Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 1
1 And Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord, and offered the
passover the fourteenth day of the first month;
2 Having set
the priests according to their daily courses, being arrayed in long garments,
in the temple of the Lord.
3 And he
spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel, that they should hallow
themselves unto the Lord, to set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that
king Solomon the son of David had built:
4 And said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders: now
therefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his people Israel, and
prepare you after your families and kindreds,
5 According
as David the king of Israel prescribed, and according to the magnificence of Solomon
his son: and standing in the temple according to the several dignity of the
families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence of your brethren the
children of Israel,
6 Offer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your
brethren, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the Lord, which
was given unto Moses.
7 And unto
the people that was found there Josias gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and
three thousand calves: these things were given of the king's allowance,
according as he promised, to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites.
8 And
Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple, gave to the
priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred
sheep, and three hundred calves.
9 And Jeconias,
and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias, and Ochiel, and Joram,
captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for the passover
five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.
10 And when
these things were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened bread,
stood in very comely order according to the kindreds,
11 And
according to the several dignities of the 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 appertaineth: 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 or 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, 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 Magiddo, 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 in 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 uncleaness 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
holy vessels of the Lord;
46 And made Zedechias king of Judea and
Jerusalem, when he was one and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years:
47 And he
did evil also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the words that were
spoken unto him by the prophet Jeremy from the mouth of the Lord.
48 And after
that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the name of the Lord, he
forswore himself, and rebelled; and hardening his neck, his heart, he
transgressed the laws of the Lord God of Israel.
49 The
governors also of the people and of the priests did many things against the
laws, and passed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of
the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem.
50 Nevertheless
the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because he
spared them and his tabernacle also.
51 But they
had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the Lord spake
unto them, they made a sport of his prophets:
52 So far
forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great ungodliness,
commanded the kings of the Chaldees to come up against them;
53 Who slew
their young men with the sword, yea, even within the compass of their holy temple,
and spared neither young man nor maid, old man nor child, among them; for he
delivered all into their hands.
54 And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with the vessels of the ark of God,
and the king's treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.
55 As for
the house of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem,
and set fire upon her towers:
56 And as
for her glorious things, they never ceased till they had consumed and brought
them all to nought: and the people that were not slain with the sword he
carried unto Babylon:
57 Who
became servants to him and his children, till the Persians reigned, to fulfil the word of the Lord
spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:
58 Until the
land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her
desolation shall she rest, until
the full term of seventy years.
Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 2
1 In the first year of Cyrus king
of the Persians, that the word of the Lord might be accomplished, that he had
promised by the mouth of Jeremy;
2 The Lord
raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made
proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,
3 Saying,
Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the most high Lord,
hath made me king of the whole world,
4 And
commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in
Jewry.
5 If
therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his
Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build
the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.
6 Whosoever
then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his
neighbours, with gold, and with silver,
7 With
gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set
forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.
8 Then the
chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the
priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go
up, and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem,
9 And they
that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things with silver and
gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number
whose minds were stirred up thereto.
10 King
Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had carried
away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols.
11 Now when
Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to
Mithridates his treasurer:
12 And by
him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea.
13 And this
was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver,
censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand
four hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels.
14 So all
the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand
four hundred threescore and nine.
15 These
were brought back by
Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to
Jerusalem.
16 But in
the time of Artexerxes
[=Xerxes/Ahasueros /ToL comment] king of the Persians Belemus, and
Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the
secretary, with others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria
and other places, wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem
these letters following;
17 To king
Artexerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the storywriter, and Semellius the
scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and
Phenice.
18 Be it now
known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from you to us, being come
into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and
repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the temple.
19 Now if this
city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to give
tribute, but also rebel against kings.
20 And
forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it
meet not to neglect such a matter,
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 storywriter, 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 war: and that mighty kings and fierce
were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.
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 Artexerxes his letters being read,
Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with
them, removing in haste toward 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.
Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 3
1 Now when
Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto 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 bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.
4 Then three
young men, that were of the guard that 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, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles
of gold, and an headtire 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 strongest.
12 The third
wrote, Women are 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.
Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 4
1 Then 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, they go, and break down mountains walls and towers.
5 They slay
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
husbundry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it
to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king.
7 And yet he
is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they
spare;
8 If he
command to smite, they smite; 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 lieth down, he eateth and
drinketh, and taketh 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 ye men,
how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort he is obeyed? And he
held his tongue.
13 Then the
third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak.
14 O ye men,
it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine, that
excelleth; who is it then that ruleth them, or hath 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
whence the wine cometh.
17 These
also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women
cannot men be.
18 Yea, and
if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing, do
they not love a woman which is comely in favour and beauty?
19 And
letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even with open mouth fix
their eyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire unto her than unto silver
or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever?
20 A man
leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth
unto his wife.
21 He
sticketh not to spend his life with his wife. and
remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country.
22 By this
also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil,
and give and bring all to the woman?
23 Yea, a
man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the
sea and upon rivers;
24 And
looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he hath stolen,
spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.
25 Wherefore
a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.
26 Yea, many
there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for
their sakes.
27 Many also
have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.
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 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
also struck the king with 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 laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, the king was
fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again.
32 O ye 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 ye men,
are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun
in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his
course again to his own place in one day.
35 Is he not
great that maketh these things? therefore great is the
truth, and stronger than all things.
36 All the
earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven 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 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 they shall perish.
38 As for
the truth, it endureth, and is alwaYs strong; it liveth and conquereth for
evermore.
39 With her
there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are
just, and refraineth 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 is Truth, and mighty above all things.
42 Then said
the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is
appointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou art found
wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin.
43 Then said
he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem,
in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,
44 And to
send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus
set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again thither.
45 Thou also
hast vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was
made desolate by the Chaldees.
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;
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
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 toward
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 musick and gladness seven days.
Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 5
1 After this
were the principal men of the families chosen according to their tribes, to go
up with their wives and sons and daughters, with their menservants and
maidservants, and their cattle.
2 And Darius
sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had brought them back to
Jerusalem safely, and with musical [instruments] tabrets and flutes.
3 And all
their brethren played, and he made them go up together with them.
4 And these
are the names of the men which went up, according to their families among their
tribes, after their several heads.
5 The
priests, the sons of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the son of Josedec, the
son of Saraias, and Joacim the son of Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the
house of David, out of the kindred of Phares, of the tribe of Judah;
6 Who spake
wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of his
reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month.
7 And these
are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where they dwelt as
strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away unto
Babylon.
8 And they returned unto Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry, every man
to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus, Nehemias, and Zacharias, and Reesaias,
Enenius, Mardocheus.
Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana, their guides.
9 The number
of them of the nation, and their governors, sons of Phoros, two thousand an
hundred seventy and two; the sons of Saphat, four hundred seventy and two:
10 The sons
of Ares, seven hundred fifty and six:
11 The sons
of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve:
12 The sons
of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the sons of Zathul, nine
hundred forty and five: the sons of Corbe, seven hundred and five: the sons of
Bani, six hundred forty and eight:
13 The sons
of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three: the sons of Sadas, three thousand two
hundred twenty and two:
14 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:
15 The sons
of Aterezias, ninety and two: the sons of Ceilan and Azetas threescore and
seven: the sons of Azuran, four hundred thirty and two:
16 The sons
of Ananias, an hundred and one: the sons of Arom, thirty two: and the sons of
Bassa, three hundred twenty and three: the sons of Azephurith, an hundred and
two:
17 The sons
of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sons of Bethlomon, an hundred twenty
and three:
18 They of
Netophah, fifty and five: they of Anathoth, an hundred fifty and eight: they of
Bethsamos, forty and two:
19 They of
Kiriathiarius, twenty and five: they of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred forty
and three: they of Pira, seven hundred:
20 They of
Chadias and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two: they of Cirama and Gabdes,
six hundred twenty and one:
21 They of
Macalon, an hundred twenty and two: they of Betolius, fifty and two: the sons
of Nephis, an hundred fifty and six:
22 The sons
of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred twenty and five: the sons of Jerechus,
two hundred forty and five:
23 The sons
of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty.
24 The
priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus among the sons of Sanasib, nine
hundred seventy and two: the sons of Meruth, a thousand fifty and two:
25 The sons
of Phassaron, a thousand forty and seven: the sons of Carme, a thousand and
seventeen.
26 The
Levites: the sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and Sudias, seventy and
four.
27 The holy
singers: the sons of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
28 The
porters: the sons of Salum, the sons of Jatal, the sons of Talmon, the sons of
Dacobi, the sons of Teta, the sons of Sami, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
29 The
servants of the temple: the 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,
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,
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 Azare, 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,
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.
33 The sons
of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Azaphion, the sons of Pharira, the sons
of Jeeli, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Israel, the sons of Sapheth,
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.
35 All the
ministers of the temple, and the sons of the servants of Solomon, were three
hundred seventy and two.
36 These
came up from Thermeleth and Thelersas, Charaathalar leading them, and Aalar;
37 Neither
could they shew their families, nor their stock, how they were of Israel: the
sons of Ladan, the son of Ban, the sons of Necodan, six hundred fifty and two.
38 And of
the priests that usurped the office of the priesthood, and were not found: the
sons of Obdia, the sons of Accoz, the sons of Addus, who married Augia one of
the daughters of Barzelus, and was named after his name.
39 And when
the description of the kindred of these men was sought in the register, and was
not found, they were removed from executing the office of the priesthood:
40 For unto
them said Nehemias
and Atharias, that they should not be partakers of the holy things, till there
arose up an high priest clothed with doctrine and
truth.
41 So of
Israel, from them of twelve years old and upward, they were all in number forty
thousand, beside menservants and womenservants two thousand three hundred and
sixty.
42 Their
menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred forty and seven:
the singing men and singing women, two hundred forty and five:
43 Four
hundred thirty and five camels, seven thousand thirty and six horses, two
hundred forty and five mules, five thousand five hundred twenty and five beasts
used to the yoke.
44 And
certain of the chief of their families, when they came to the temple of God
that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in his own place
according to their ability,
45 And to
give into the holy treasury of the works a thousand pounds of gold, five
thousand of silver, and an hundred priestly vestments.
46 And so
dwelt the priests and the Levites and the people in Jerusalem, and in the
country, the singers also and the porters; and all Israel in their villages.
47 But when
the seventh month was at hand, and when the children of Israel were every man
in his own place, they came all together with one consent into the open place
of the first gate which is toward the east.
48 Then
stood up Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren the priests and Zorobabel the son of
Salathiel, and his brethren, and made ready the altar of the God of Israel,
49 To offer
burnt sacrifices upon it, according as it is expressly commanded in the book of
Moses the man of God.
50 And there
were gathered unto them out of the other nations of the land, and they erected
the altar upon his own place, because all the nations of the land were at
enmity with them, and oppressed them; and they offered sacrifices according to the
time, and burnt offerings to the Lord both morning and evening.
51 Also they
held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the law, and offered
sacrifices daily, as was meet:
52 And after
that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifice of the sabbaths,
and of the new moons, and of all holy feasts.
53 And all
they that had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God from the
first day of the seventh month, although the temple of the Lord was not yet
built.
54 And they
gave unto the masons and carpenters money, meat, and drink, with cheerfulness.
55 Unto them
of Zidon also and Tyre they gave carrs, that they should bring cedar trees from
Libanus, which should be brought by floats to the haven of Joppa, according as
it was commanded them by Cyrus king of the Persians.
56 And in
the second year and second month after his coming to the temple of God at
Jerusalem began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec,
and their brethren, and the priests, and the Levites, and all they that were
come unto Jerusalem out of the captivity:
57 And they
laid the foundation of the house of God in the first day of the second month,
in the second year after they were come to Jewry and Jerusalem.
58 And they
appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the works of the Lord. Then
stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and Cadmiel his brother, and the
sons of Madiabun, with the sons of Joda the son of Eliadun, with their sons and
brethren, all Levites, with one accord setters forward of the business,
labouring to advance the works in the house of God. So the workmen built the
temple of the Lord.
