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Book of Esdras 1 & 2

The First Book of Esdras

Chapter 1

1:1 And YoshiYah held the feast of the Passover in Yerusalem to YAHUVEH his ALMIGHTY, and offered the Passover the fourteenth day of the first month;
1:2 Having set the kohenim according to their daily courses, being arrayed in long garments, in the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH.
1:3 And he spoke to the Levites, the kodesh ministers of Yisrael, that they should hallow themselves to YAHUVEH, to set the kodesh ark of YAHUVEH in the house that king Solomon the son of David had built:
1:4 And said, You shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders: now therefore serve YAHUVEH your ALMIGHTY, and minister to HIS people Yisrael, and prepare you after your families and kindreds,
1:5 According as David the king of Yisrael prescribed, and according to the magnificence of Solomon his son: and standing in the tabernacle according to the several dignity of the families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence of your brethren the children of Yisrael,
1:6 Offer the Passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices for your brethren, and keep the Passover according to the commandment of YAHUVEH, which was given to Mosheh.
1:7 And to the people that was found there YoshiYah 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 kohenim, and to the Levites.
1:8 And HelkiYah, ZachariYah, and Syelus, the governors of the tabernacle, gave to the kohenim for the Passover two thousand, six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves.
1:9 And JeconiYah, and SamaiYah, and Nathanael his brother, and AssabiYah, and Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites for the Passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.
1:10 And when these things were done, the kohenim and Levites, having the unleavened bread, stood in very comely order according to the kindreds,
1:11 And according to the several dignities of the fathers, before the people, to offer to YAHUVEH, as it is written in the book of Mosheh: and thus did they in the morning.
1:12 And they roasted the Passover with fire, as appertains: as for the sacrifices, they sod them in brass pots and pans with a tov savor,
1:13 And set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the kohenim their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
1:14 For the kohenim offered the fat until night: and the Levites prepared for themselves, and the kohenim their brethren, the sons of Aaron.
1:15 The kodesh singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, ZachariYah, and Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue.
1:16 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.
1:17 Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of YAHUVEH accomplished in that day, that they might hold the Passover,
1:18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of YAHUVEH, according to the commandment of king YoshiYah.
1:19 So the children of Yisrael which were present held the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
1:20 And such a Passover was not kept in Yisrael since the time of the prophet Samuel.
1:21 Yes, all the kings of Yisrael held not such a Passover as YoshiYah, and the kohenim, and the Levites, and the Yahudim, held with all Yisrael that were found dwelling at Yerusalem.
1:22 In the eighteenth year of the reign of YoshiYah was this Passover kept.
1:23 And the works or YoshiYah were upright before YAHUVEH his ALMIGHTY with a checed heart.
1:24 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 YAHUVEH above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the Word of YAHUVEH rose up against Yisrael.
1:25 Now after all these acts of YoshiYah it came to pass, that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis upon Euphrates: and YoshiYah went out against him.
1:26 But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, What have I to do with you, Oh king of Yahudah?
1:27 I am not sent out from YAHUVEH against you; for my war is upon Euphrates: and now YAHUVEH is with me, yes, YAHUVEH is with me hasting me forward: depart from me, and be not against YAHUVEH.
1:28 Howbeit YoshiYah did not turn back his chariot from him, but undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet YeremiYah spoken by the mouth of YAHUVEH:
1:29 But joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo, and the princes came against king YoshiYah.
1:30 Then said the king to 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.
1:31 Then got he up on his second chariot; and being brought back to Yerusalem died, and was buried in his father's sepulchre.
1:32 And in all Yahudah they mourned for YoshiYah, yes, YeremiYah the prophet lamented for YoshiYah, and the chief men with the women made lamentation for him to this day: and this was given out for an ordinance to be done continually in all the nation of Yisrael.
1:33 These things are written in the book of the stories of the kings of Yahudah, and everyone of the acts that YoshiYah did, and his splendor, and his understanding in the Torah of YAHUVEH, and the things that he had done before, and the things now recited, are reported in the book of the kings of Yisrael and Yahudah.
1:34 And the people took Joachaz the son of YoshiYah, and made him king instead of YoshiYah his father, when he was twenty three years old.
1:35 And he reigned in Yahudah and in Yerusalem three months: and then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Yerusalem.
1:36 And he set a tax upon the land of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
1:37 The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king of Yahudah and Yerusalem.
1:38 And he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother he apprehended, and brought him out of Egypt.
1:39 Twenty five years old was Joacim when he was made king in the land of Yahudah and Yerusalem; and he did evil before YAHUVEH.
1:40 Wherefore against him Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came up, and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon.
1:41 Nebuchadnezzar also took of the kodesh vessels of YAHUVEH, and carried them away, and set them in his own temple at Babylon.
1:42 But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the chronicles of the kings.
1:43 And Joacim his son reigned in his stead: he was made king being eighteen years old;
1:44 And reigned but three months and ten days in Yerusalem; and did evil before YAHUVEH.
1:45 So after a year Nebuchadnezzar sent and caused him to be brought into Babylon with the kodesh vessels of YAHUVEH;
1:46 And made ZedechiYah king of Yahudah and Yerusalem, when he was twenty one years old; and he reigned eleven years:
1:47 And he did evil also in the sight of YAHUVEH, and cared not for the words that were spoken to him by the prophet YeremiYah from the mouth of YAHUVEH.
1:48 And after that king Nebuchadnezzar had made him to swear by the NAME of YAHUVEH, he forswore himself, and rebelled; and hardening his neck, his heart, he transgressed the Torah of YAHUVEH of Yisrael.
1:49 The governors also of the people and of the kohenim did many things against the Torah, and passed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH, which was sanctified in Yerusalem.
1:50 Nevertheless YAHUVEH of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because HE spared them and HIS tabernacle also.
1:51 But they had HIS messengers in derision; and, look, when YAHUVEH spoke to them, they made a sport of HIS prophets:
1:52 So far forth, that HE, being wroth with HIS people for their great wickedness, commanded the kings of the Chaldean to come up against them;
1:53 Who slew their young men with the sword, yes, even within the compass of their kodesh tabernacle, and spared neither young man nor maid, old man nor child, among them; for HE delivered all into their hands.
1:54 And they took all the kodesh vessels of YAHUVEH, both great and small, with the vessels of the ark of YAHUVEH, and the king's treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.

