1 Esd 4

1 Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say, 2 O you⌃ men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and land and all thingsin them? 3 But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and has dominionover them; and whatever he commands them they do. 4 If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: if he send them out againstthe enemies, they go, and break down mountains walls and towers. 5 They kill and are slain, and transgress not the king's commandment: if they get the victory,they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else. 6 Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbandry,when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one anotherto pay tribute to the king. 7 And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, theyspare; 8 If he command to strike, they strike; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate;if he command to build, they build; 9 If he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant. 10 So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lies down, he eats and drinks,and takes his rest: 11 And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business,neither disobey they him in any thing. 12 O you⌃ men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort he is obeyed? Andhe held his tongue. 13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel) beganto speak. 14 O you⌃ men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine, thatexcels; who is it then that rules them, or has the lordship over them? are they not women? 15 Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land. 16 Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whencethe wine comes. 17 These also make garments for men; these bring glory to men; and without women can’t menbe. 18 Yes, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing, dothey not love a woman which is comely in favor and beauty? 19 And letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even with open mouth fix theireyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire to her than to silver or gold, or any goodly thingwhatever? 20 A man leaves his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaves tohis wife. 21 He sticks not to spend his life with his wife. and remembers neither father, nor mother,nor country. 22 By this also you⌃ must know that women have dominion over you: do you⌃ not labor andtoil, and give and bring all to the woman? 23 Yes, a man takes his sword, and goes his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the seaand upon rivers; 24 And looks upon a lion, and goes in the darkness; and when he has stolen, spoiled, androbbed, he brings it to his love. 25 Wherefore a man loves his wife better than father or mother. 26 Yes, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants fortheir sakes. 27 Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women. 28 And now do you⌃ not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regionsfear to touch him? 29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, 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 setting it upon her own head; she alsostruck the king with her left hand. 31 And yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughedupon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, the king was fain to flatter, thatshe might be reconciled to him again. 32 O you⌃ men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus? 33 Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the truth. 34 O you⌃ men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is thesun in his course, for he encircles the heavens round about, and fetches his course again to his own placein one day. 35 Is he not great that makes these things? therefore great is the truth, and stronger thanall things. 36 All the earth cries upon the truth, and the heaven blesses it: all works shake and trembleat it, and with it is no unrighteous thing. 37 Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked,and such are all their wicked works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also theyshall perish. 38 As for the truth, it endures, and is Always strong; it lives and conquers for evermore. 39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she does the things that arejust, and refrains from all unjust and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works. 40 Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, kingdom, power,and majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth. 41 And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great isTruth, and mighty above all things. 42 Then said the king to him, Ask what you will more than is appointed in the writing, andwe will give it you, because you are found wisest; and you shall sit next me, and shall be called my cousin. 43 Then said he to the king, Remember your vow, which you have vowed to build Jerusalem,in the day when you came to your kingdom, 44 And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus setapart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again there. 45 You also have vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea wasmade desolate by the Chaldees. 46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of you, andthis is the princely liberality proceeding from yourself: I desire therefore that you make good the vow,the performance whereof with your own mouth you have vowed to the King of heaven. 47 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him to all the treasurersand lieutenants and captains and governors, that they should safely convey on their way both him, andall those that go up with him to build Jerusalem. 48 He wrote letters also to the lieutenants that were in Celosyria and Phenice, and to themin Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus to Jerusalem, and that they should build thecity with him. 49 Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry, concerningtheir freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into theirdoors; 50 And that all the country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that theEdomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held: 51 Yes, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple,until the time that it were built; 52 And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon the altar every day,as they had a 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. 54 He wrote also concerning. the charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister; 55 And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them until the day that thehouse 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 thatCyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent to Jerusalem. 58 Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem,and praised the King of heaven, 59 And said, From you comes victory, from you comes wisdom, and your is the glory, and Iam your servant. 60 Blessed are you, who have given me wisdom: for to you I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers. 61 And so he took the letters, and went out, and came to 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 theyfeasted with instruments of musick and gladness seven days.