59 And the
priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets;
and the Levites the sons of Asaph had cymbals,
60 Singing
songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, according as David the king of
Israel had ordained.
61 And they
sung with loud voices songs to the praise of the Lord, because his mercy and
glory is for ever in all Israel.
62 And all
the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of
thanksgiving unto the Lord for the rearing up of the house of the Lord.
63 Also of
the priests and Levites, and of the chief of their families, the ancients who
had seen the former house came to the building of this with weeping and great
crying.
64 But many
with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice,
65 Insomuch
that the trumpets might not be heard for the weeping of the people: yet the
multitude sounded marvellously, so that it was heard afar off.
66 Wherefore
when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know
what that noise of trumpets should mean.
67 And they
perceived that they that were of the captivity did build the temple unto the
Lord God of Israel.
68 So they
went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief of the families, and said unto
them, We will build together with you.
69 For we
likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto him from the days of Azbazareth the king of the Assyrians,
who brought us hither.
70 Then Zorobabel and Jesus and the
chief of the families of Israel said unto them, It
is not for us and you to build together an house unto the Lord our God.
71 We
ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king
of the Persians hath commanded us.
72 But the
heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Judea, and holding them
strait, hindered their building;
73 And by their secret plots, and popular
persuasions and commotions, they hindered the finishing of the building all the
time that king Cyrus lived: so they were hindered from
building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius.
Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 6
1 Now in the
second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied
unto the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel,
which was upon them.
2 Then stood
up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began to
build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with
them, and helping them.
3 At the
same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, with
Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said unto them,
4 By whose
appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and perform all the other
things? and who are the workmen that perform these
things?
5 Nevertheless
the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had visited the
captivity;
6 And they
were not hindered from building, until such time as signification was given
unto Darius concerning them, and an answer received.
7 The copy
of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phenice, and
Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in Syria and Phenice, wrote and
sent unto Darius; To king Darius, greeting:
8 Let all
things be known unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of
Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem
the ancients of the Jews that were of the captivity
9 Building an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly
stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.
10 And those
works are done with great speed, and the work goeth on prosperously in their
hands, and with all glory and diligence is it made.
11 Then
asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment
build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?
12 Therefore
to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of
them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of
their principal men.
13 So they
gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord
which made heaven and earth.
14 And as
for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and
strong, and was finished.
15 But when
our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned against the Lord of Israel
which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of
Babylon, of the Chaldees;
16 Who
pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives unto
Babylon.
17 But in
the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon Cyrus the
king wrote to build up this house.
18 And the
holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor had carried away out of
the house at Jerusalem, and had set them in his own temple those Cyrus the king
brought forth again out of the temple at Babylon, and they were delivered to
Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler,
19 With
commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the
temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord should be built in his
place.
20 Then the
same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the foundations of the house of the
Lord at Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not
yet fully ended.
21 Now
therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be made among the records
of king Cyrus:
22 And if it
be found that the building of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem hath been done
with the consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the
king be so minded, let him signify unto us thereof.
23 Then commanded king Darius to
seek among the records at Babylon: and so at Ecbatane the palace, which
is in the country of Media, there was found a roll wherein these things were
recorded.
24 In the
first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that the house of the
Lord at Jerusalem should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual
fire:
25 Whose
height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of
hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that country; and the expences thereof
to be given out of the house of king Cyrus:
26 And that
the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and silver, that
Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon,
should be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where
they were before.
27 And also
he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, and
Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in
Syria and Phenice, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer
Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of
the Jews, to build the house of the Lord in that place.
28 I have
commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently
to help those that be of the captivity of the Jews, till the house of the Lord
be finished:
29 And out
of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion carefully to be given these
men for the sacrifices of the Lord, that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for
bullocks, and rams, and lambs;
30 And also
corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further
question, according as the priests that be in Jerusalem shall signify to be
daily spent:
31 That
offerings may be made to the most high God for the
king and for his children, and that they may pray for their lives.
32 And he
commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or make light of any thing
afore spoken or written, out of his own house should a tree be taken, and he
thereon be hanged, and all his goods seized for the king.
33 The Lord
therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and
nation, that stretcheth out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of the
Lord in Jerusalem.
34 I Darius the king have ordained
that according unto these things it be done with diligence.
Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 7
1 Then
Sisinnes the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their
companions following the commandments of king Darius,
2 Did very
carefully oversee the holy works, assisting the ancients of the Jews and
governors of the temple.
3 And so the
holy works prospered, when Aggeus and Zacharias the prophets prophesied.
4 And they
finished these things by the commandment of the Lord God of Israel, and with the consent of Cyrus,
Darius, and Artexerxes, kings of Persia.
5 And thus
was the holy house
finished in the three and twentieth day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of
Darius king of the Persians
6 And the
children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and others that were of the
captivity, that were added unto them, did according to the things written in
the book of Moses.
7 And to the
dedication of the temple of the Lord they offered an hundred bullocks two
hundred rams, four hundred lambs;
8 And twelve
goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the chief of the
tribes of Israel.
9 The
priests also and the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments, according to
their kindreds, in the service of the Lord God of Israel, according to the book
of Moses: and the porters at every gate.
10 And the
children of Israel that were of the captivity held the passover
the fourteenth day of the first month, after that the priests and the Levites
were sanctified.
11 They that
were of the captivity were not all sanctified together: but the Levites were
all sanctified together.
12 And so
they offered the passover for all them of the
captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
13 And the
children of Israel that came out of the captivity did eat, even all they that
had separated themselves from the abominations of the people of the land, and
sought the Lord.
14 And they
kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, making merry before the Lord,
15 For that
he had turned the counsel of
the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the works
of the Lord God of Israel.
1 And after these things, when Artexerxes the king of the Persians reigned came Esdras [=Ezra; cf Ezra 7:1! /ToL
comment] the son of Saraias, the son of Ezerias, the son of Helchiah,
the son of Salum,
2 The son of
Sadduc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias, the son of Ezias, the son of
Meremoth, the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of
Abisum, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief
priest.
3 This
Esdras went up from Babylon, as a scribe, being very ready in the law of Moses, that was given by the God of Israel.
4 And the
king did him honour: for he found grace in his sight in all his requests.
5 There went
up with him also certain of the children of Israel, of the priest of the
Levites, of the holy singers, porters, and ministers of the temple, unto Jerusalem,
6 In the
seventh year of the reign of Artexerxes, in the fifth month, this was the
king's seventh year; for they went from Babylon in the first day of the first
month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the
Lord gave them.
7 For Esdras
had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of
the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.
8 Now the
copy of the commission, which was written from Artexerxes the king, and came to
Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, is this that followeth;
9 King Artexerxes unto Esdras the
priest and reader of the law of the Lord sendeth greeting:
10 Having
determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that
such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites being within our
realm, as are willing and desirous should go with thee unto Jerusalem.
11 As many
therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with thee, as it hath
seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counsellors;
12 That they
may look unto the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which is in
the law of the Lord;
13 And carry
the gifts unto the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends have
vowed, and all the gold and silver that in the country of Babylon can be found,
to the Lord in Jerusalem,
14 With that
also which is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their God at
Jerusalem: and that silver and gold may be collected for bullocks, rams, and
lambs, and things thereunto appertaining;
15 To the
end that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord upon the altar of the Lord
their God, which is in Jerusalem.
16 And
whatsoever thou and thy brethren will do with the silver and gold,
that do, according to the will of thy God.
17 And the
holy vessels of the Lord, which are given thee for the use of the temple of thy
God, which is in Jerusalem, thou shalt set before thy God in Jerusalem.
18 And
whatsoever thing else thou shalt remember for the use of the temple of thy God,
thou shalt give it out of the king's treasury.
19 And I
king Artexerxes have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and
Phenice, that whatsoever Esdras the priest and the reader of the law of the
most high God shall send for, they should give it him with speed,
20 To the
sum of an hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to an hundred
cors, and an hundred pieces of wine, and other things in abundance.
21 Let all
things be performed after the law of God diligently unto the most high God, that
wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.
22 I command
you also, that ye require no tax, nor any other imposition, of any of the
priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or porters, or ministers of the temple,
or of any that have doings in this temple, and that no man have authority to
impose any thing upon them.
23 And thou,
Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and justices, that they
may judge in all Syria and Phenice all those that know the law of thy God; and
those that know it not thou shalt teach.
24 And
whosoever shall transgress the law of thy God, and of the king, shall be
punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of
money, or by imprisonment.
25 Then said Esdras the scribe,
Blessed be the only Lord God of my fathers, who hath
put these things into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in
Jerusalem:
26 And hath
honoured me in the sight of the king, and his counsellors, and all his friends
and nobles.
27 Therefore
was I encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and gathered together men of
Israel to go up with me.
28 And these
are the chief according to their families and several dignities,
that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of king Artexerxes:
29 Of the
sons of Phinees, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of the sons of David,
Lettus the son of Sechenias:
30 Of the
sons of Pharez, Zacharias; and with him were counted an hundred and fifty men:
31 Of the
sons of Pahath Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias, and with him two hundred
men:
32 Of the
sons of Zathoe, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men:
of the sons of Adin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and
fifty men:
33 Of the
sons of Elam, Josias son of Gotholias, and with him seventy men:
34 Of the
sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with him threescore and ten men:
35 Of the
sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two hundred and twelve men:
36 Of the
sons of Banid, Assalimoth son of Josaphias, and with him an hundred and
threescore men:
37 Of the
sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight men:
38 Of the
sons of Astath, Johannes son of Acatan, and with him an hundred and ten men:
39 Of the
sons of Adonikam the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalet, Jewel,
and Samaias, and with them seventy men:
40 Of the
sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.
41 And these
I gathered together to the river called Theras, where we pitched our tents three
days: and then I surveyed them.
42 But when
I had found there none of the priests and Levites,
43 Then sent
I unto Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,
44 And
Alnathan, and Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan, Zacharias, and
Mosollamon, principal men and learned.
45 And I
bade them that they should go unto Saddeus the captain, who was in the place of
the treasury:
46 And
commanded them that they should speak unto Daddeus, and to his brethren, and to
the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests'
office in the house of the Lord.
47 And by
the mighty hand of our Lord they brought unto us skilful men of the sons of
Moli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Asebebia, and his sons, and his
brethren, who were eighteen.
48 And Asebia,
and Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Channuneus, and their sons,
were twenty men.
49 And of
the servants of the temple whom David had ordained, and the principal men for
the service of the Levites to wit, the servants of the temple two hundred and
twenty, the catalogue of whose names were shewed.
50 And there
I vowed a fast unto the young men before our Lord, to desire of him a
prosperous journey both for us and them that were with us, for our children,
and for the cattle:
51 For I was
ashamed to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and conduct for safeguard
against our adversaries.
52 For we
had said unto the king, that the power of the Lord our God should be with them
that seek him, to support them in all ways.
53 And again
we besought our Lord as touching these things, and found him favourable unto
us.
54 Then I
separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Esebrias, and Assanias, and ten
men of their brethren with them:
55 And I
weighed them the gold, and the silver, and the holy vessels of the house of our
Lord, which the king, and his council, and the princes, and all Israel, had
given.
56 And when
I had weighed it, I delivered unto them six hundred and fifty talents of
silver, and silver vessels of an hundred talents, and an hundred talents of
gold,
57 And
twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass,
glittering like gold.
58 And I
said unto them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord, and
the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver is a vow unto the Lord, the Lord
of our fathers.
59 Watch ye, and keep them till ye deliver them to the chief of the
priests and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of Israel, in
Jerusalem, into the chambers of the house of our God.
60 So the
priests and the Levites, who had received the silver and the gold and the
vessels, brought them unto Jerusalem, into the temple of the Lord.
61 And from the river Theras we departed
the twelfth day of the first month,
and came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was with us: and
from the beginning of our journey the Lord delivered us from every enemy, and
so we came to Jerusalem.