Chapter 2

2:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the Word of YAHUVEH might be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of YeremiYah;
2:2 YAHUVEH raised up the ruach of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,
2:3 Saying, Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians; YAHUVEH of Yisrael, the most high YAHUVEH, has made me king of the whole world,
2:4 And commanded me to build HIM a house at Yerusalem in Yahudah.
2:5  If therefore there be any of you that are of HIS people, let YAHUVEH, even his ALMIGHTY will be with him, and let him go up to Yerusalem that is in Yahudah, and build the house of YAHUVEH of Yisrael: for HE is YAHUVEH that dwells in Yerusalem. 
2:6  Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his neighbors, with gold, and with silver, 
2:7  With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set forth by vow, for the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH at Yerusalem. 
2:8  Then the chief of the families of Yahudah and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the kohenim also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind YAHUVEH had moved to go up, and to build a house for YAHUVEH at Yerusalem, 
2:9  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 to that. 
2:10  King Cyrus also brought forth the kodesh vessels, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Yerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols. 
2:11  Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer: 
2:12  And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Yahudah. 
2:13  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 one thousand other vessels. 
2:14  So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand four hundred and sixty nine. 
2:15  These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Yerusalem. 
2:16  But in the time of Ahasuerus 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 to him against them that dwelt in Yahudah and Yerusalem these letters following; 
2:17  To king Ahasuerus our lord, Your servants, Rathumus the story-writer, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 
2:18  Be it now known to the lord king, that the Yahudim that are up from you to us, being come into Yerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the Great Tabernacle. 
2:19  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. 
2:20  And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the tabernacle are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter, 
2:21  But to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be your pleasure it may be sought out in the books of your fathers: 
2:22  And you shall find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shall understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities: 
2:23  And that the Yahudim were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which cause even this city was made desolate. 
2:24  Wherefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, you shall from henceforth have no passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 
2:25  Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the story-writer, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, after this manner; 
2:26  I have read the epistle which you have sent to me: therefore I commanded to make diligent search, and it has been found that that city was from the beginning practicing against kings; 
2:27  And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that were in Yerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 
2:28  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; 
2:29  And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings, 
2:30  Then king Ahasuerus his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Yerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the Great Tabernacle in Yerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians. 

Chapter 3
3:1 Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast to all his subjects, and to all his household, and to all the princes of Media and Persia,
3:2 And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India to Ethiopia, of one hundred twenty seven provinces.
3:3 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 awakened.
3:4  Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king's body, spoke one to another; 
3:5  Let everyone of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, to him the king Darius gave great gifts, and great things in token of victory: 
3:6  As to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep in bridles of gold, and a head-atire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck: 
3:7  And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin. 
3:8  And then everyone wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow; 
3:9  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. 
3:10  The first wrote, Wine is the strongest. 
3:11  The second wrote, The king is strongest. 
3:12  The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth bears away the victory.   
3:13  Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them to him, and so he read them:
3:14  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; 
3:15  And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them. 
3:16  And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own sentences. So they were called, and came in. 
3:17  And he said to them, Declare to us your mind concerning the writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine; 
3:18  And he said thus, O you men, how exceeding strong is wine! it causes all men to err that drink it: 
3:19  It makes the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, 

Chapter 4

4:1  Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say, 
4:2  O you men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and land and all things in them? 
4:3  But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and has dominion over them; and whatsoever he commands them they do. 
4:4  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. 
4:5  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. 
4:6  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 to the king. 
4:7  And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare; 
4:8  If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they build; 
4:9  If he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant. 
4:10  So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lies down, he eats and drinks, and takes his rest: 
4:11  And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in anything. 
4:12  O you men, how should not the king be mighty, when in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his tongue. 
4:13  Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak. 
4:14  O you men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine, that excels; who is it then that rules them, or has the lordship over them? are they not women? 
4:15  Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land. 
4:16  Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from where the wine comes. 
4:17  These also make garments for men; these bring splendor to men; and without women cannot men be. 
4:18  Yes, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely in favor and beauty? 
4:19  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 to her than to silver or gold, or any beautiful thing whatsoever? 
4:20  A man leaves his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaves to his wife. 
4:21  He sticks not to spend his life with his wife. and remembers neither father, nor mother, nor country. 
4:22  By this also you must know that women have dominion over you: do you not labor and toil, and give and bring all to the woman? 
4:23  Yes, a man takes his sword, and goes his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers; 
4:24  And looks upon a lion, and goes in the darkness; and when he has stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he brings it to his love. 
4:25  Wherefore a man loves his wife better than father or mother. 
4:26  Yes, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sakes. 
4:27  Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women. 
4:28  And now do you not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him? 
4:29  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, 
4:30  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. 
4:31  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. 
4:32  O you men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus? 
4:33  Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the truth. 
4:34  O you men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasses the heavens round about, and fetches his course again to his own place in one day. 
4:35  Is HE not great that makes these things? therefore great is the Truth, and stronger than all things. 
4:36  All the earth cries upon the Truth, and the heaven blesses it: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing. 
4:37  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. 
4:38  As for the Truth, it endures, and is always strong; it lives and conquers for evermore. 
4:39  With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she does the things that are just, and refrains from all unjust and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works. 
4:40  Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of 
all ages. Blessed be YAHUVEH of Truth.   
4:41   And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things. 
4:42  Then said the king to him, Ask what you will more than is appointed in the writing, and we will give it you, because you are found wisest; and you shall sit next to me, and shall be called my cousin. 
4:43  Then said he to the king, Remember your vow, which you have vowed to build Yerusalem, in the day when you came to your kingdom, 
4:44  And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Yerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again there. 
4:45  You also have vowed to build up the tabernacle, which the Edomites burned when Yahudah was made desolate by the Chaldees. 
4:46  And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of you, and this is the princely liberality proceeding from yourself: I desire therefore that you make tov the vow, the performance whereof with your own mouth you have vowed to the King of heaven. 
4:47  Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him to 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 Yerusalem. 
4:48  He wrote letters also to the lieutenants that were in Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and to them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus to Yerusalem, and that they should build the city with him. 
4:49  Moreover he wrote for all the Yahudim that went out of his realm up into Yahudah, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors; 
4:50  And that all the country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Yahudim which then they held: 
4:51  Yes, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the tabernacle, until the time that it were built; 
4:52  And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon the altar everyday, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen: 
4:53  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 kohenim that went away. 
4:54  He wrote also concerning. the charges, and the kohenim vestments wherein they minister; 
4:55  And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Yerusalem built up. 
4:56  And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages. 
4:57  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 to Yerusalem. 
4:58  Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to the heaven toward Yerusalem, and praised YAHUVEH the KING of heaven, 
4:59  And said, From YOU comes victory, from YOU comes wisdom, and YOURS is the honor, and I am YOUR servant. 
4:60  Blessed are YOU, who has given me wisdom: for to YOU I give thanks, Oh YAHUVEH of our fathers. 
4:61  And so he took the letters, and went out, and came to Babylon, and told it all his brethren. 
4:62  And they praised YAHUVEH of their fathers, because HE had given them freedom and liberty 
4:63  To go up, and to build Yerusalem, and the Great Tabernacle which is called by HIS NAME: and they feasted with instruments of music and gladness seven days. 

