par }{\PP \VS{64}And the weight of them is written in the same hour.


\par }{\PP \VS{65}Those forsooth, that came from the captivity, offered sacrifice of the Lord of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, fourscore wethers and six,


\par }{\PP \VS{66}two and seventy lambs, twelve goats for sin, and twelve kine for health; all into the sacrifice of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{67}And again they read the behests of the king to the king’s dispensers, and to the little under-kings of Coelesyria, and of Phoenicia; and they worshipped the folk and the temple of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{68}And after these things were ended, they came to me, saying,


\par }{\PP \VS{69}The kindred of Israel, and the princes, and the priests, and Levites, and alien folks, and nations of the land, have not parted away
{\ADD{[or severed]}} their uncleannesses from the Canaanites, and Hittites, and from Perizzites, and Jebusites, and from the Moabites, and Egyptians, and Idumeans;


\par }{\PP \VS{70}forsooth they were joined to the daughters of them, both they and their sons; and the holy seed was
{\ADD{[or is]}} mingled together with the heathen folk of the land; and the provosts and master judges were partners of this wickedness, from the beginning of that realm.


\par }{\PP \VS{71}And anon as I heard these things, I cut
{\EM{my}} clothes, and the hallowed
{\ADD{[or the sacred]}} coat, and I tore the hairs of mine head, and the beard,
{\EM{and}} I sat sorrowing, and dreary.


\par }{\PP \VS{72}And there came to me then as many as ever were moved in the word of the Lord God of Israel, wailing me
{\ADD{[or me wailing]}} upon this wickedness; and I sat sorrowful unto the eventide sacrifice.


\par }{\PP \VS{73}And
{\EM{then}} I rising from fasting, having my clothes cut, kneeled much
{\ADD{[or much kneeling]}}, and stretching out
{\EM{mine}} hands to the Lord,


\par }{\PP \VS{74}I said, Lord, I am confounded, and I am adread before thy face.


\par }{\PP \VS{75}Forsooth our sins be multiplied upon our heads, and our wickednesses be enhanced unto heaven;


\par }{\PP \VS{76}for from the time of our fathers we have been in great sin unto this day.


\par }{\PP \VS{77}And for our own sins, and
{\EM{for the sins}} of our fathers we be taken, with our brethren, and with our priests, and with kings of the land, into sword, and captivity, and into prey, with confusion, unto the day that is now.


\par }{\PP \VS{78}And now how much is
{\EM{it}}, that the mercy of thee, Lord God, falleth to us; leave thou to us a root and a name, into the place of thine hallowing,


\par }{\PP \VS{79}to discover our giver of light in the house of the Lord our God, to give to us meat in the time of our servage.


\par }{\PP \VS{80}And when we served, we were not forsaken of the Lord our God; but he set us in grace, putting to
{\EM{food}},


\par }{\PP \VS{81}and to clarify the temple of the Lord our God, and to build the deserts of Zion, and to give to us stableness in Judea and in Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{82}And now, Lord, what say we, having these things? We have over-passed thy behests, the which thou give
{\ADD{[or thou gave]}} into the hands of thy children, prophets, that said,


\par }{\PP \VS{83}Forsooth the land, in which ye have entered, to wield the heritage of it, is a defouled land with the filths of
{\ADD{[the]}} heathen men of the land, and the uncleannesses of them have full-filled all it
{\ADD{[or it all]}} in his uncleanness.


\par }{\PP \VS{84}And now
{\EM{therefore}} ye shall not join your daughters to their sons, and their daughters ye shall not take to yours sons;


\par }{\PP \VS{85}and ye shall not seek to have peace with them all time, that coming above ye eat the best things of the land, and that ye deal the heritage to your sons, forever.


\par }{\PP \VS{86}And those things that fall to us, be they all done for our shrewd works, and our great sins.


\par }{\PP \VS{87}And thou hast given to us such a root, and again we be turned again to over-pass thy lawful things, that the uncleannesses of the heathen folk of this land were mingled.


\par }{\PP \VS{88}Whether thou shalt not wrath to us, to lose us, for till the root be forsaken, and our seed?


\par }{\PP \VS{89}Lord God of Israel, thou art soothfast; forsooth the root is forsaken, unto the day that is now.


\par }{\PP \VS{90}Lo! now we be in thy sight in our wickednesses; forsooth it is not yet to stand before thee in these things.


\par }{\PP \VS{91}And when Ezra honouring ac-knowledged, weeping, he fell down to the earth before the temple, there be gathered before him a full great multitude,
{\ADD{[or company, or crowd]}} of Jerusalem, men, and women, and young men, and young women; forsooth the weeping was great in that multitude.