62 And when
we had been there three days, the gold and silver that was weighed was
delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day unto Marmoth the priest
the son of Iri.
63 And with
him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were Josabad the son of Jesu
and Moeth the son of Sabban, Levites: all was delivered them by number and
weight.
64 And all
the weight of them was written up the same hour.
65 Moreover
they that were come out of the captivity offered sacrifice unto the Lord God of
Israel, even twelve bullocks for all Israel, fourscore and sixteen rams,
66 Threescore
and twelve lambs, goats for a peace offering, twelve; all of them a sacrifice
to the Lord.
67 And they
delivered the king's commandments unto the king's stewards' and to the
governors of Celosyria and Phenice; and they honoured the people and the temple
of God.
68 Now when
these things were done, the
rulers came unto me, and said,
69 The
nation of Israel, the princes, the priests and Levites, have not put away from
them the strange people of the land, nor the pollutions of the Gentiles to wit,
of the Canaanites, Hittites, Pheresites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians,
and Edomites.
70 For both
they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy seed is
mixed with the strange people of the land; and from the beginning of this
matter the rulers and the great men have been partakers of this iniquity.
71 And as
soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and the holy garment, and
pulled off the hair from off my head and beard, and sat me down sad and very
heavy.
72 So all
they that were then moved at the word of the Lord God of Israel assembled unto
me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until
the evening sacrifice.
73 Then
rising up from the fast with my clothes and the holy garment rent, and bowing
my knees, and stretching forth my hands unto the Lord,
74 I said, O Lord, I am
confounded and ashamed before thy face;
75 For our
sins are multiplied above our heads, and our ignorances have reached up unto
heaven.
76 For ever
since the time of our fathers we have been and are in great sin, even unto this
day.
77 And for
our sins and our fathers' we with our brethren and our kings and our priests
were given up unto the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and
for a prey with shame, unto this day.
78 And now
in some measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from thee, O Lord, that there
should be left us a root and a name in the place of thy sanctuary;
79 And to
discover unto us a light in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food
in the time of our servitude.
80 Yea, when
we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord; but he made us gracious
before the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food;
81 Yea, and
honoured the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Sion, that they
have given us a sure abiding in Jewry and Jerusalem.
82 And now,
O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we
have transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of thy
servants the prophets, saying,
83 That the
land, which ye enter into to possess as an heritage,
is a land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and they
have filled it with their uncleanness.
84 Therefore
now shall ye not join your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take
their daughters unto your sons.
85 Moreover
ye shall never seek to have peace with them, that ye may be strong, and eat the
good things of the land, and that ye may leave the inheritance of the land unto
your children for evermore.
86 And all that is befallen is done unto us for our wicked
works and great sins; for thou, O Lord, didst make our sins light,
87 And didst
give unto us such a root: but we have turned back again to transgress thy law,
and to mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of the nations of the land.
88 Mightest
not thou be angry with us to destroy us, till thou hadst left us neither root,
seed, nor name?
89 O Lord of
Israel, thou art true: for we are left a root this day.
90 Behold,
now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer by
reason of these things before thee.
91 And as
Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the
ground before the temple, there gathered unto him from Jerusalem a very great
multitude of men and women and children: for there was great weeping among the
multitude.
92 Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus,
one of the sons of Israel, called out, and said, O Esdras, we have
sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of the nations of
the land, and now is all Israel aloft.
93 Let us
make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our wives, which we have
taken of the heathen, with their children,
94 Like as
thou hast decreed, and as many as do obey the law of the Lord.
95 Arise and
put in execution: for to thee doth this matter appertain, and we will be with
thee: do valiantly.
96 So Esdras arose, and took
an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do after these
things; and so they sware.
Apocrypha: 1
Esdras Chapter 9
1 Then
Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the
son of Eliasib,
2 And
remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great
iniquities of the multitude.
3 And there
was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the
captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:
4 And that
whosoever met not there within two or three days according as the elders that
bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple,
and himself cast out from them that were of the captivity.
5 And in
three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together
at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.
6 And all
the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the
present foul weather.
7 So Esdras arose up, and said
unto them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying
strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.
8 And now by
confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,
9 And do his
will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the
strange women.
10 Then cried the whole multitude,
and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do.
11 But
forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot
stand without, and this is not a work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these
things is spread far:
12 Therefore
let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that
have strange wives come at the time appointed,
13 And with
them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the
Lord from us for this matter.
14 Then
Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took
this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.
15 And they
that were of the captivity did according to all these things.
16 And
Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their families, all by
name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat together to examine the
matter.
17 So their
cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in the first day of the
first month.
18 And of
the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found:
19 Of the
sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas and Eleazar, and
Joribus and Joadanus.
20 And they
gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer rams to make
reconcilement for their errors.
21 And of
the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and Sameius, and Hiereel,
and Azarias.
22 And of
the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus and
Talsas.
23 And of
the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and
Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.
24 Of the
holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.
25 Of the
porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.
26 Of them of
Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and Melchias, and Maelus,
and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias.
27 Of the
sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and Hieremoth, and Aedias.
28 And of
the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and
Sardeus.
29 Of the
sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and Amatheis.
30 Of the
sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael, and Hieremoth.
31 And of
the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, and Mathanias, and
Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.
32 And of
the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon
Chosameus.
33 And of
the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia, Eliphalet, and Manasses,
and Semei.
34 And of
the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pelias, and
Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali,
Samis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus,
Samatus, Zambis, Josephus.
35 And of
the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel, Banaias.
36 All these
had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children.
37 And the
priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in
the country, in the first day of the seventh month: so the children of Israel
were in their habitations.
38 And the
whole multitude came together with one accord into the broad place of the holy
porch toward the east:
39 And they
spake unto Esdras the priest and reader, that he would bring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel.
40 So Esdras the chief priest brought
the law unto the whole multitude from man to woman, and to all the priests, to
hear law in the first day of the seventh month [cf Neh ].
41 And he
read in the broad court before the holy porch from morning unto midday, before
both men and women; and the multitude gave heed unto the law.
42 And
Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which
was made for that purpose.
43 And there
stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezecias,
Balasamus, upon the right hand:
44 And upon
his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, and Nabarias.
45 Then took
Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in the
first place in the sight of them all.
46 And when
he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God
most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.
47 And all
the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground,
and worshipped the Lord.
48 Also
Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas, Maianeas, and
Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the
law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it.
49 Then
spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest. and
reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying,
50 This day
is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard the law:)
51 Go then,
and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing;
52 For this
day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to
honour.
53 So the
Levites published all things to the people, saying, This
day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.
54 Then went
they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make
merry, and to give part to them that had nothing, and to make great cheer;
55 Because
they understood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.
1 The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias,
the son of Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the sou of Sadoc,
the son of Achitob,
2 The son of
Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of Amarias, the son of
Aziei, the son of Marimoth, the son of And he spake unto the of [Obvious editing error that should likely be
replaced with the two highlighted ones out of: “the son of Meremoth, the
son of Zaraias,
the son of Savias, the son of Boccas,
the son of Abisum,” cf 1 Esdras 8:2 /Tol comment] Borith, the son of
Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,
3 The son of
Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; which was captive in the land of the
Medes, in the reign of Artexerxes king of the Persians.
4 And the word of the Lord came
unto me, saying,
5 Go thy
way, and shew my people their sinful deeds, and their children their wickedness
which they have done against me; that they may tell their children's children:
6 Because
the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they have forgotten me,
and have offered unto strange gods.
7 Am not I
even he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? but they have provoked me unto wrath, and despised my
counsels.
8 Pull thou
off then the hair of thy head, and cast all evil upon them, for they have not
been obedient unto my law, but it is a rebellious people.
9 How long
shall I forbear them, into whom I have done so much good?
10 Many kings
have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his servants and all his power
have I smitten down.
11 All the
nations have I destroyed before them, and in the east I have scattered the
people of two provinces, even of Tyrus and Sidon, and have slain all their
enemies.
12 Speak
thou therefore unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord,
13 I led you
through the sea and in the beginning gave you a large and safe passage; I gave
you Moses for a leader, and Aaron for a priest.
14 I gave
you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I done among you; yet
have ye forgotten me, saith the Lord.
15 Thus
saith the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I gave you tents
for your safeguard: nevertheless ye murmured there,
16 And
triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this
day do ye yet murmur.
17 Where are
the benefits that I have done for you? when ye were
hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, did ye not cry unto me,
18 Saying,
Why hast thou brought us into this wilderness to kill us? it
had been better for us to have served the Egyptians, than to die in this
wilderness.
19 Then had
I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so ye did eat angels'
bread.
20 When ye
were thirsty, did I not cleave the rock, and waters flowed out to your fill? for the heat I covered you with the leaves of the trees.
21 I divided
among you a fruitful land, I cast out the Canaanites, the Pherezites, and the
Philistines, before you: what shall I yet do more for you? saith
the Lord.
22 Thus
saith the Almighty Lord, When ye were in the
wilderness, in the river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my
name,
23 I gave
you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the
river sweet.
24 What
shall I do unto thee, O Jacob? thou, Juda, wouldest
not obey me: I will turn me to other nations, and unto those will I give my
name, that they may keep my statutes.
25 Seeing ye
have forsaken me, I will forsake you also; when ye desire me to be gracious
unto you, I shall have no mercy upon you.
26 Whensoever
ye shall call upon me, I will not hear you: for ye have defiled your hands with
blood, and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter.
27 Ye have
not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the Lord.
28 Thus
saith the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a
mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes,
29 That ye
would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and
I should be your father?
30 I gathered
you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what
shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my face.
31 When ye
offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feastdays, your
new moons, and your circumcisions, have I forsaken.
32 I sent
unto you my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and slain, and torn their
bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, saith the Lord.
33 Thus
saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I
will cast you out as the wind doth stubble.
34 And your
children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done
the thing that is an evil before me.
35 Your
houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not having heard of me
yet shall believe me; to whom I have shewed no signs, yet they shall do that I
have commanded them.
36 They have
seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and
acknowledge them.
37 I take to
witness the grace of the people to come, whose little ones rejoice in gladness:
and though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe
the thing that I say.
38 And now,
brother, behold what glory; and see the people that come from the east:
39 Unto whom I will give for leaders,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonas,
40 Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary,
and Malachy, which is called
also an angel of the Lord.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 2
1 Thus saith the Lord, I
brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by
menservants the prophets; whom they would not hear, but despised my counsels.
2 The mother
that bare them saith unto them, Go your way, ye children; for I am a widow and
forsaken.
3 I brought
you up with gladness; but with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for ye
have sinned before the Lord your God, and done that thing that is evil before
him.
4 But what
shall I now do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go your way, O my children,
and ask mercy of the Lord.
5 As for me,
O father, I call upon thee for a witness over the mother of these children,
which would not keep my covenant,
6 That thou
bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that there may be no
offspring of them.
7 Let them
be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be put out of the earth:
for they have despised my covenant.
8 Woe be
unto thee, Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous in thee! O thou wicked
people, remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrha;
9 Whose land
lieth in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also will I do unto them
that hear me not, saith the Almighty Lord.
10 Thus
saith the Lord unto Esdras, Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of
Jerusalem, which I would have given unto Israel.
11 Their
glory also will I take unto me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles,
which I had prepared for them.
12 They
shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither
labour, nor be weary.
13 Go, and
ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be shortened: the
kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.
14 Take
heaven and earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created
the good: for I live, saith the Lord.
15 Mother,
embrace thy children, and bring them up with gladness, make their feet as fast
as a pillar: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
16 And those
that be dead will I raise up again from their places, and bring them out of the
graves: for I have known my name in Israel.
17 Fear not,
thou mother of the children: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
18 For thy
help will I send my servants Esau and Jeremy, after whose counsel I have
sanctified and prepared for thee twelve trees laden with divers fruits,
19 And as
many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains,
whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will fill thy children with
joy.
20 Do right
to the widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,
21 Heal the
broken and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn, defend the maimed, and let
the blind man come into the sight of my clearness.