Chapter 5

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.
5:2 And Darius sent with them one thousand horsemen, till they had brought them back to Yerusalem safely, and with musical instruments tabrets and flutes.
5:3 And all their brethren played, and he made them go up together with them.
5:4 And these are the names of the men which went up, according to their families among their tribes, after their several heads.
5:5  The kohenim, the sons of Phinehas the son of Aaron: Yoshua the son of Josedec, the son of SaraiYah, 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 Yahudah; 
5:6  Who spoke wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month. 
5:7  And these are they of Yahudah that came up from the captivity, where they dwelt as strangers, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon. 
5:8  And they returned to Yerusalem, and to the other parts of Yahudah, every man to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with Yoshua, NehemiYah, and ZachariYah, and ReesaiYah, Enenius, Mordecai. Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana, their guides.
5:9  The number of them of the nation, and their governors, sons of Phoros, two thousand one hundred and seventy two; the sons of Saphat, four hundred and seventy two: 
5:10  The sons of Ares, seven hundred and fifty six: 
5:11  The sons of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve: 
5:12  The sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty four: the sons of Zathul, nine hundred and forty five: the sons of Corbe, seven hundred and five: the sons of Bani, six hundred and forty eight: 
5:13  The sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty three: the sons of Sadas, three thousand two hundred and twenty two: 
5:14  The sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty seven: the sons of Bagoi, two thousand and sixty six: the sons of Adin, four hundred and fifty four: 
5:15  The sons of AtereziYah, ninety two: the sons of Ceilan and Azetas sixty seven: the sons of Azuran, four hundred and thirty two: 
5:16  The sons of AnaniYah, one hundred and one: the sons of Arom, thirty two: and the sons of Bassa, three hundred and twenty three: the sons of Azephurith, one hundred and two: 
5:17  The sons of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sons of Bethlomon, one hundred and twenty three: 
5:18  They of Netophah, fifty five: they of Anathoth, one hundred and fifty eight: they of Bethsamos, forty two:
5:19 They of Kiriathiarius, twenty five: they of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred and forty three: they of Pira, seven hundred: 
5:20  They of Chadiah and Ammidoi, four hundred and twenty two: they of Cirama and Gabdes, six hundred and twenty one: 
5:21  They of Macalon, one hundred and twenty two: they of Betolius, fifty two: the sons of Nephis, one hundred and fifty six: 
5:22  The sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred and twenty five: the sons of Jerechus, two hundred and forty five: 
5:23  The sons of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty. 
5:24  The kohenim: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Yoshua among the sons of Sanasib, nine hundred and seventy two: the sons of Meruth, one thousand and fifty two: 
5:25  The sons of Phassaron, one thousand and forty seven: the sons of Carme, one thousand and seventeen. 
5:26  The Levites: the sons of Jessue, and Cadmiel, and Banuas, and Sudias, seventy four. 
5:27  The kodesh singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty eight. 
5:28  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 one hundred and thirty nine. 
5:29  The servants of the Great Tabernacle: 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, 
5:30  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, 
5:31  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 Phinehas, 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 Assyria, the sons of Pharacim, the sons of Basaloth, 
5:32  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. 
5:33  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 Yisrael, the sons of Sapheth, 
5:34  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. 
5:35  All the ministers of the tabernacle, and the sons of the servants of Solomon, were three hundred and seventy two. 
5:36  These came up from Thermeleth and Thelersas, Charaathalar leading them, and Aalar; 
5:37  Neither could they show their families, nor their stock, how they were of Yisrael: the sons of Ladan, the son of Ban, the sons of Necodan, six hundred and fifty two. 
5:38  And of the kohenim that usurped the office of the order of kohenim, 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. 
5:39  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 order of kohenim: 
5:40  For to them said NehemiYah and AthariYah, that they should not be partakers of the kodesh things, till there arose up a high kohen clothed with doctrine and truth. 
5:41  So of Yisrael, 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. 
5:42  Their menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred and forty seven: the singing men and singing women, two hundred and forty five: 
5:43  Four hundred and thirty five camels, seven thousand and thirty six horses, two hundred and forty five mules, five thousand five hundred and twenty five beasts used to the yoke. 
5:44  And certain of the chief of their families, when they came to the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH that is in Yerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in its own place according to their ability, 
5:45  And to give into the kodesh treasury of the works a thousand pounds of gold, five thousand of silver, and one hundred priestly vestments. 
5:46  And so dwelt the kohenim and the Levites and the people in Yerusalem, and in the country, the singers also and the porters; and all Yisrael in their villages. 
5:47  But when the seventh month was at hand, and when the children of Yisrael 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. 
5:48  Then stood up Yoshua the son of Josedec, and his brethren the kohenim and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and made ready the altar of YAHUVEH of Yisrael, 
5:49  To offer burnt sacrifices upon it, according as it is expressly commanded in the book of Mosheh the man of YAHUVEH. 
5:50  And there were gathered to 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 YAHUVEH both morning and evening. 
5:51  Also they held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the Torah, and offered sacrifices daily, as was meet: 
5:52  And after that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifice of the shabbats, and of the new months, and of all kodesh feasts. 
5:53  And all they that had made any vow to YAHUVEH, began to offer sacrifices to YAHUVEH from the first day of the seventh month, although the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH was not yet built. 
5:54  And they gave to the masons and carpenters money, meat, and drink, with cheerfulness. 
5:55  To them of Zidon also and Tyre they gave them carriers, 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. 
5:56  And in the second year and second month after his coming to the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH at Yerusalem began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Yoshua the son of Josedec, and their brethren, and the kohenim, and the Levites, and all they that were come to Yerusalem out of the captivity: 
5:57  And they laid the foundation of the house of YAHUVEH in the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come to Yahudah and Yerusalem. 
5:58  And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the works of YAHUVEH. Then stood up Yoshua, 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, laboring to advance the works in the house of YAHUVEH. So the workmen built the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH. 
5:59  And the kohenim stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and shofars; and the Levites the sons of Asaph had cymbals,
5:60  Singing songs of thanksgiving, and praising YAHUVEH, according as David the king of Yisrael had ordained. 
5:61  And they sang with loud voices songs to the praise of YAHUVEH, because HIS mercy and majesty is forever in all Yisrael. 
5:62  And all the people sounded shofars, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of thanksgiving to YAHUVEH for the rearing up of the house of YAHUVEH.
5:63  Also of the kohenim 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. 
5:64  But many with shofars and joy shouted with loud voice, 
5:65  Insomuch that the shofars might not be heard for the weeping of the people: yet the multitude sounded marvelously, so that it was heard afar off. 
5:66  Wherefore when the enemies of the tribe of Yahudah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know what that noise of shofars should mean. 
5:67  And they perceived that they that were of the captivity did build the Great Tabernacle to YAHUVEH of Yisrael. 
5:68  So they went to Zorobabel and Yoshua, and to the chief of the families, and said to them, We will build together with you. 
5:69  For we likewise, as you, do obey your YAHUVEH, and do sacrifice to HIM from the days of Azbazareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought us here. 
5:70  Then Zorobabel and Yoshua and the chief of the families of Yisrael said to them, It is not for us and you to build together a house to YAHUVEH our Sovereign. 
5:71  We ourselves alone will build to YAHUVEH of Yisrael, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians has commanded us. 
5:72  But the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Yahudah, and holding them strait, hindered their building; 