\par }{\PP \VS{92}And when Jechonias, the son of Jeelus, of the sons of Israel, had cried, Ezra said, We have sinned against the Lord,
{\EM{for}} that we have set with us into matrimony heathen women, of the Gentiles of the land.


\par }{\PP \VS{93}And now whosoever is over all Israel in these things, be there to us an oath of the Lord, to put away all our wives, that be, with their sons, of the heathen folk;


\par }{\PP \VS{94}as it is deemed to thee of the greater men, after the law of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{95}Arise
{\EM{now}} up, and show
{\ADD{[out]}}{\EM{thy will}}; forsooth to thee abideth this need, and we be with thee; do manly.


\par }{\PP \VS{96}And Ezra arising up, made the princes of priests, and the deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and all Israel, to swear to do after all these things; and they swore.




\par }\Chap{CHAPTER 9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}And Ezra rising up from the fore-porch of the temple, went into the cell of Jehohanan, the son of Eliashib.


\par }{\PP \VS{2}And he harboured there, tasted no bread, nor drank water, for the wickednesses of the multitude.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}And there was made a preaching in all Judea and in Jerusalem, to all that were of the captivity gathered in Jerusalem,


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Whosoever again-cometh not to the second or the third day, after the doom of the elder men sitting, his faculties shall be taken away, and he be deemed alien from the multitude of the captivity.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}And all, that were of the lineages of Judah and Benjamin, were gathered together, three days in Jerusalem; this is the ninth month, the twentieth day of the month.


\par }{\PP \VS{6}And all the multitude sat in the floor of the temple, trembling for winter
{\EM{then}} being.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}{\EM{And}} Ezra rising up, said to Israel, Ye have done wickedly, setting to you into matrimony heathen wives, that ye add to the sins of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}And now give ye to the Lord God of our fathers confession, and great worthiness;
{\ADD{[And now giveth shrift, and great doing to the Lord God of our fathers;]}}


\par }{\PP \VS{9}and perform ye his will, and goeth away from the heathen folk of the land, and from heathen wives.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}And all the multitude cried, and they said with a great voice, We shall do, as thou hast said.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}But for the multitude is great, and the time is winter, and we may not stand unholpen
{\ADD{[or unhelped]}}, and this work is not to us of one day, nor of two; much we have sinned in these things;


\par }{\PP \VS{12}{\EM{therefore}} stand the provosts of the multitude, and all that dwell with us, and how many ever have with them heathen wives;


\par }{\PP \VS{13}and stand they nigh in the time that is taken
{\ADD{[or in the acceptable time of all places]}}, priests, and doomsmen, till that they lose the wrath of the Lord, of this need.


\par }{\PP \VS{14}Jonathan forsooth, the son of Azael, and Hezekiah,
{\EM{the son of}} Thocanus, took after these things, and Mosollamus, and Levi, and Sabbataeus wrought together with them.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}And all that were of the captivity stood
{\EM{there}}, after all these things.


\par }{\PP \VS{16}And Ezra, priest, chose to him men, great princes, of the fathers of them, after the names; and they sat together, in the new moon of the tenth month, to examine this need.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}And it is determined of the men, that had heathen wives, unto the new moons of the first month.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}And there be found mingled among of the priests, that had heathen wives;


\par }{\PP \VS{19}of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Josedek, and of his brethren, Matthelas, and Eleazar, and Joribus, and Joadanus.


\par }{\PP \VS{20}And they laid
{\EM{their}} hands, that they should put away their wives, and for to sacrifice a ram, into prayer for their ignorance.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}And of the sons of Emmer, Ananias, and Zabdaeus, and Manes, and Samaeus, and Jereel, Azarias;


\par }{\PP \VS{22}and of the sons of Phaesus, Elionas, Massiah, Ishmael, and Nathanael, and Okidelus, and Saloas.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}And of the deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, Jozabadus, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Phathaeus, and Judas, and Jonas.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}And of the hallowed
{\ADD{[or sacred]}} singers, Eliasibus, Bacchurus.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}And of the ushers, Sallumus or Shallum, and Tolbanes or Telem.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}And of Israel, of the sons of Phoros, Jermas, and Jeddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Bannaeas.


\par }{\PP \VS{27}And of the sons of Ela, Matthanias, and Zechariah, Jezrielus, and Jeremoth, and Aedias.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}And of the sons of Zamoth, Eliadas, and Eliasimus, and Othonias, and Jarimoth, and Sabathus, and Zardaeus.


\par }{\PP \VS{29}And of the sons of Bebai, Johannes, and Ananias, and Ozabadus, and Emathis.