22 Keep the
old and young within thy walls.
23 Wheresoever
thou findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I will give thee the first
place in my resurrection.
24 Abide
still, O my people, and take thy rest, for thy quietness still come.
25 Nourish
thy children, O thou good nurse; stablish their feet.
26 As for
the servants whom I have given thee, there shall not one of them perish; for I
will require them from among thy number.
27 Be not
weary: for when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh, others shall weep and
be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry and have abundance.
28 The
heathen shall envy thee, but they shall be able to do nothing against thee,
saith the Lord.
29 My hands
shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see hell.
30 Be
joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will deliver thee, saith the
Lord.
31 Remember
thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the sides of the earth,
and shew mercy unto them: for I am merciful, saith the Lord Almighty.
32 Embrace
thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my wells run over, and
my grace shall not fail.
33 I Esdras received a charge of
the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel;
but when I came unto them, they set me at nought, and despised the commandment
of the Lord.
34 And
therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and understand, look for your
Shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is nigh at hand, that
shall come in the end of the world.
35 Be ready
to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you
for evermore.
36 Flee the
shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my
Saviour openly.
37 O receive
the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led
you to the heavenly kingdom.
38 Arise up
and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;
39 Which are
departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of
the Lord.
40 Take thy
number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which
have fulfilled the law of the Lord.
41 The
number of thy children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled: beseech the power
of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be
hallowed.
42 I Esdras
saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all
praised the Lord with songs.
43 And in
the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the
rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted;
which I marvelled at greatly.
44 So I asked the angel, and said,
Sir, what are these?
45 He answered and said unto me, These be they that
have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed
the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms.
46 Then said
I unto the angel, What young person is it that
crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands?
47 So he
answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom
they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly
to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.
48 Then the angel said unto me,
Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of
the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 3
1 In the
thirtieth year after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon, and lay troubled
upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart:
2 For I saw
the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.
3 And my
spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the most High,
and said,
4 O Lord,
who bearest rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou didst plant the
earth, and that thyself alone, and commandedst the people,
5 And gavest
a body unto Adam without soul, which was the workmanship of thine hands, and
didst breathe into him the breath of life, and he was made living before thee.
6 And thou
leadest him into paradise, which thy right hand had planted, before ever the
earth came forward.
7 And unto
him thou gavest commandment to love thy way: which he transgressed, and
immediately thou appointedst death in him and in his generations, of whom came
nations, tribes, people, and kindreds, out of number.
8 And every
people walked after their own will, and did wonderful things before thee, and
despised thy commandments.
9 And again
in process of time thou broughtest the flood upon those that dwelt in the
world, and destroyedst them.
10 And it
came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to
these.
11 Nevertheless
one of them thou leftest, namely, Noah with his household, of whom came all
righteous men.
12 And it
happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to multiply, and had
gotten them many children, and were a great people, they began again to be more
ungodly than the first.
13 Now when
they lived so wickedly before thee, thou didst choose thee a man from among
them, whose name was Abraham.
14 Him thou
lovedst, and unto him only thou shewedst thy will:
15 And
madest an everlasting covenant with him, promising him that thou wouldest never
forsake his seed.
16 And unto
him thou gavest Isaac, and unto Isaac also thou gavest Jacob and Esau. As for
Jacob, thou didst choose him to thee, and put by Esau: and so Jacob became a
great multitude.
17 And it came to pass, that when thou leadest
his seed out of Egypt, thou broughtest them up to the mount
Sinai.
18 And bowing the heavens, thou didst set fast the
earth, movedst the whole world, and madest the depths to tremble, and
troubledst the men of that age.
19 And thy glory went through four gates, of fire,
and of earthquake, and of wind, and of cold; that thou mightest give the law unto the seed of Jacob, and
diligence unto the generation of Israel.
20 And yet
tookest thou not away from them a wicked heart, that thy law might bring forth
fruit in them.
21 For the
first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and so be all
they that are born of him.
22 Thus
infirmity was made permanent; and the law (also) in the heart of the people
with the malignity of the root; so that the good departed away, and the evil
abode still.
23 So the
times passed away, and the years were brought to an end: then didst thou raise
thee up a servant, called David:
24 Whom thou
commandedst to build a city unto thy name, and to offer incense and oblations
unto thee therein.
25 When this
was done many years, then they that inhabited the city forsook thee,
26 And in
all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had
a wicked heart:
27 And so
thou gavest thy city over into the hands of thine enemies.
28 Are their
deeds then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they should therefore have the
dominion over Sion?
29 For when
I came thither, and had seen impieties without number, then my soul saw many
evildoers in this thirtieth year, so that my heart failed me.
30 For I have
seen how thou sufferest them sinning, and hast spared wicked doers: and hast
destroyed thy people, and hast preserved thine enemies, and hast not signified
it.
31 I do not
remember how this way may be left: Are they then of Babylon better than they of
Sion?
32 Or is
there any other people that knoweth thee beside Israel? or
what generation hath so believed thy covenants as Jacob?
33 And yet
their reward appeareth not, and their labour hath no fruit: for I have gone
here and there through the heathen, and I see that they flow in wealth, and
think not upon thy commandments.
34 Weigh
thou therefore our wickedness now in the balance, and their's also that dwell
the world; and so shall thy name no where be found but in Israel.
35 Or when
was it that they which dwell upon the earth have not sinned in thy sight? or what people have so kept thy commandments?
36 Thou
shalt find that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts; but not the heathen.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 4
1 And the angel that was sent unto
me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,
2 And said,
Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the
way of the most High?
3 Then said
I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three
ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee:
4 Whereof if
thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to
see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart cometh.
5 And I
said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight
of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that
is past.
6 Then answered I and said,
What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask
such things of me?
7 And he said unto me, If I should ask thee how great dwellings are in the midst of
the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or how many
springs are above the firmament, or which are the outgoings of paradise:
8 Peradventure
thou wouldest say unto me, I never went down into the deep, nor as yet into
hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven.
9 Nevertheless
now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day
wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which thou canst not be
separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of them.
10 He said
moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst
thou not know;
11 How
should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the
world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is
evident in my sight?
12 Then said I unto him, It
were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in
wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.
13 He
answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took
counsel,
14 And said,
Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it
may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.
15 The
floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go
up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another
country.
16 The
thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.
17 The
thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up
and stopped them.
18 If thou
wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?
19 I answered and said,
Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is
given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods.
20 Then answered he me, and
said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also?
21 For like
as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they
that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the
earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things
that are above the height of the heavens.
22 Then answered I and said,
I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:
23 For it
was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us
daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and
for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly
nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the
written covenants come to none effect,
24 And we
pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and
fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
25 What will
he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of
these things have I asked.
26 Then answered he me, and said,
The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel;
for the world hasteth fast to pass away,
27 And
cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to
come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.
28 But as
concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is
sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come.
29 If
therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where
the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good.
30 For the
grain of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and
how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto this time? and
how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come?
31 Ponder
now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath
brought forth.
32 And when
the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall
they fill?
33 Then I answered and said,
How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?
34 And he answered me, saying,
Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy
haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.
35 Did not
the souls also of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers,
saying, How long shall I hope on this fashion? when
cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?
36 And unto these things Uriel the
archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when the number of seeds is
filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance.
37 By
measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he numbered the times;
and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.
38 Then answered I and said,
O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety.
39 And for
our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the righteous are not filled,
because of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth.
40 So he answered me, and said,
Go thy way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she hath fulfilled her
nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any longer within her.
41 Then said
I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In
the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:
42 For like
as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail:
even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto
them.
43 From the
beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.
44 Then answered I and said,
If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be
possible, and if I be meet therefore,
45 Shew me
then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.
46 What is
past I know, but what is for to come I know not.
47 And he said unto me,
Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee.
48 So I
stood, and saw, and, behold, an hot burning oven
passed by before me: and it happened that when the flame was gone by I looked,
and, behold, the smoke remained still.
49 After
this there passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down much rain with a
storm; and when the stormy rain was past, the drops remained still.
50 Then said
he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more than the drops, and as
the fire is greater than the smoke; but the drops and the smoke remain behind:
so the quantity which is past did more exceed.
51 Then I prayed, and said,
May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or what
shall happen in those days?
52 He answered me, and said,
As for the tokens whereof thou askest me, I may tell
thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not sent to shew thee; for
I do not know it.
Apocrypha: 2 Esdras
Chapter 5
1 Nevertheless
as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon
earth shall be taken in a great number, and the way of truth shall be hidden,
and the land shall be barren of faith.
2 But
iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast
heard long ago.
3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see
wasted suddenly.
4 But if the
most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet that the
sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in the day:
5 And blood
shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice, and the people
shall be troubled:
6 And even
he shall rule, whom they look not for that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls
shall take their flight away together:
7 And the
Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise
in the night, which many have not known: but they shall all hear the voice
thereof.
8 There
shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out
again, and the wild beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women
shall bring forth monsters:
9 And salt
waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall destroy one another;
then shall wit hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into his secret
chamber,
10 And shall
be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and
incontinency be multiplied upon earth.
11 One land
also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that
maketh a man righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, No.
12 At the
same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways
shall not prosper.
13 To shew
thee such tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray again, and weep as now,
and fast even days, thou shalt hear yet greater things.
14 Then I awaked, and an
extreme fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so that
it fainted.
15 So the
angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me up upon
my feet.
16 And in
the second night it came to pass, that Salathiel the captain of the people came unto me, saying,
Where hast thou been? and why
is thy countenance so heavy?
17 Knowest
thou not that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of their captivity?
18 Up then,
and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in
the hands of cruel wolves.
19 Then said I unto him, Go
thy ways from me, and come not nigh me. And he heard what I said, and went from
me.
20 And so I fasted seven days, mourning
and weeping, like as Uriel the angel commanded me.
21 And after
seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me
again,
22 And my
soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the most High again,
23 And said,
O Lord that bearest rule, of every wood of the earth, and of all the trees
thereof, thou hast chosen thee one only vine:
24 And of
all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit: and of all the
flowers thereof one lily:
25 And of all
the depths of the sea thou hast filled thee one river: and of all builded
cities thou hast hallowed Sion unto thyself:
26 And of
all the fowls that are created thou hast named thee one dove: and of all the
cattle that are made thou hast provided thee one sheep:
27 And among
all the multitudes of people thou hast gotten thee one people: and unto this
people, whom thou lovedst, thou gavest a law that is approved of all.
28 And now,
O Lord, why hast thou given this one people over unto many? and
upon the one root hast thou prepared others, and why hast thou scattered thy
only one people among many?
29 And they
which did gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy covenants, have trodden
them down.
30 If thou
didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thine own
hands.
31 Now when I had spoken these
words, the angel that came to me the night afore was sent unto me,
32 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I
say, and I shall tell thee more.
33 And I said, Speak on, my
Lord. Then said he unto me,
Thou art sore troubled in mind for Israel's sake: lovest thou that people
better than he that made them?
34 And I said, No, Lord: but
of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to
comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.
35 And he said unto me, Thou
canst not. And I said,
Wherefore, Lord? whereunto was I born then? or why was not my mother's womb then my grave, that I might
not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock of
Israel?
36 And he said unto me,
Number me the things that are not yet come, gather me together the dross that
are scattered abroad, make me the flowers green again that are withered,
37 Open me
the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut
up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to thee the thing
that thou labourest to know.
38 And I said, O Lord that
bearest rule, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling with
men?
39 As for
me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof thou askest me?
40 Then said he unto me, Like as thou canst do none of these things that I have
spoken of, even so canst thou not find out my judgment, or in the end the love
that I have promised unto my people.
41 And I said, Behold, O
Lord, yet art thou nigh unto them that be reserved till the end: and what shall
they do that have been before me, or we that be now, or they that shall come
after us?
42 And he said unto me, I
will liken my judgment unto a ring: like as there is no slackness of the last,
even so there is no swiftness of the first.