Chapter 6

6:1  Now in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and ZachariYah the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied to the Hebrews in Yahudah and Yerusalem in the NAME of YAHUVEH of Yisrael, which was upon them. 
6:2  Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Yoshua the son of Josedec, and began to build the house of YAHUVEH at Yerusalem, the prophets of YAHUVEH being with them, and helping them. 
6:3  At the same time came to them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said to them, 
6:4  By whose appointment do you build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the workmen that perform these things? 
6:5  Nevertheless the elders of the Yahudim obtained favor, because YAHUVEH had visited the captivity; 
6:6  And they were not hindered from building, until such time as signification was given to Darius concerning them, and an answer received. 
6:7  The copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius; To king Darius, greeting: 
6:8  Let all things be known to our ruler the king, that being come into the country of Yahudah, and entered into the city of Yerusalem we found in the city of Yerusalem the ancients of the Hebrews that were of the captivity 
6:9  Building a house to YAHUVEH, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls. 
6:10  And those works are done with great speed, and the work goes on prosperously in their hands, and with all splendor and diligence is it made. 
6:11  Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build you this house, and lay the foundations of these works? 
6:12  Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge to you by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men. 
6:13  So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of YAHUVEH which made heaven and earth. 
6:14  And as for this house, it was built many years ago by a king of Yisrael great and strong, and was finished. 
6:15  But when our fathers provoked YAHUVEH to wrath, and sinned against YAHUVEH of Yisrael which is in heaven, HE gave them over into the power of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, of the Chaldees; 
6:16  Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives to Babylon. 
6:17  But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon Cyrus the king wrote to build up this house. 
6:18  And the kodesh vessels of gold and of silver, that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away out of the house at Yerusalem, 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, 
6:19  With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the Great Tabernacle at Yerusalem; and that the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH should be built in his place. 
6:20  Then the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the foundations of the house of YAHUVEH at Yerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended. 
6:21  Now therefore, if it seem tov to the king, let search be made among the records of king Cyrus: 
6:22  And if it be found that the building of the house of YAHUVEH at Yerusalem has been done with the consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the king be so minded, let him signify to us thereof. 
6:23  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. 
6:24  In the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that the house of YAHUVEH at Yerusalem should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual fire: 
6:25  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: 
6:26  And that the kodesh vessels of the house of YAHUVEH, both of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the house at Yerusalem, and brought to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Yerusalem, and be set in the place where they were before. 
6:27  And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of YAHUVEH, and governor of Yahudah, and the elders of the Yahudim, to build the house of YAHUVEH in that place. 
6:28  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 Yahudim, till the house of YAHUVEH be finished: 
6:29  And out of the tribute of Coelesyria and Phoenicia a portion carefully to be given these men for the sacrifices of YAHUVEH, that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs; 
6:30  And also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further question, according as the kohenim that be in Yerusalem shall signify to be daily spent: 
6:31  That offerings may be made to the most high YAHUVEH for the king and for his children, and that they may pray for their lives. 
6:32  And he commanded that whosoever should transgress, yes, or make light of any thing before 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. 
6:33  YAHUVEH therefore, whose NAME is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and nation, that stretches out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of YAHUVEH in Yerusalem. 
6:34  I Darius the king have ordained that according to these things it be done with diligence.

Chapter 7

7:1 Then Sisinnes the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions following the commandments of king Darius,
7:2 Did very carefully oversee the kodesh works, assisting the ancients of the Yahudim and governors of the tabernacle.
7:3 And so the kodesh works prospered, when Aggeus and ZachariYah the prophets prophesied.
7:4 And they finished these things by the commandment of YAHUVEH of Yisrael, and with the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Ahasuerus, kings of Persia.
7:5 And thus was the kodesh house finished in the twenty third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of Darius king of the Persians
7:6  And the children of Yisrael, the kohenim, and the Levites, and others that were of the captivity, that were added to them, did according to the things written in the book of Mosheh.  
7:7  And to the dedication of the tabernacle of YAHUVEH they offered one hundred bullocks two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; 
7:8  And twelve goats for the sin of all Yisrael, according to the number of the chief of the tribes of Yisrael. 
7:9  The kohenim also and the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments, according to their kindreds, in the service of YAHUVEH of Yisrael, according to the book of Mosheh: and the porters at every gate. 
7:10  And the children of Yisrael that were of the captivity held the Passover the fourteenth day of the first month, after that the kohenim and the Levites were sanctified. 
7:11  They that were of the captivity were not all sanctified together: but the Levites were all sanctified together. 
7:12  And so they offered the Passover for all them of the captivity, and for their brethren the kohenim, and for themselves. 
7:13  And the children of Yisrael 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 YAHUVEH. 
7:14  And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, making merry before YAHUVEH, 
7:15  For that he had turned the counsel of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the works of YAHUVEH of Yisrael. 
 