\par }{\PP \VS{30}And of the sons of Mani, Olamus, and Mamuchus, and Jedaeus, and Jasubus, and Asaelus, and Jeremoth.


\par }{\PP \VS{31}And of the sons of Addi, Naathus, and Moossias, and Laccunus, and Naidus, Matthanias, and Sesthel, and Balnuus, and Manasseas.


\par }{\PP \VS{32}And of the sons of Annas, Elionas, and Asaeas, and Melchias, and Sab-baeus, and Simon Chosamaeus.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}And of the sons of Asom, Altan-naeus, Mattathias, and Bannaeus, and Eliphalat, and Manasseh, and Shimei.


\par }{\PP \VS{34}And of the sons of Bani, Jere-miah, and Momdis, and Ismaerus, and Juel, and Mandae, and Paedias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaemus, and Eliasis, and Bannus, and Eliali, and Somis, and Selemias, and Nathaniah; and of the sons of Ezora, Sessis, and Ezril, and Azael, and Samatus, and Zambris, and Josephus.


\par }{\PP \VS{35}And of the sons of Nooma, Mazitias, and Zabadaeas, and Edaes, and Juel, Banaeas.


\par }{\PP \VS{36}All these joined to them heathen wives, and let them go, with
{\EM{their}} sons.


\par }{\PP \VS{37}And priests, and deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}, and they that were of Israel, dwelled in Jerusalem in an one region, the new moon of the seventh month; and the sons of Israel were in their abidings.


\par }{\PP \VS{38}And all the multitude gathered together in the floor, that is from the east of the hallowed
{\ADD{[or sacred]}} gate.


\par }{\PP \VS{39}And they said to Ezra, bishop and reader, that he should bring forth the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{40}And Ezra, the bishop, brought forth the law to all the multitude of them, from man unto woman, and to all the priests, to hear the law, in the new moon of the seventh month.


\par }{\PP \VS{41}And he read in the floor, that is before the holy gate of the temple, from the first light
{\EM{of the day}} unto even, before men and women; and all they gave wit to the law.


\par }{\PP \VS{42}And Ezra, the priest, and reader of the law, stood
{\ADD{[up]}} upon the treen chair, that was made
{\EM{therefore}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{43}And there stood with him Matta-thiah, and Shema, and Ananias, Azar-iah, Uriah, Hezekiah, and Baalsamus, at the right side;


\par }{\PP \VS{44}and at the left side, Phaldaeus, Mishael, Melchias, Lothasubus, Nabariah, and Zechariah.


\par }{\PP \VS{45}And Ezra took a book before all the multitude; forsooth he sat before in worship, in the sight of all.


\par }{\PP \VS{46}And when he had assoiled
{\EM{or absolved}} upon the law, all they stood upright. And Ezra blessed the Lord God, alder-Highest God of Sabbath, Almighty or all mighty.


\par }{\PP \VS{47}And all the people answered, Amen. And again they raised up
{\EM{their}} hands, and falling down unto the earth, they honoured
{\EM{or worshipped}} the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{48}And Ezra commanded, that these should teach the law, Jeshua, and Annus, and Sarabias, and Jadinus, and Jacubus, and Sabbataeas, and Autaeas, and Maeannas, and Calitas, and Azarias, and Jozabdus, and Anan-ias, and Phiathas, deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}}. The which taught the law of the Lord, and in the multitude they read the law of the Lord; and each by himself, that understood the lesson, told
{\EM{it}} before them.


\par }{\PP \VS{49}And Attharates said to Ezra, the bishop and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, saying,


\par }{\PP \VS{50}This day is holy to the Lord. And all they wept, when they had heard the law.


\par }{\PP \VS{51}And Ezra said, Ye therefore, after ye be gone atwain
{\ADD{[or Ye then, gone atwain]}}, eateth all most fat things, and drinketh all most sweet, and send ye gifts to them that have not;


\par }{\PP \VS{52}forsooth this day of the Lord is holy
{\ADD{[or holy is this day of the Lord]}}; and be ye not sorry, the Lord forsooth shall clarify us.


\par }{\PP \VS{53}And the deacons
{\ADD{[or Levites]}} announced,
{\EM{or showed}}, openly to all men, saying, This day is holy; will ye not
{\EM{to}} be sorry.


\par }{\PP \VS{54}And then all they went away, to eat, and to drink, and to have plenty of meat, and to give gifts to them that have not, whereof to eat plenteously.


\par }{\PP \VS{55}Greatly forsooth they be enhanced in the words, with the which they be taught. And all they were gathered into Jerusalem, to make solemn the gladness, after the testament of the Lord God of Israel.


\par }