43 So I answered and said,
Couldest thou not make those that have been made, and be now, and that are for
to come, at once; that thou mightest shew thy judgment the sooner?
44 Then answered he me, and said,
The creature may not haste above the maker; neither
may the world hold them at once that shall be created therein.
45 And I said, As thou hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which givest
life to all, hast given life at once to the creature that thou hast created,
and the creature bare it: even so it might now also bear them that now be
present at once.
46 And he said unto me, Ask
the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If thou bringest forth children, why
dost thou it not together, but one after another? pray
her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.
47 And I said, She cannot: but must do it by distance of time.
48 Then said he unto me,
Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those that be sown in it in their
times.
49 For like
as a young child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged, even
so have I disposed the world which I created.
50 And I asked, and said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I will proceed to
speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast told me that she is young,
draweth now nigh unto age.
51 He answered me, and said,
Ask a woman that beareth children, and she shall tell
thee.
52 Say unto
her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now
brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?
53 And she
shall answer thee, They that be born in the the
strength of youth are of one fashion, and they that are born in the time of
age, when the womb faileth, are otherwise.
54 Consider
thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were
before you.
55 And so
are they that come after you less than ye, as the creatures which now begin to
be old, and have passed over the strength of youth.
56 Then said I, Lord, I
beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy sight, shew thy servant by whom
thou visitest thy creature.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 6
1 And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the
borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew,
2 Before it
thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,
3 Before the
fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before
the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,
4 Or ever
the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament
were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,
5 And ere
the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now
sin were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a
treasure:
6 Then did I
consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through
none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.
7 Then answered I and said,
What shall be the parting asunder of the times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of
it that followeth?
8 And he said unto me, From
Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were born of him, Jacob's hand held
first the heel of Esau.
9 For Esau is
the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.
10 The hand
of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not.
11 I answered then and said,
O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,
12 I beseech
thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the
last night.
13 So he answered and said unto me,
Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice.
14 And it
shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not
be moved.
15 And
therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the
foundation of the earth is understood.
16 And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is moved:
for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.
17 And it happened, that when I had
heard it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice
that spake, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters.
18 And it said,
Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that
dwell upon the earth,
19 And will
begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt unjustly with
their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled;
20 And when
the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew
these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament, and they shall
see all together:
21 And the
children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the women with child
shall bring forth untimely children of three or four months old, and they shall
live, and be raised up.
22 And
suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall
suddenly be found empty:
23 And tha
trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be
suddenly afraid.
24 At that
time shall friends fight one against another like enemies, and the earth shall
stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the springs of the fountains shall
stand still, and in three hours they shall not run.
25 Whosoever
remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall escape, and see my
salvation, and the end of your world.
26 And the
men that are received shall see it, who have not tasted death from their birth:
and the heart of the inhabitants shall be changed, and turned into another
meaning.
27 For evil
shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.
28 As for
faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which
hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.
29 And when he talked with me,
behold, I looked by little and little upon him before whom I stood.
30 And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the
night to come.
31 If thou
wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall tell thee greater things
by day than I have heard.
32 For thy
voice is heard before the most High: for the Mighty hath seen thy righteous
dealing, he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou hast had ever since thy
youth.
33 And
therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not
34 And
hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest
not hasten from the latter times.
35 And it came to pass after this,
that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfil
the three weeks which he told me.
36 And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within
me again, and I began to speak before the most High.
37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my
soul was in distress.
38 And I said,
O Lord, thou spakest from the beginning of the creation, even the first day,
and saidst thus; Let heaven and earth be made; and thy word was a perfect work.
39 And then
was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man's
voice was not yet formed.
40 Then
commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work
might appear.
41 Upon the
second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and commandedst it to part
asunder, and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go
up, and the other remain beneath.
42 Upon the
third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh
part of the earth: six parts hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent
that of these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee.
43 For as
soon as thy word went forth the work was made.
44 For
immediately there was great and innumerable fruit, and many and divers
pleasures for the taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour, and odours of
wonderful smell: and this was done the third day.
45 Upon the
fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine, and the moon give her
light, and the stars should be in order:
46 And
gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.
47 Upon the
fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the waters were gathered
that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes: and so it came
to pass.
48 For the
dumb water and without life brought forth living things at the commandment of
God, that all people might praise thy wondrous works.
49 Then
didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the
other Leviathan;
50 And didst
separate the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water
was gathered together, might not hold them both.
51 Unto
Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day, that he should
dwell in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills:
52 But unto
Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to
be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.
53 Upon the
sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should
bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:
54 And after
these, Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy creatures: of him come we
all, and the people also whom thou hast chosen.
55 All this
have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes
56 As for
the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are
nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto
a drop that falleth from a vessel.
57 And now,
O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have
begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.
58 But we
thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy
fervent lover, are given into their hands.
59 If the
world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the
world? how long shall this endure?
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 7
1 And when I had made an end of
speaking these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been sent unto
me the nights afore:
2 And he said unto me, Up, Esdras,
and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.
3 And I said, Speak on, my
God. Then said he unto me,
The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deep
and great.
4 But put
the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;
5 Who then
could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if
he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?
6 There is
also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a
broad field, and is full of all good things:
7 The
entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if
there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water:
8 And one
only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that
there could but one man go there at once.
9 If this
city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the
danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance?
10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel's portion.
11 Because
for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then
was decreed that now is done.
12 Then were
the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are
but few and evil, full of perils,: and very painful.
13 For the
entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.
14 If then
they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain things, they can never
receive those that are laid up for them.
15 Now
therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?
16 Why hast
thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that
which is present?
17 Then answered I and said,
O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast ordained in thy law, that the righteous
should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish.
18 Nevertheless
the righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: for they that have
done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.
19 And he said unto me.
There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the
Highest.
20 For there
be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of God that is
set before them.
21 For God
hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live,
even as they came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.
22 Nevertheless
they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain
things;
23 And
deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:
24 But his
law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not
been faithful, and have not performed his works.
25 And
therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the
full things.
26 Behold,
the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to
pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now
is withdrawn from the earth.
27 And whosoever
is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.
28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that
be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.
29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and
all men that have life.
30 And the
world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former
judgments: so that no man shall remain.
31 And after
seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall
die that is corrupt
32 And the
earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those
that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those souls that
were committed unto them.
33 And the
most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pass away,
and the long suffering shall have an end:
34 But
judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:
35 And the
work shall follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and the good deeds shall be
of force, and wicked deeds shall bear no rule.
36 Then said I, Abraham
prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the
wilderness:
37 And Jesus
after him for Israel in the time of Achan:
38 And
Samuel and David for the destruction: and Solomon for them that should come to
the sanctuary:
39 And
Helias for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:
40 And
Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many for many.
41 Even so
now, seeing corruption is grown up, and wickedness increased, and the righteous
have prayed for the ungodly: wherefore shall it not be so now also?
42 He answered me, and said,
This present life is not the end where much glory doth
abide; therefore have they prayed for the weak.
43 But the
day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality
for to come, wherein corruption is past,
44 Intemperance
is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is
sprung up.
45 Then
shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that
hath gotten the victory.
46 I answered then and said,
This is my first and last saying, that it had been
better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when it was given him,
to have restrained him from sinning.
47 For what
profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after
death to look for punishment?
48 O thou
Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that
sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.
49 For what
profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have
done the works that bring death?
50 And that
there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked
are made vain?
51 And that
there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived
wickedly?
52 And that
the glory of the most High is kept to defend them
which have led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of
all?
53 And that
there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is
security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it?
54 (For we
have walked in unpleasant places.)
55 And that
the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars,
whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?
56 For while
we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to
suffer for it after death.
57 Then answered he me, and said,
This is the condition of the battle, which man that is
born upon the earth shall fight;
58 That, if
he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if he get the victory,
he shall receive the thing that I say.
59 For this
is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose
thee life, that thou mayest live.
60 Nevertheless
they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no nor me which have
spoken unto them,
61 That
there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as shall be joy over
them that are persuaded to salvation.
62 I answered then, and said,
I know, Lord, that the most High is called merciful, in that he hath mercy upon
them which are not yet come into the world,
63 And upon
those also that turn to his law;
64 And that
he is patient, and long suffereth those that have sinned, as his creatures;
65 And that
he is bountiful, for he is ready to give where it needeth;
66 And that
he is of great mercy, for he multiplieth more and more mercies to them that are
present, and that are past, and also to them which are to come.
67 For if he
shall not multiply his mercies, the world would not continue with them that
inherit therein.
68 And he
pardoneth; for if he did not so of his goodness, that they which have committed
iniquities might be eased of them, the ten thousandth part of men should not
remain living.
69 And being
judge, if he should not forgive them that are cured with his word, and put out
the multitude of contentions,
70 There
should be very few left peradventure in an innumerable multitude.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 8
1 And he answered me, saying,
The most High hath made this world for many, but the
world to come for few.
2 I will
tell thee a similitude, Esdras; As when thou askest the earth, it shall say
unto thee, that it giveth much mould whereof earthen vessels are made, but
little dust that gold cometh of: even so is the course of this present world.
3 There be
many created, but few shall be saved.
4 So answered I and said,
Swallow then down, O my soul, understanding, and devour wisdom.
5 For thou
hast agreed to give ear, and art willing to prophesy: for thou hast no longer
space than only to live.
6 O Lord, if
thou suffer not thy servant, that we may pray before thee, and thou give us
seed unto our heart, and culture to our understanding, that there may come
fruit of it; how shall each man live that is corrupt, who beareth the place of
a man?
7 For thou
art alone, and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like as thou hast said.
8 For when
the body is fashioned now in the mother's womb, and thou givest it members, thy
creature is preserved in fire and water, and nine months doth thy workmanship
endure thy creature which is created in her.
9 But that
which keepeth and is kept shall both be preserved: and when the time cometh,
the womb preserved delivereth up the things that grew in it.
10 For thou
hast commanded out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the
breasts, milk to be given, which is the fruit of the breasts,
11 That the
thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time, till thou disposest it to
thy mercy.
12 Thou
broughtest it up with thy righteousness, and nurturedst it in thy law, and
reformedst it with thy judgment.
13 And thou
shalt mortify it as thy creature, and quicken it as thy work.
14 If
therefore thou shalt destroy him which with so great labour was fashioned, it
is an easy thing to be ordained by thy commandment, that the thing which was
made might be preserved.
15 Now
therefore, Lord, I will speak; touching man in general, thou knowest best; but
touching thy people, for whose sake I am sorry;
16 And for
thine inheritance, for whose cause I mourn; and for Israel, for whom I am
heavy; and for Jacob, for whose sake I am troubled;
17 Therefore
will I begin to pray before thee for myself and for them: for I see the falls
of us that dwell in the land.
18 But I
have heard the swiftness of the judge which is to come.
19 Therefore
hear my voice, and understand my words, and I shall speak before thee. This is
the beginning of the words of Esdras, before he was taken up: and I said,
20 O Lord,
thou that dwellest in everlastingness which beholdest from above things in the
heaven and in the air;
21 Whose
throne is inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended; before whom the
hosts of angels stand with trembling,
22 Whose
service is conversant in wind and fire; whose word is true, and sayings
constant; whose commandment is strong, and ordinance fearful;
23 Whose
look drieth up the depths, and indignation maketh the mountains to melt away;
which the truth witnesseth:
24 O hear
the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy creature.
25 For while
I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding I will answer.
26 O look
not upon the sins of thy people; but on them which serve thee in truth.
27 Regard
not the wicked inventions of the heathen, but the desire of those that keep thy
testimonies in afflictions.
28 Think not
upon those that have walked feignedly before thee: but remember them, which
according to thy will have known thy fear.
29 Let it
not be thy will to destroy them which have lived like beasts; but to look upon
them that have clearly taught thy law.
30 Take thou
no indignation at them which are deemed worse than beasts; but love them that
always put their trust in thy righteousness and glory.