Chapter 8

8:1 And after these things, when Ahasuerus the king of the Persians reigned came Ezra the son of SaraiYah, the son of EzeriYah, the son of HelchiYah, the son of Salum,
8:2 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 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief kohen.
8:3  This Ezra went up from Babylon, as a scribe, being very ready in the Torah of Mosheh, that was given by YAHUVEH of Yisrael. 
8:4  And the king did him honor: for he found free unmerited favor in his sight in all his requests. 
8:5  There went up with him also certain of the children of Yisrael, of the kohen of the Levites, of the kodesh singers, porters, and ministers of the Great Tabernacle, to Yerusalem, 
8:6  In the seventh year of the reign of Ahasuerus, 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 Yerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which YAHUVEH gave them. 
8:7  For Ezra had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the Torah and commandments of YAHUVEH, but taught all Yisrael the ordinances and judgments. 
8:8  Now the copy of the commission, which was written from Ahasuerus the king, and came to Ezra the kohen and reader of the Torah of YAHUVEH, is this that follows; 
8:9  King Ahasuerus to Ezra the kohen and reader of the Torah of YAHUVEH sends greeting: 
8:10  Having determined to deal favorably, I have given order, that such of the nation of the Yahudim, and of the kohenim and Levites being within our realm, as are willing and desirous should go with you to Yerusalem. 
8:11  As many therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with you, as it has seemed tov both to me and my seven friends the counselors; 
8:12  That they may look to the affairs of Yahudah and Yerusalem, agreeably to that which is in the Torah of YAHUVEH; 
8:13  And carry the gifts to YAHUVEH of Yisrael to Yerusalem, which I and my friends have vowed, and all the gold and silver that in the country of Babylon can be found, to YAHUVEH in Yerusalem, 
8:14  With that also which is given of the people for the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH their Sovereign at Yerusalem: and that silver and gold may be collected for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things thereunto appertaining; 
8:15  To the end that they may offer sacrifices to YAHUVEH upon the altar of YAHUVEH their Sovereign, which is in Yerusalem. 
8:16  And whatsoever you and your brethren will do with the silver and gold, that do, according to the will of YAHUVEH.
8:17  And the kodesh vessels of YAHUVEH, which are given you for the use of the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH, which is in Yerusalem, you shall set before your YAHUVEH in Yerusalem. 
8:18  And whatsoever thing else you shall remember for the use of the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH, you shall give it out of the king's treasury. 
8:19  And I king Ahasuerus have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and Phoenicia, that whatsoever Ezra the kohen and the reader of the Torah of the most high YAHUVEH shall send for, they should give it him with speed, 
8:20  To the sum of one hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to one hundred kors, and one hundred pieces of wine, and other things in abundance. 
8:21  Let all things be performed after the Torah of YAHUVEH diligently to the most high YAHUVEH, that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons. 
8:22  I command you also, that you require no tax, nor any other imposition, of any of the kohenim, or Levites, or kodesh singers, or porters, or ministers of the tabernacle, or of any that have doings in this tabernacle, and that no man have authority to impose any thing upon them. 
8:23  And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of YAHUVEH ordain judges and justices, that they may judge in all Syria and Phoenicia all those that know the Torah of YAHUVEH your ALMIGHTY; and those that know it not you shall teach. 
8:24  And whosoever shall transgress the Torah of YAHUVEH your ALMIGHTY, and of the king, shall be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment. 
8:25  Then said Ezra the scribe, Blessed be the only YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY of my fathers, who has put these things into the heart of the king, to bring honor to HIS house that is in Yerusalem: 
8:26  And has honored me in the sight of the king, and his counselors, and all his friends and nobles. 
8:27  Therefore was I encouraged by the help of YAHUVEH my ALMIGHTY, and gathered together men of Yisrael to go up with me. 
8:28  And these are the chief according to their families and several dignities, that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of king Ahasuerus: 
8:29  Of the sons of Phinehas, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of the sons of David, Lettus the son of Sechenias: 
8:30  Of the sons of Pharez, ZachariYah; and with him were counted one hundred and fifty men: 
8:31  Of the sons of Pahath Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias, and with him two hundred men: 
8:32  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: 
8:33  Of the sons of Elam, YoshiYah son of Gotholias, and with him seventy men: 
8:34  Of the sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with him seventy men: 
8:35  Of the sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two hundred and twelve men: 
8:36  Of the sons of Banid, Assalimoth son of JosaphiYah, and with him one hundred and sixty men: 
8:37  Of the sons of Babi, ZachariYah son of Bebai, and with him twenty eight men: 
8:38  Of the sons of Astath, Johannes son of Acatan, and with him one hundred and ten men: 
8:39  Of the sons of Adonikam the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalet, Jewel, and Samaias, and with them seventy men: 
8:40  Of the sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men. 
8:41  And these I gathered together to the river called Theras, where we pitched our tents three days: and then I surveyed them. 
8:42  But when I had found there none of the kohenim and Levites, 
8:43  Then sent I to Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman, 
8:44  And Alnathan, and Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan, ZachariYah, and Mosollamon, principal men and learned. 
8:45  And I bade them that they should go to Saddeus the captain, who was in the place of the treasury: 8:46 
And commanded them that they should speak to Daddeus, and to his brethren, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the kohenim office in the house of YAHUVEH.    8:47
And by the mighty hand of our YAHUVEH they brought to us skilful men of the sons of Moli the son of Levi, the son of Yisrael, Asebebia, and his sons, and his brethren, who were eighteen. 
8:48  And Asebia, and Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Channuneus, and their sons, were twenty men. 
8:49  And of the servants of the tabernacle whom David had ordained, and the principal men for the service of the Levites to wit, the servants of the tabernacle two hundred and twenty, the catalogue of whose names were shown. 
