📜 1 AND 2 ESDRAS

📖 CHAPTER 1

And Josias kept a feast unto his Lord in Jerusalem, and offered the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;

Having set the priests according to their daily courses, being arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.

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.

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.

📖 CHAPTER 2

But 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.

Nevertheless the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, O king of Judaea?

I am not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war is upon Euphrates.

📖 CHAPTER 3

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,

And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, in the hundred twenty and seven provinces.

And when they had eaten and drunk, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.

📖 CHAPTER 4

Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king’s body, spake one to another;

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.

The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.

The second wrote, The king is strongest.

The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory.

📖 CHAPTER 5

Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zerubbabel) began to speak:

“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?”

Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land.

Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh.

These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot men be.

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?

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?

A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his wife.

He sticketh not to spend his life with his wife, and remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country.

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?

Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;

And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.

Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.

Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sakes.

Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.

And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him?

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,

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.

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.

O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?

Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the truth.

“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.

Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is the truth, and stronger than all things.

All the earth calleth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing.

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.

As for the truth, it endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore.

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.

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.”

📖 CHAPTER 6

Then the king arose, and said:

“Great is truth, and mighty above all things.”

And all the people then shouted, and said:

“Great is truth, and mighty above all things.”

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.”

📖 CHAPTER 7

Then Zerubbabel said unto the king:

“Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,

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.”

📖 CHAPTER 8

Then Darius the king 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.

📖 CHAPTER 9

And these are they that went up from the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and returned again unto Jerusalem and Judaea, every man to his own city:

Who came with Zerubbabel, Jesus, Nehemias, and others.

And they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt sacrifices thereon, according as it is written in the book of Moses the man of God.

📖 CHAPTER 10

And the priests and Levites stood in their apparel with musical instruments, and praised the Lord, saying:

“Because He is good, for His mercy endureth forever toward Israel.”

And all the people shouted with a loud voice, praising the Lord.

📖 CHAPTER 11

But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice.

And many shouted aloud for joy.

So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping.

📖 CHAPTER 12

And the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that they of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel.

And they came unto Zerubbabel and said:

“Let us build with you.”

But Zerubbabel answered:

“Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God.”

📖 CHAPTER 13

Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.

And hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose.

📖 CHAPTER 14

Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem.

And they rose up and began to build again.

📖 CHAPTER 15

At the same time came to them Tatnai the governor and others, and asked:

“Who hath commanded you to build this house?”

And they answered:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.”

📖 CHAPTER 16

And Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the records.

And it was found that Cyrus had made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem.

📖 CHAPTER 17

Then Darius commanded that the work should continue, and that expenses be given from the king’s treasury.

And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered.

📖 CHAPTER 18

And the house of the Lord was finished.

And the children of Israel kept the dedication with joy.

And they offered sacrifices and gave thanks unto the Lord.

📖 CHAPTER 19

And Ezra the priest came from Babylon, being a ready scribe in the law of Moses.

And the king granted him all his request.

📖 CHAPTER 20

And Ezra gathered the people and read the law before them.

And they listened attentively and understood the words.

And they worshipped the Lord.

📖 CHAPTER 21

And many had taken strange wives.

And Ezra prayed and confessed their sin.

And the people wept and made covenant to put away their strange wives.

📖 CHAPTER 22

And they separated themselves from the people of the land.

And they kept the law of the Lord.

And there was peace among them.

2 ESDRAS

📖 CHAPTER 1

The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Ahijah, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron of the tribe of Levi;

Which was in captivity in the land of the Medes, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians.

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying:

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.

📖 CHAPTER 2

Thus saith the Lord:

I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by my servants the prophets; whom they would not hear, but despised my counsels.

The mother that bare them saith unto them:

“Go your way, ye children; for I am a widow and forsaken.”

📖 CHAPTER 3

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:

Because I saw the desolation of Zion and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.

And my spirit was sore moved.

📖 CHAPTER 4

Then the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer.

And said:

“Thy heart hath gone too far in this world.”

“For thou canst not understand the things that grow up with thee, how then shalt thou understand the way of the Most High?”

📖 CHAPTER 5

Nevertheless as concerning the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in great number.

And the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.

But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest.

📖 CHAPTER 6

Then he said unto me:
“In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew,

Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,

Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the movable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,

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,

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:

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.”

📖 CHAPTER 7

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:

And he said unto me:

“Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.”

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:

But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;

Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it?”

📖 CHAPTER 8

And he answered me, saying:

“The most High hath made this world for many, but the world to come for few.”

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.

📖 CHAPTER 9

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,

Then shalt thou understand that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world which he made.”

📖 CHAPTER 10

And it came to pass, while I spake these words unto them, behold, they all wept with a loud voice.

And after that I saw a woman weeping, and she had been long time mourning for her only son.

And she told me her story.

And while she was speaking, she was suddenly changed into a city.

📖 CHAPTER 11

Then I saw a dream, and behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.

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.

And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.

📖 CHAPTER 12

This is the interpretation of the vision:

“The eagle, whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel.”

“But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee.”

And the Most High hath looked upon the proud times, and behold, they are ended.

📖 CHAPTER 13

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.

And whensoever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his voice.

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.

But I beheld, and lo, he carved himself a great mountain, and flew upon it.

📖 CHAPTER 14

And it came to pass after these things, that I was in the field, and lo, a voice called me, saying:

“Esdras, Esdras.”

And I said, Here am I, Lord.

And he said unto me:

“The world is set in darkness, and they that dwell therein are without light.”

“For thy law is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that are done of thee.”

“But I will send thee, and thou shalt write all these things.”

And I took five men, and they wrote for forty days.

And they wrote ninety-four books.