31 For we
and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because of us sinners thou
shalt be called merciful.
32 For if
thou hast a desire to have mercy upon us, thou shalt be called merciful, to us
namely, that have no works of righteousness.
33 For the
just, which have many good works laid up with thee, shall out of their own
deeds receive reward.
34 For what
is man, that thou shouldest take displeasure at him? or
what is a corruptible generation, that thou shouldest be so bitter toward it?
35 For in
truth them is no man among them that be born, but he hath dealt wickedly; and
among the faithful there is none which hath not done amiss.
36 For in
this, O Lord, thy righteousness and thy goodness shall be declared, if thou be
merciful unto them which have not the confidence of good works.
37 Then answered he me, and said,
Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according
unto thy words it shall be.
38 For
indeed I will not think on the disposition of them which have sinned before
death, before judgment, before destruction:
39 But I will
rejoice over the disposition of the righteous, and I will remember also their
pilgrimage, and the salvation, and the reward, that they shall have.
40 Like as I
have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.
41 For as
the husbandman soweth much seed upon the ground, and planteth many trees, and
yet the thing that is sown good in his season cometh not up, neither doth all
that is planted take root: even so is it of them that are sown in the world;
they shall not all be saved.
42 I answered then and said,
If I have found grace, let me speak.
43 Like as
the husbandman's seed perisheth, if it come not up, and receive not thy rain in
due season; or if there come too much rain, and corrupt it:
44 Even so
perisheth man also, which is formed with thy hands, and is called thine own
image, because thou art like unto him, for whose sake thou hast made all
things, and likened him unto the husbandman's seed.
45 Be not
wroth with us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon thine own inheritance:
for thou art merciful unto thy creature.
46 Then answered he me, and said,
Things present are for the present, and things to cometh for such as be to
come.
47 For thou
comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I:
but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the
unrighteous.
48 In this
also thou art marvellous before the most High:
49 In that
thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself
worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.
50 For many
great miseries shall be done to them that in the latter time shall dwell in the
world, because they have walked in great pride.
51 But
understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.
52 For unto
you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is
prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed,
yea, perfect goodness and wisdom.
53 The root
of evil is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is hid from you, and
corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten:
54 Sorrows
are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.
55 And
therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that
perish.
56 For when
they had taken liberty, they despised the most High,
thought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways.
57 Moreover
they have trodden down his righteous,
58 And said
in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that knowing they must die.
59 For as
the things aforesaid shalt receive you, so thirst and pain are prepared for
them: for it was not his will that men should come to nought:
60 But they
which be created have defiled the name of him that made them, and were
unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.
61 And
therefore is my judgment now at hand.
62 These
things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I and said,
63 Behold, O
Lord, now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the wonders, which thou wilt
begin to do in the last times: but at what time, thou hast not shewed me.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 9
1 He answered me then, and said, Measure thou
the time diligently in itself: and when thou seest part of the signs past,
which I have told thee before,
2 Then shalt thou understand, that it is the very
same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world which he made.
3 Therefore
when there shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of the people in the world:
4 Then shalt
thou well understand, that the most High spake of
those things from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.
5 For like
as all that is made in the world hath a beginning and an end, and the end is
manifest:
6 Even so
the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in wonder and powerful
works, and endings in effects and signs.
7 And every
one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works, and by
faith, whereby ye have believed,
8 Shall be
preserved from the said perils, and shall see my salvation in my land, and
within my borders: for I have sanctified them for me from the beginning.
9 Then shall
they be in pitiful case, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast
them away despitefully shall dwell in torments.
10 For such
as in their life have received benefits, and have not known me;
11 And they
that have loathed my law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of
repentance was open unto them, understood not, but despised it;
12 The same
must know it after death by pain.
13 And
therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be punished, and when: but
enquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose the
world is, and for whom the world is created.
14 Then answered I and said,
15 I have
said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also hereafter, that there be
many more of them which perish, than of them which shall be saved:
16 Like as a
wave is greater than a drop.
17 And he answered me,
saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; as
the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as the workman is, such also is
the work; and as the husbandman ls himself, so is his husbandry also: for it
was the time of the world.
18 And now
when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even for them to dwell in
that now live, no man spake against me.
19 For then
every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world
that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is
unsearchable rid themselves.
20 So I
considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that
were come into it.
21 And I
saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a
plant of a great people.
22 Let the
multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be kept, and my
plant; for with great labour have I made it perfect.
23 Nevertheless,
if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,
24 But go
into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of
the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;)
25 And pray
unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.
26 So I went my way into the field
which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the
flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same
satisfied me.
27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my
heart was vexed within me, like as before:
28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before
the most High, and said,
29 O Lord,
thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto our fathers in the
wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a barren place, when they came
out of Egypt.
30 And thou
spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words, thou seed of Jacob.
31 For,
behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be
honoured in it for ever.
32 But our
fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances:
and though the fruit of thy law did not perish, neither could it, for it was
thine;
33 Yet they
that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in
them.
34 And, lo,
it ls a custom, when the ground hath received seed, or the sea a ship, or any
vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast
into,
35 That
thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, doth perish, and
remaineth not with us: but with us it hath not happened so.
36 For we
that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it
37 Notwithstanding
the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.
38 And when I spake these things in
my heart, I looked back with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman,
and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in
heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.
39 Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and
turned me unto her,
40 And said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so grieved in thy mind?
41 And she said unto me,
Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail myself, and add unto my sorrow, for I am
sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low.
42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me.
43 She said unto me, I thy
servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had an husband thirty
years,
44 And those
thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my,
prayer to the Highest.
45 After
thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my misery, considered my
trouble, and gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also,
and all my neighbours: and we gave great honour unto the Almighty.
46 And I
nourished him with great travail.
47 So when
he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I made a feast.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 10
1 And it so
came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell
down, and died.
2 Then we
all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I
took my rest unto the second day at night.
3 And it
came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be
quiet; then rose I up by night and fled, and came hither into this field, as
thou seest.
4 And I do
now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat
nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.
5 Then left I the meditations
wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,
6 Thou
foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth
unto us?
7 How that
Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?
8 And now,
seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved
for one son?
9 For ask
the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the
fall of so many that grow upon her.
10 For out
of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and,
behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is
utterly rooted out.
11 Who then
should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude; and
not thou, which art sorry but for one?
12 But if
thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the
earth's, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with
pains, and bare with sorrows;
13 But the
earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the
earth is gone, as it came:
14 Then say
I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with labour; even so the earth
also hath given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that
made her.
15 Now
therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which
hath befallen thee.
16 For if
thou shalt acknowledge the determination of God to be just, thou shalt both
receive thy son in time, and shalt be commended among women.
17 Go thy
way then into the city to thine husband.
18 And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here
will I die.
19 So I proceeded to speak further
unto her, and said,
20 Do not
so, but be counselled. by me: for how many are the
adversities of Sion? be comforted in regard of the
sorrow of Jerusalem.
21 For thou
seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple
destroyed;
22 Our
psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at
an end, the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is
spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is
almost profaned: our children are put to shame, our priests are burnt, our
Levites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives
ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young
men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak;
23 And,
which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost her honour; for
she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us.
24 And
therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows,
that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give
thee rest and ease from thy labour.
25 And it came to pass while I was
talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her
countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.
26 And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very
fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.
27 And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared
unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself
from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,
28 Where is
Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he
hath caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into
corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.
29 And as I was speaking these
words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.
30 And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and
mine understanding was taken from me: and he took me by the right hand, and
comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me,
31 What
aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of
thine heart?
32 And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to
thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I
am not able to express.
33 And he said unto me,
Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.
34 Then said I, Speak on, my
lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.
35 For I
have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.
36 Or is my
sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?
37 Now
therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.
38 He answered me then, and said,
Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid: for
the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.
39 He hath
seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people,
and makest great lamentation for Sion.
40 This
therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:
41 Thou
sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:
42 But now
seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a
city builded.
43 And
whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:
44 This
woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom
thou seest as a city builded,
45 Whereas,
I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years
wherein there was no offering made in her.
46 But after thirty years Solomon builded the city
and offered offerings: and then
bare the barren a son.
47 And
whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling
in Jerusalem.
48 But
whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into
his marriage chamber happened to have a fail, and died: this was the
destruction that came to Jerusalem.
49 And,
behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou
begannest to comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to
be opened unto thee.
50 For now
the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy
whole heart for her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and
the comeliness of her beauty:
51 And
therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:
52 For I
knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.
53 Therefore
I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.
54 For in
the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man's
building be able to stand.
55 And
therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and
see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to
see:
56 And then
shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.
57 For thou
art blessed above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but
few.
58 But to
morrow at night thou shalt remain here;
59 And so
shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High
will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and
another, like as he commanded me.
Apocrypha: 2 Esdras Chapter 11
1 Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an
eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.
2 And I saw,
and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the
air blew on her, and were gathered together.
3 And I
beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they
became little feathers and small.
4 But her
heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet
rested it with the residue.
5 Moreover I
beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and
over them that dwelt therein.
6 And I saw
that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against
her, no, not one creature upon earth.
7 And I
beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake to her feathers,
saying,
8 Watch not
all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course:
9 But let
the heads be preserved for the last.
10 And I
beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her
body.
11 And I
numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.
12 And I
looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned
over all the earth;
13 And so it
was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared
no more: so the next following stood up. and reigned,
and had a great time;
14 And it
happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so
that it appeared no more.
15 Then came
there a voice unto it, and said,
16 Hear thou
that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou
beginnest to appear no more,
17 There
shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof.
18 Then
arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.
19 So went
it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then
appeared no more.
20 Then I
beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that followed stood up upon
the right side, that they might rule also; and some of them ruled, but within a
while they appeared no more:
21 For some
of them were set up, but ruled not.
22 After
this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two
little feathers:
23 And there
was no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads that rested, and six little
wings.
24 Then saw
I also that two little feathers divided themselves from the six, and remained
under the head that was upon the right side: for the four continued in their
place.
25 And I
beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up
themselves and to have the rule.
26 And I
beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.
27 And the
second was sooner away than the first.
28 And I
beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:
29 And when
they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads that were at rest,
namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other
heads.
30 And then
I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.
31 And,
behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two
feathers under the wing that would have reigned.
32 But this
head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it over all those that dwelt
upon the earth with much oppression; and it had the governance of the world
more than all the wings that had been.
33 And after
this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no
more, like as the wings.
34 But there
remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over
those that dwelt therein.
35 And I
beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the
left side.
36 Then I head a voice, which said
unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.
37 And I
beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw
that he sent out a man's voice unto the eagle, and said,
38 Hear
thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,
39 Art not
thou it that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in my world, that
the end of their times might come through them?
40 And the
fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past, and had power over the
world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with much
wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.
41 For the
earth hast thou not judged with truth.
42 For thou
hast afflicted the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable, thou hast loved liars,
and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and hast cast
down the walls of such as did thee no harm.
43 Therefore
is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the
Mighty.
44 The
Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and
his abominations are fulfilled.
45 And
therefore appear no more, thou eagle, nor thy horrible wings, nor thy wicked
feathers nor thy malicious heads, nor thy hurtful claws, nor all thy vain body:
46 That all
the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being delivered from thy violence,
and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him that made her.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 12
1 And it
came to pass, whiles the lion spake these words unto the eagle, I saw,
2 And,
behold, the head that remained and the four wings appeared no more, and the two
went unto it and set themselves up to reign, and their kingdom was small, and
fill of uproar.
3 And I saw,
and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt
so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked I out of the trouble and
trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit,
4 Lo, this
hast thou done unto me, in that thou searchest out the ways of the Highest.
5 Lo, yet am
I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and little strength is there in
me, for the great fear wherewith I was afflicted this night.
6 Therefore
will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end.
7 And I said, Lord that
bearest rule, if I have found grace before thy sight, and if I am justified
with thee before many others, and if my prayer indeed be come up before thy
face;
8 Comfort me
then, and shew me thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this
fearful vision, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul.