8:50  And there I vowed a fast to the young men before our YAHUVEH, to desire of HIM a prosperous journey both for us and them that were with us, for our children, and for the cattle: 
8:51  For I was ashamed to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and conduct for safeguard against our adversaries. 
8:52  For we had said to the king, that the power of YAHUVEH our ALMIGHTY should be with them that seek HIM, to support them in all ways. 
8:53  And again we besought our YAHUVEH as touching these things, and found HIM favorable to us. 
8:54  Then I separated twelve of the chief of the kohenim, Esebrias, and Assanias, and ten men of their brethren with them: 
8:55  And I weighed them the gold, and the silver, and the kodesh vessels of the house of our YAHUVEH, which the king, and his council, and the princes, and all Yisrael, had given. 
8:56  And when I had weighed it, I delivered to them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of one hundred talents, and one hundred talents of gold, 
8:57  And twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, glittering like gold. 
8:58  And I said to them, Both you are kodesh to YAHUVEH, and the vessels are kodesh, and the gold and the silver is a vow to YAHUVEH, YAHUVEH of our fathers. 
8:59  Watch you, and keep them till you deliver them to the chief of the kohenim and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of Yisrael, in Yerusalem, into the chambers of the house of YAHUVEH our ALMIGHTY. 
8:60  So the kohenim and the Levites, who had received the silver and the gold and the vessels, brought them to Yerusalem, into the Great Tabernacle of YAHUVEH. 
8:61  And from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first month, and came to Yerusalem by the mighty hand of our YAHUVEH, which was with us: and from the beginning of our journey YAHUVEH delivered us from every enemy, and so we came to Yerusalem. 
8:62  And when we had been there three days, the gold and silver that was weighed was delivered in the house of our YAHUVEH on the fourth day to Marmoth the kohen the son of Iri. 
8:63  And with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were Josabad the son of Jesu and Moeth the son of Sabban, Levites: all was delivered them by number and weight. 
8:64  And all the weight of them was written up the same hour. 
8:65  Moreover they that were come out of the captivity offered sacrifice to YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY of Yisrael, even twelve bullocks for all Yisrael, seventy six rams, 
8:66  Seventy two lambs, goats for a shalom offering, twelve; all of them a sacrifice to YAHUVEH. 
8:67  And they delivered the king's commandments to the king's stewards' and to the governors of Coelesyria and Phoenicia; and they honored the people and the tabernacle of YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY. 
8:68  Now when these things were done, the rulers came to me, and said, 
8:69  The nation of Yisrael, the princes, the kohenim 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. 
8:70  For both they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the kodesh 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. 
8:71  And as soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and the kodesh garment, and pulled off the hair from off my head and beard, and sat me down sad and very heavy. 
8:72  So all they that were then moved at the Word of YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY of Yisrael assembled to me, while I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice. 
8:73  Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and the kodesh garment rent, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands to YAHUVEH, 
8:74  I said, Oh YAHUVEH, I am confounded and ashamed before YOUR face; 
8:75  For our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our ignorances have reached up to heaven. 
8:76  Forever since the time of our fathers we have been and are in great sin, even to this day. 
8:77  And for our sins and our fathers' we with our brethren and our kings and our kohenim were given up to the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, to this day. 
8:78  And now in some measure has mercy been shown to us from YOU, Oh YAHUVEH, that there should be left us a root and a name in the place of YOUR sanctuary; 
8:79  And to discover to us a light in the house of YAHUVEH our ALMIGHTY, and to give us food in the time of our servitude. 
8:80  Yes, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our YAHUVEH; but HE given us favor before the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food; 
8:81  Yes, and honored the tabernacle of our YAHUVEH, and raised up the desolate Zion, that they have given us a sure abiding in Yahudah and Yerusalem. 
8:82  And now, Oh YAHUVEH, what shall we say, having these things? for we have transgressed YOUR commandments, which YOU gave by the hand of YOUR servants the prophets, saying, 
8:83  That the land, which YOU enter into to possess as a heritage, is a land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness. 
8:84  Therefore now shall you not join your daughters to their sons, neither shall you take their daughters to your sons. 
8:85  Moreover you shall never seek to have shalom with them, that you may be strong, and eat the tov things of the land, and that you may leave the inheritance of the land to your children for evermore. 
8:86  And all that is befallen is done to us for our wicked works and great sins; for YOU, Oh YAHUVEH, did make our sins light, 
8:87  And did give to us such a root: but we have turned back again to transgress YOUR Torah, and to mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of the nations of the land. 
8:88  Mightest not YOU be angry with us to destroy us, till YOU had left us neither root, seed, nor name? 
8:89  O YAHUVEH of Yisrael, YOU are true: for we are left a root this day. 
8:90  Behold, now are we before YOU in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer by reason of these things before YOU. 
8:91  And as Ezra in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the ground before the Great Tabernacle, there gathered to him from Yerusalem a very great multitude of men and women and children: for there was great weeping among the multitude. 
8:92  Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Yisrael, called out, and said, Oh Ezra, we have sinned against YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY, we have married strange women of the nations of the land, and now is all Yisrael aloft. 
8:93  Let us make an oath to YAHUVEH, that we will put away all our wives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their children, 
8:94  Like as you have decreed, and as many as do obey the Torah of YAHUVEH. 
8:95  Arise and put in execution: for to you does this matter appertain, and we will be with you: do valiantly. 
8:96  So Ezra arose, and took an oath of the chief of the kohenim and Levites of all Yisrael to do after these things; and so they swore. 