9 For thou
hast judged me worthy to shew me the last times.
10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision:
11 The
eagle, whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in
the vision of thy brother Daniel.
12 But it
was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee.
13 Behold,
the days will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it shall
be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it.
14 In the
same shall twelve kings reign, one after another:
15 Whereof
the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than any of the
twelve.
16 And this
do the twelve wings signify, which thou sawest.
17 As for
the voice which thou heardest speak, and that thou sawest not to go out from
the heads but from the midst of the body thereof, this is the interpretation:
18 That
after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great strivings, and it shall
stand in peril of failing: nevertheless it shall not then fall, but shall be
restored again to his beginning.
19 And whereas
thou sawest the eight small under feathers sticking to her wings, this is the
interpretation:
20 That in
him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be but small, and their
years swift.
21 And two
of them shall perish, the middle time approaching: four shall be kept until
their end begin to approach: but two shall be kept unto the end.
22 And
whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation:
23 In his
last days shall the most High raise up three kingdoms,
and renew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the earth,
24 And of
those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were
before them: therefore are they called the heads of the eagle.
25 For these
are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last
end.
26 And
whereas thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth that
one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain.
27 For the
two that remain shall be slain with the sword.
28 For the
sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through
the sword himself.
29 And
whereas thou sawest two feathers under the wings passing over the head that is
on the right side;
30 It
signifieth that these are they, whom the Highest hath kept unto their end: this
is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou sawest.
31 And the
lion, whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to
the eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteousness with all the words which thou
hast heard;
32 This is
the anointed, which the Highest hath kept for them and for their wickedness
unto the end: he shall reprove them, and shall upbraid them with their cruelty.
33 For he
shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them, and correct
them.
34 For the
rest of my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that have been pressed
upon my borders, and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken unto thee from the
the beginning.
35 This is
the dream that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations.
36 Thou only
hast been meet to know this secret of the Highest.
37 Therefore
write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them:
38 And teach
them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou knowest may comprehend and
keep these secrets.
39 But wait
thou here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be shewed thee, whatsoever
it pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee. And with that he went his way.
40 And it came to pass, when all the people saw that
the seven days were past, and I not come again into the city, they gathered
them all together, from the least unto the greatest, and came unto me, and said,
41 What have
we offended thee? and what evil have we done against
thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?
42 For of
all the prophets thou only art left us, as a cluster of the vintage, and as a
candle in a dark place, and as a haven or ship preserved from the tempest.
43 Are not
the evils which are come to us sufficient?
44 If thou
shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been
burned in the midst of Sion?
45 For we
are not better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said,
46 Be of
good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of Jacob:
47 For the
Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not forgotten you in
temptation.
48 As for
me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into
this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion, and that I might seek mercy for
the low estate of your sanctuary.
49 And now
go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you.
50 So the people went their way
into the city, like as I commanded them:
51 But I remained still in the field seven days, as
the angel commanded me; and did eat only in those days of the flowers of the
field, and had my meat of the herbs
Apocrypha: 2 Esdras Chapter 13
1 And it came to pass after seven days, I dreamed a
dream by night:
2 And, lo,
there arose a wind from the sea, that it moved all the waves thereof.
3 And I
beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of heaven: and when
he turned his countenance to look, all the things trembled that were seen under
him.
4 And
whensoever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his
voice, like as the earth faileth when it feeleth the fire.
5 And after
this I beheld, and, lo, there was gathered together a multitude of men, out of
number, from the four winds of the heaven, to subdue the man that came out of
the sea
6 But I
beheld, and, lo, he had graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it.
7 But I
would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was graven, and I could
not.
8 And after
this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him
were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.
9 And, lo,
as he saw the violence of the multitude that came, he neither lifted up his
hand, nor held sword, nor any instrument of war:
10 But only
I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a blast of fire, and out of
his lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he cast out sparks and
tempests.
11 And they
were all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming breath, and the great
tempest; and fell with violence upon the multitude which was prepared to fight,
and burned them up every one, so that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude
nothing was to be perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this
I was afraid.
12 Afterward
saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and call unto him another
peaceable Multitude.
13 And there
came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of
them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great
fear, and I awaked, and said,
14 Thou hast
shewed thy servant these wonders from the beginning, and hast counted me worthy
that thou shouldest receive my prayer:
15 Shew me
now yet the interpretation of this dream.
16 For as I
conceive in mine understanding, woe unto them that shall be left in those days
and much more woe unto them that are not left behind!
17 For they
that were not left were in heaviness.
18 Now
understand I the things that are laid up in the latter days, which shall happen
unto them, and to those that are left behind.
19 Therefore
are they come into great perils and many necessities, like as these dreams
declare.
20 Yet is it
easier for him that is in danger to come into these things, than to pass away
as a cloud out of the world, and not to see the things that happen in the last
days. And he answered unto
me, and said,
21 The
interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee, and I
will open unto thee the thing that thou hast required.
22 Whereas
thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is the interpretation:
23 He that
shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself: they that be fallen into
danger are such as have works, and faith toward the Almighty.
24 Know this
therefore, that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be
dead.
25 This is
the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man coming up from the midst
of the sea:
26 The same
is he whom God the Highest hath kept a great season, which by his own self
shall deliver his creature: and he shall order them that are left behind.
27 And
whereas thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wind, and
fire, and storm;
28 And that
he held neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but that the rushing in of
him destroyed the whole multitude that came to subdue him; this is the
interpretation:
29 Behold,
the days come, when the most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the
earth.
30 And he
shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth.
31 And one
shall undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place
against another, one people against another, and one realm against another.
32 And the
time shall be when these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen
which I shewed thee before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom thou sawest
as a man ascending.
33 And when
all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the
battle they have one against another.
34 And an
innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as thou sawest them, willing
to come, and to overcome him by fighting.
35 But he
shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion.
36 And Sion
shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as
thou sawest the hill graven without hands.
37 And this
my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their
wicked life are fallen into the tempest;
38 And shall
lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith they shall
begin to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall destroy them
without labour by the law which is like unto me.
39 And
whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him;
40 Those are
the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the
time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive,
and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.
41 But they
took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the
heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,
42 That they
might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.
43 And they
entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.
44 For the
most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were
passed over.
45 For
through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half:
and the same region is called Arsareth.
46 Then dwelt
they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,
47 The
Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through:
therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace.
48 But those
that be left behind of thy people are they that are found within my borders.
49 Now when
he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall
defend his people that remain.
50 And then
shall he shew them great wonders.
51 Then said I, O Lord that
bearest rule, shew me this: Wherefore have I seen the man coming up from the
midst of the sea?
52 And he said unto me, Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know the things that
are in the deep of the sea: even so can no man upon earth see my Son, or those
that be with him, but in the day time.
53 This is
the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and whereby thou only art
here lightened.
54 For thou
hast forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence unto my law, and sought
it.
55 Thy life
hast thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called understanding thy mother.
56 And
therefore have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest: after other three
days I will speak other things unto thee, and declare unto thee mighty and
wondrous things.
57 Then went I
forth into the field, giving praise and thanks greatly unto the most High
because of his wonders which he did in time;
58 And because he governeth the same, and such
things as fall in their seasons: and there I sat three days.
Apocrypha: 2 Esdras Chapter 14
1 And it came to pass upon the third day, I sat
under an oak, and, behold, there came a voice out of a bush over against me,
and said, Esdras, Esdras.
2 And I
said, Here am I, Lord And I stood up upon my feet.
3 Then said
he unto me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself
unto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in Egypt:
4 And I sent
him and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him up to the mount of where I
held him by me a long season,
5 And told
him many wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of the times, and the end;
and commanded him, saying,
6 These
words shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.
7 And now I
say unto thee,
8 That thou
lay up in thy heart the signs that I have shewed, and the dreams that thou hast
seen, and the interpretations which thou hast heard:
9 For thou
shalt be taken away from all, and from henceforth thou shalt remain with my
Son, and with such as be like thee, until the times be ended.
10 For the
world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax old.
11 For the
world is divided into twelve parts, and the ten parts of it are gone already,
and half of a tenth part:
12 And there
remaineth that which is after the half of the tenth part.
13 Now
therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people, comfort such of
them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption,
14 Let go
from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the weak
nature,
15 And set
aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and haste thee to flee from
these times.
16 For yet
greater evils than those which thou hast seen happen shall be done hereafter.
17 For look
how much the world shall be weaker through age, so much the more shall evils
increase upon them that dwell therein.
18 For the
time is fled far away, and leasing is hard at hand: for now hasteth the vision
to come, which thou hast seen.
19 Then answered I before thee, and
said,
20 Behold,
Lord, I will go, as thou hast commanded me, and reprove the people which are
present: but they that shall be born afterward, who shall admonish them? thus the world is set in darkness, and they that dwell
therein are without light.
21 For thy
law is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that are done of thee, or the
work that shall begin.
22 But if I
have found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost into me, and I shall write
all that hath been done in the world since the beginning, which were written in
thy law, that men may find thy path, and that they which will live in the
latter days may live.
23 And he
answered me, saying, Go thy way, gather the people together, and say unto them,
that they seek thee not for forty days.
24 But look
thou prepare thee many box trees, and take with thee Sarea, Dabria, Selemia,
Ecanus, and Asiel, these five which are ready to write swiftly;
25 And come
hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in thine heart, which shall
not be put out, till the things be performed which thou shalt begin to write.
26 And when
thou hast done, some things shalt thou publish, and some things shalt thou shew
secretly to the wise: to morrow this hour shalt thou begin to write.
27 Then went I forth, as he
commanded, and gathered all the people together, and said,
28 Hear
these words, O Israel.
29 Our
fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were
delivered:
30 And
received the law of life, which they kept not, which ye also have transgressed
after them.
31 Then was
the land, even the land of Sion, parted among you by lot: but your fathers, and
ye yourselves, have done unrighteousness, and have not kept the ways which the
Highest commanded you.
32 And
forasmuch as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that
he had given you.
33 And now
are ye here, and your brethren among you.
34 Therefore
if so be that ye will subdue your own understanding, and reform your hearts, ye
shall be kept alive and after death ye shall obtain mercy.
35 For after
death shall the judgment come, when we shall live again: and then shall the
names of the righteous be manifest, and the works of the ungodly shall be declared.
36 Let no
man therefore come unto me now, nor seek after me these forty days.
37 So I took the five men, as he
commanded me, and we went into the field, and remained there.
38 And the next day, behold, a voice called me,
saying, Esdras, open thy mouth,
and drink that I give thee to drink.
39 Then opened I
my mouth, and, behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full as it
were with water, but the colour of it was like fire.
40 And I
took it, and drank: and when I had drunk of it, my heart uttered understanding,
and wisdom grew in my breast, for my spirit strengthened my memory:
41 And my
mouth was opened, and shut no more.
42 The
Highest gave understanding unto the five men, and they wrote the wonderful
visions of the night that were told, which they knew not: and they sat forty
days, and they wrote in the day, and at night they ate bread.
43 As for
me. I spake in the day, and I held not my tongue by night.
44 In forty
days they wrote two hundred and four books.
45 And it came to pass, when the
forty days were filled, that the Highest spake, saying, The first that thou hast written publish openly, that the
worthy and unworthy may read it:
46 But keep
the seventy last, that thou mayest deliver them only to such as be wise among
the people:
47 For in
them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of
knowledge.
48 And I did so.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 15
1 Behold,
speak thou in the ears of my people the words of prophecy, which I will put in
thy mouth, saith the Lord:
2 And cause
them to be written in paper: for they are faithful and true.
3 Fear not
the imaginations against thee, let not the incredulity of them trouble thee, that speak against thee.
4 For all
the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness.
5 Behold,
saith the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world; the sword, famine, death,
and destruction.
6 For
wickedness hath exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and their hurtful works
are fulfilled.
7 Therefore
saith the Lord,
8 I will
hold my tongue no more as touching their wickedness, which they profanely
commit, neither will I suffer them in those things, in which they wickedly
exercise themselves: behold, the innocent and righteous blood crieth unto me,
and the souls of the just complain continually.
9 And
therefore, saith the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and receive unto me all
the innocent blood from among them.
10 Behold,
my people is led as a flock to the slaughter: I will not suffer them now to
dwell in the land of Egypt:
11 But I
will bring them with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and smite Egypt
with plagues, as before, and will destroy all the land thereof.
12 Egypt
shall mourn, and the foundation of it shall be smitten with the plague and
punishment that God shall bring upon it.
13 They that
till the ground shall mourn: for their seeds shall fail through the blasting
and hail, and with a fearful constellation.
14 Woe to
the world and them that dwell therein!
15 For the
sword and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people shall stand up and
fight against another, and swords in their hands.
16 For there
shall be sedition among men, and invading one another; they shall not regard
their kings nor princes, and the course of their actions shall stand in their power.
17 A man
shall desire to go into a city, and shall not be able.
18 For
because of their pride the cities shall be troubled, the houses shall be
destroyed, and men shall be afraid.
19 A man
shall have no pity upon his neighbour, but shall destroy their houses with the
sword, and spoil their goods, because of the lack of bread, and for great
tribulation.
20 Behold, saith God, I will call
together all the kings of the earth to reverence me, which are from the rising
of the sun, from the south, from the east, and Libanus; to turn themselves one
against another, and repay the things that they have done to them.
21 Like as
they do yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also, and recompense in their
bosom. Thus saith the Lord God;
22 My right
hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them that
shed innocent blood upon the earth.
23 The fire
is gone forth from his wrath, and hath consumed the foundations of the earth,
and the sinners, like the straw that is kindled.
24 Woe to
them that sin, and keep not my commandments! saith the
Lord.
25 I will
not spare them: go your way, ye children, from the power, defile not my
sanctuary.
26 For the
Lord knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore delivereth he them
unto death and destruction.
27 For now
are the plagues come upon the whole earth and ye shall remain in them: for God
shall not deliver you, because ye have sinned against him.
28 Behold an horrible vision, and the appearance thereof from the
east:
29 Where the
nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, and the
multitude of them shall be carried as the wind upon earth,
that all they which hear them may fear and tremble.
30 Also the
Carmanians raging in wrath shall go forth as the wild boars of the wood, and
with great power shall they come, and join battle with them, and shall waste a
portion of the land of the Assyrians.
31 And then
shall the dragons have the upper hand, remembering their nature; and if they
shall turn themselves, conspiring together in great power to persecute them,
32 Then
these shall be troubled bled, and keep silence through their power, and shall
flee.
33 And from
the land of the Assyrians shall the enemy besiege them, and consume some of
them, and in their host shall be fear and dread, and strife among their kings.
34 Behold
clouds from the east and from the north unto the south, and they are very
horrible to look upon, full of wrath and storm.
35 They
shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite down a great multitude of stars
upon the earth, even their own star; and blood shall be from the sword unto the
belly,
36 And dung
of men unto the camel's hough.
37 And there
shall be great fearfulness and trembling upon earth: and they that see the
wrath shall be afraid, and trembling shall come upon them.
38 And then
shall there come great storms from the south, and from the north, and another
part from the west.
39 And
strong winds shall arise from the east, and shall open it; and the cloud which
he raised up in wrath, and the star stirred to cause fear toward the east and
west wind, shall be destroyed.
40 The great
and mighty clouds shall be puffed up full of wrath, and the star, that they may
make all the earth afraid, and them that dwell therein; and they shall pour out
over every high and eminent place an horrible star,
41 Fire, and
hail, and flying swords, and many waters, that all fields may be full, and all
rivers, with the abundance of great waters.
42 And they
shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees of the wood,
and grass of the meadows, and their corn.
43 And they
shall go stedfastly unto Babylon, and make her afraid.
44 They
shall come to her, and besiege her, the star and all wrath shall they pour out
upon her: then shall the dust and smoke go up unto the heaven, and all they
that be about her shall bewail her.
45 And they
that remain under her shall do service unto them that have put her in fear.
46 And thou,
Asia, that art partaker of the hope of Babylon, and art the glory of her
person:
47 Woe be
unto thee, thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself like unto her; and hast
decked thy daughters in whoredom, that they might please and glory in thy
lovers, which have always desired to commit whoredom with thee.
48 Thou hast
followed her that is hated in all her works and inventions: therefore saith
God,
49 I will
send plagues upon thee; widowhood, poverty, famine, sword, and pestilence, to
waste thy houses with destruction and death.
50 And the
glory of thy Power shall be dried up as a flower, the heat shall arise that is
sent over thee.
51 Thou
shalt be weakened as a poor woman with stripes, and as one chastised with
wounds, so that the mighty and lovers shall not be able to receive thee.
52 Would I
with jealousy have so proceeded against thee, saith the Lord,
53 If thou
hadst not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of thine hands, and
saying over their dead, when thou wast drunken,
54 Set forth
the beauty of thy countenance?
55 The
reward of thy whoredom shall be in thy bosom, therefore shalt thou receive
recompence.
56 Like as
thou hast done unto my chosen, saith the Lord, even so shall God do unto thee,
and shall deliver thee into mischief
57 Thy
children shall die of hunger, and thou shalt fall through the sword: thy cities
shall be broken down, and all thine shall perish with the sword in the field.
58 They that
be in the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their own flesh, and drink
their own blood, for very hunger of bread, and thirst of water.
59 Thou as
unhappy shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues again.
60 And in
the passage they shall rush on the idle city, and shall destroy some portion of
thy land, and consume part of thy glory, and shall return to Babylon that was
destroyed.
61 And thou
shalt be cast down by them as stubble, and they shall be unto thee as fire;
62 And shall
consume thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy mountains; all thy woods and
thy fruitful trees shall they burn up with fire.
63 Thy
children shall they carry away captive, and, look, what thou hast, they shall
spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face.
Apocrypha: 2
Esdras Chapter 16
1 Woe be
unto thee, Babylon, and Asia! woe be unto thee, Egypt
and Syria!
2 Gird up
yourselves with cloths of sack and hair, bewail your children, and be sorry;
for your destruction is at hand.
3 A sword is
sent upon you, and who may turn it back?
4 A fire is
sent among you, and who may quench it?
5 Plagues
are sent unto you, and what is he that may drive them away?
6 May any
man drive away an hungry lion in the wood? or may any one quench the fire in stubble, when it hath
begun to burn?
7 May one
turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?
8 The mighty
Lord sendeth the plagues and who is he that can drive them away?
9 A fire
shall go forth from his wrath, and who is he that may quench it?
10 He shall
cast lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall
thunder, and who shall not be afraid?
11 The Lord
shall threaten, and who shall not be utterly beaten to powder at his presence?
12 The earth
quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth up with waves from the
deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the fishes thereof also, before the
Lord, and before the glory of his power:
13 For
strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth are
sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the
world.
14 Behold,
the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the
earth.
15 The fire
is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the
earth.
16 Like as
an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not backward: even so the
plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again.
17 Woe is
me! woe is me! who will
deliver me in those days?
18 The
beginning of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of famine and great
death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning
of evils! what shall I do when these evils shall come?
19 Behold,
famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment.
20 But for
all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always
mindful of the scourges.
21 Behold,
victuals shall be so good cheap upon earth, that they shall think themselves to
be in good case, and even then shall evils grow upon earth, sword, famine, and
great confusion.
22 For many
of them that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine; and the other, that
escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy.
23 And the
dead shall be cast out as dung, and there shall be no man to comfort them: for
the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be cast down.
24 There
shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it
25 The trees
shall give fruit, and who shall gather them?
26 The
grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? for all
places shall be desolate of men:
27 So that
one man shall desire to see another, and to hear his voice.
28 For of a
city there shall be ten left, and two of the field, which shall hide themselves
in the thick groves, and in the clefts of the rocks.
29 As in an
orchard of Olives upon every tree there are left three or four olives;
30 Or as
when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some clusters of them that
diligently seek through the vineyard:
31 Even so
in those days there shall be three or four left by them that search their
houses with the sword.
32 And the
earth shall be laid waste, and the fields thereof shall wax old, and her ways
and all her paths shall grow full of thorns, because no man shall travel
therethrough.
33 The
virgins shall mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall mourn, having no
husbands; their daughters shall mourn, having no helpers.
34 In the
wars shall their bridegrooms be destroyed, and their husbands shall perish of
famine.
35 Hear now
these things and understand them, ye servants of the Lord.
36 Behold,
the word of the Lord, receive it: believe not the gods of whom the Lord spake.
37 Behold,
the plagues draw nigh, and are not slack.
38 As when a
woman with child in the ninth month bringeth forth her son, with two or three
hours of her birth great pains compass her womb, which pains, when the child
cometh forth, they slack not a moment:
39 Even so
shall not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth, and the world shall
mourn, and sorrows shall come upon it on every side.
40 O my
people, hear my word: make you ready to thy battle, and in those evils be even
as pilgrims upon the earth.
41 He that
selleth, let him be as he that fleeth away: and he that buyeth, as one that
will lose:
42 He that
occupieth merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it: and he that buildeth,
as he that shall not dwell therein:
43 He that
soweth, as if he should not reap: so also he that planteth the vineyard, as he
that shall not gather the grapes:
44 They that
marry, as they that shall get no children; and they that marry not, as the
widowers.
45 And
therefore they that labour labour in vain:
46 For
strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods, overthrow their
houses, and take their children captives, for in captivity and famine shall
they get children.
47 And they
that occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more they deck their cities,
their houses, their possessions, and their own persons:
48 The more
will I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord.
49 Like as a
whore envieth a right honest and virtuous woman:
50 So shall
righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to
her face, when he cometh that shall defend him that
diligently searcheth out every sin upon earth.
51 And
therefore be ye not like thereunto, nor to the works thereof.
52 For yet a
little, and iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness
shall reign among you.
53 Let not
the sinner say that he hath not sinned: for God shall burn coals of fire upon
his head, which saith before the Lord God and his glory, I have not sinned.
54 Behold,
the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and
their hearts:
55 Which
spake but the word, Let the earth be made; and it was made: Let the heaven be
made; and it was created.
56 In his
word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them.
57 He
searcheth the deep, and the treasures thereof; he hath measured the sea, and
what it containeth.
58 He hath
shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the
earth upon the waters.
59 He
spreadeth out the heavens like a vault; upon the waters hath he founded it.
60 In the
desert hath he made springs of water, and pools upon the tops of the mountains,
that the floods might pour down from the high rocks to water the earth.
61 He made
man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life, and
understanding.
62 Yea and
the Spirit of Almighty God, which made all things, and searcheth out all hidden
things in the secrets of the earth,
63 Surely he
knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in your hearts, even them that sin,
and would hide their sin.
64 Therefore
hath the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and he will put you all to
shame.
65 And when
your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins
shall be your accusers in that day.
66 What will
ye do? or how will ye hide your sins before God and
his angels?
67 Behold,
God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your
iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever: so shall God lead you forth,
and deliver you from all trouble.
68 For,
behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they
shall take away certain of you, and feed you, being idle, with things offered
unto idols.
69 And they
that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden
under foot.
70 For there
shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a great insurrection upon
those that fear the Lord.
71 They
shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and destroying those
that fear the Lord.
72 For they
shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.
73 Then
shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as the gold in
the fire.
74 Hear, O
ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I
will deliver you from the same.
75 Be ye not
afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,
76 And the
guide of them who keep my commandments and precepts, saith the Lord God: let
not your sins weigh you down, and let not your iniquities lift up themselves.
77 Woe be
unto them that are bound with their sins, and covered with their iniquities
like as a field is covered over with bushes, and the path thereof covered with
thorns, that no man may travel through!
78 It is
left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.