Chapter 9

9:1 Then Ezra rising from the court of the tabernacle went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,
9:2 And remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.
9:3 And there was a proclamation in all Yahudah and Yerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Yerusalem:
9:4 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 tabernacle, and himself cast out from them that were of the captivity.
9:5 And in three days were all they of the tribe of Yahudah and Benjamin gathered together at Yerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.
9:6  And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the tabernacle because of the present foul weather. 
9:7  So Ezra arose up, and said to them, You have transgressed the Torah in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Yisrael. 
9:8  And now by confessing, give honor to YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY of our fathers, 
9:9  And do HIS will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women. 
9:10  Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as you have spoken, so will we do. 
9:11  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: 
9:12  Therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed, 
9:13  And with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of YAHUVEH from us for this matter. 
9:14  Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Shabbateus helped them. 
9:15  And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things. 
9:16  And Ezra the kohen chose to 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. 
9:17  So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in the first day of the first month. 
9:18  And of the kohenim that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found: 
9:19  Of the sons of Yoshua the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and Joadanus. 
9:20  And they gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their errors. 
9:21  And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and Sameius, and Hiereel, and AzariYah. 
9:22  And of the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Yisrael, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas. 
9:23  And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Yahuda, and Jonah. 
9:24  Of the kodesh singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus. 
9:25  Of the porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes. 
9:26  Of them of Yisrael, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias. 
9:27  Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, ZachariYah, and Hierielus, and Hieremoth, and Aedias. 
9:28  And of the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus. 
9:29  Of the sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and Amatheis. 
9:30  Of the sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael, and Hieremoth. 
9:31  And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, and Mathaniyah, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas. 
9:32  And of the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus. 
9:33  And of the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia, Eliphalet, and Manasses, and Semei. 
9:34  And of the sons of Maani; Jeremiyah, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias, Nathaniyah and of the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambis, Josephus. 
9:35  And of the sons of Ethma; Mazitiyah, Zabadaiyah, Edes, Juel, Banaiyah. 
9:36  All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children. 
9:37  And the kohenim and Levites, and they that were of Yisrael, dwelt in Yerusalem, and in the country, in the  first day of the seventh month: so the children of Yisrael were in their habitations.
9:38  And the whole multitude came together with one accord into the broad place of the kodesh porch toward the east: 
9:39  And they spoke to Ezra the kohen and reader, that he would bring the Torah of Mosheh, that was given of YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY of Yisrael. 
9:40  So Ezra the chief kohen brought the Torah to the whole multitude from man to woman, and to all the kohenim, to hear Torah in the first day of the seventh month. 
9:41  And he read in the broad court before the kodesh porch from morning to midday, before both men and women; and the multitude gave heed to the Torah. 
9:42  And Ezra the kohen and reader of the Torah stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which was made for that purpose. 
9:43  And there stood up by him MattathiYah, Sammus, Ananias, AzariYah, Urias, Ezeciyah, Balasamus, upon the right hand: 
9:44  And upon his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchiyah, Lothasubus, and Nabariyah. 
9:45  Then took Ezra the book of the Torah before the multitude: for he sat honorably in the first place in the sight of them all. 
9:46  And when he opened the Torah, they stood all straight up. So Ezra blessed YAHUVEH ALMIGHTY most High, the MIGHTY ONE of hosts, ALMIGHTY. 
9:47  And all the people answered, So be it, and Let it be fulfilled, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped YAHUVEH. 
9:48  Also Yoshua, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas, Maianeas, and Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the Torah of YAHUVEH, making them withal to understand it. 
9:49  Then spoke Attharates to Ezra the chief kohen. and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying, 
9:50  This day is kodesh to YAHUVEH; for they all wept when they heard the Torah: 
9:51  Go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing; 

The First Book of Esdras

Chapter 1

1:1 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,
1:2 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 Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,
1:3 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.
1:4 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
1:5 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:
1:6 Because the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they have forgotten me, and have offered unto strange gods.
1:7 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.
1:8 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.
1:9 How long shall I forbear them, into whom I have done so much good?
1:10 Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his servants and all his power have I smitten down.
1:11 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.
1:12 Speak thou therefore unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord,
1:13 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.
1:14 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.
1:15 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I gave you tents for your safeguard: nevertheless ye murmured there,
1:16 And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this day do ye yet murmur.
1:17 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,
1:18 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.
1:19 Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so ye did eat angels’ bread.
1:20 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.
1:21 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.
1:22 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, When ye were in the wilderness, in the river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my name,
1:23 I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the river sweet.
1:24 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.
1:25 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.
1:26 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.
1:27 Ye have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the Lord.
1:28 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,
1:29 That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should be your father?
1:30 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.
1:31 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.
1:32 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.
1:33 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble.
1:34 And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is an evil before me.
1:35 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.
1:36 They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.
1:37 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.
1:38 And now, brother, behold what glory; and see the people that come from the east:
1:39 Unto whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonas,
1:40 Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachy, which is called also an angel of the Lord.

Chapter 2

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.
2:2 The mother that bare them saith unto them, Go your way, ye children; for I am a widow and forsaken.
2:3 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.
2:4 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.
2:5 As for me, O father, I call upon thee for a witness over the mother of these children, which would not keep my covenant,
2:6 That thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that there may be no offspring of them.
2:7 Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be put out of the earth: for they have despised my covenant.
2:8 Woe be unto thee, Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous in thee! O thou wicked people, remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrha;
2:9 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.
2:10 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.
2:11 Their glory also will I take unto me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.
2:12 They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour, nor be weary.
2:13 Go, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.
2:14 Take heaven and earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created the good: for I live, saith the Lord.
2:15 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.
2:16 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.
2:17 Fear not, thou mother of the children: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
2:18 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,
2:19 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.
2:20 Do right to the widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,
2:21 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.
2:22 Keep the old and young within thy walls.
2:23 Wheresoever thou findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I will give thee the first place in my resurrection.
2:24 Abide still, O my people, and take thy rest, for thy quietness still come.
2:25 Nourish thy children, O thou good nurse; stablish their feet.
2:26 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.
2:27 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.
2:28 The heathen shall envy thee, but they shall be able to do nothing against thee, saith the Lord.
2:29 My hands shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see hell.
2:30 Be joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will deliver thee, saith the Lord.
2:31 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.
2:32 Embrace thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.
2:33 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.
2:34 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.
2:35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.
2:36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my Saviour openly.
2:37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.
2:38 Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;
2:39 Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord.
2:40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.
2:41 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.
2:42 I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.
2:43 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.
2:44 So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these?
2:45 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.
2:46 Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands?
2:47 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.
2:48 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.

Chapter 3

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:
3:2 For I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.
3:3 And my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the most High, and said,
3:4 O Lord, who bearest rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou didst plant the earth, and that thyself alone, and commandedst the people,
3:5 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.
3:6 And thou leadest him into paradise, which thy right hand had planted, before ever the earth came forward.
3:7 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.
3:8 And every people walked after their own will, and did wonderful things before thee, and despised thy commandments.
3:9 And again in process of time thou broughtest the flood upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyedst them.
3:10 And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to these.
3:11 Nevertheless one of them thou leftest, namely, Noah with his household, of whom came all righteous men.
3:12 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.
3:13 Now when they lived so wickedly before thee, thou didst choose thee a man from among them, whose name was Abraham.
3:14 Him thou lovedst, and unto him only thou shewedst thy will:
3:15 And madest an everlasting covenant with him, promising him that thou wouldest never forsake his seed.
3:16 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.
3:17 And it came to pass, that when thou leadest his seed out of Egypt, thou broughtest them up to the mount Sinai.
3:18 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.
3:19 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.
3:20 And yet tookest thou not away from them a wicked heart, that thy law might bring forth fruit in them.
3:21 For the first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and so be all they that are born of him.
3:22 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.
3:23 So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end: then didst thou raise thee up a servant, called David:
3:24 Whom thou commandedst to build a city unto thy name, and to offer incense and oblations unto thee therein.
3:25 When this was done many years, then they that inhabited the city forsook thee,
3:26 And in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a wicked heart:
3:27 And so thou gavest thy city over into the hands of thine enemies.
3:28 Are their deeds then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they should therefore have the dominion over Sion?
3:29 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.
3:30 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.
3:31 I do not remember how this way may be left: Are they then of Babylon better than they of Sion?
3:32 Or is there any other people that knoweth thee beside Israel? or what generation hath so believed thy covenants as Jacob?
3:33 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.
3:34 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.
3:35 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?
3:36 Thou shalt find that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts; but not the heathen.

Chapter 4

4:1 And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,
4:2 And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High?
4:3 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:
4:4 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.
4:5 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.
4:6 Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?
4:7 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:
4:8 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.
4:9 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.
4:10 He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not know;
4:11 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?
4:12 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.
4:13 He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel,
4:14 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.
4:15 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.
4:16 The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.
4:17 The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them.
4:18 If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?
4:19 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.
4:20 Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also?
4:21 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.
4:22 Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:
4:23 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,
4:24 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.
4:25 What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked.
4:26 Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,
4:27 And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.
4:28 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.
4:29 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.
4:30 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?
4:31 Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought forth.
4:32 And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill?
4:33 Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?
4:34 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.
4:35 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?
4:36 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.
4:37 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.
4:38 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety.
4:39 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.
4:40 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.
4:41 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:
4:42 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.
4:43 From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.
4:44 Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,
4:45 Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.
4:46 What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.
4:47 And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee.
4:48 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.
4:49 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.
4:50 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.
4:51 Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or what shall happen in those days?
4:52 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.

Chapter 5

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.
5:2 But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard long ago.
5:3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see wasted suddenly.
5:4 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:
5:5 And blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice, and the people shall be troubled:
5:6 And even he shall rule, whom they look not for that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls shall take their flight away together:
5:7 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.
5:8 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:
5:9 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,
5:10 And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied upon earth.
5:11 One land also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that maketh a man righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, No.
5:12 At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall not prosper.
5:13 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.
5:14 Then I awaked, and an extreme fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.
5:15 So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet.
5:16 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?
5:17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of their captivity?
5:18 Up then, and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.
5:19 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.
5:20 And so I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, like as Uriel the angel commanded me.
5:21 And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again,
5:22 And my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the most High again,
5:23 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:
5:24 And of all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit: and of all the flowers thereof one lily:
5:25 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:
5:26 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:
5:27 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.
5:28 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?
5:29 And they which did gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy covenants, have trodden them down.
5:30 If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thine own hands.
5:31 Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the night afore was sent unto me,
5:32 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.
5:33 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?
5:34 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.
5:35 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?
5:36 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,
5:37 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.
5:38 And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling with men?
5:39 As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof thou askest me?
5:40 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.
5:41 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?
5:42 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.
5:43 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?
5:44 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.
5:45 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.
5:46 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.
5:47 And I said, She cannot: but must do it by distance of time.
5:48 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.
5:49 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.
5:50 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.
5:51 He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that beareth children, and she shall tell thee.
5:52 Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?
5:53 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.
5:54 Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were before you.
5:55 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.
5:56 Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy sight, shew thy servant by whom thou visitest thy creature.

Chapter 6

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,
6:2 Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,
6:3 Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,
6:4 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,
6:5 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:
6:6 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.
6:7 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?
6:8 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.
6:9 For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.
6:10 The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not.
6:11 I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,
6:12 I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.
6:13 So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice.
6:14 And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.
6:15 And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundation of the earth is understood.
6:16 And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is moved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.
6:17 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.
6:18 And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,
6:19 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;
6:20 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:
6:21 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.
6:22 And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall suddenly be found empty:
6:23 And tha trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid.
6:24 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.
6:25 Whosoever remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world.
6:26 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.
6:27 For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.
6:28 As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.
6:29 And when he talked with me, behold, I looked by little and little upon him before whom I stood.
6:30 And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come.
6:31 If thou wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall tell thee greater things by day than I have heard.
6:32 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.
6:33 And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not
6:34 And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten from the latter times.
6:35 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.
6:36 And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the most High.
6:37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress.
6:38 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.
6:39 And then was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man’s voice was not yet formed.
6:40 Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.
6:41 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.
6:42 Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh part of the earth: six pats hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee.
6:43 For as soon as thy word went forth the work was made.
6:44 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.
6:45 Upon the fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine, and the moon give her light, and the stars should be in order:
6:46 And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.
6:47 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.
6:48 For the dumb water and without life brought forth living things at the commandment of God, that all people might praise thy wondrous works.
6:49 Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leviathan;
6:50 And didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them both.
6:51 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:
6:52 But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.
6:53 Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:
6:54 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.
6:55 All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes Page 715 2 Esdras
6:56 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.
6:57 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.
6:58 But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.
6:59 If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?

Chapter 7

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:
7:2 And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.
7:3 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.
7:4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;
7:5 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?
7:6 There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things:
7:7 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:
7:8 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.
7:9 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?
7:10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel’s portion.
7:11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.
7:12 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.
7:13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.
7:14 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.
7:15 Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?
7:16 Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present?
7:17 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.
7:18 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.
7:19 And he said unto me. There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the Highest.
7:20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of God that is set before them.
7:21 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.
7:22 Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;
7:23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:
7:24 But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.
7:25 And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.
7:26 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.
7:27 And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.
7:28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.
7:29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.
7:30 And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain.
7:31 And after seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall die that is corrupt
7:32 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.
7:33 And the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pass away, and the long suffering shall have an end:
7:34 But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:
7:35 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.
7:36 Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:
7:37 And Jesus after him for Israel in the time of Achan:
7:38 And Samuel and David for the destruction: and Solomon for them that should come to the sanctuary:
7:39 And Helias for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:
7:40 And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many for many.
7:41 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?
7:42 He answered me, and said, This present life is not the end where much glory doth abide; therefore have they prayed for the weak.
7:43 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,
7:44 Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.
7:45 Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the victory.
7:46 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.
7:47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?
7:48 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.
7:49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?
7:50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain?
7:51 And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?
7:52 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?
7:53 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?
7:54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.)
7:55 And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?
7:56 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.
7:57 Then answered he me, and said, This is the condition of the battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;
7:58 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.
7:59 For this is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live.
7:60 Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no nor me which have spoken unto them,
7:61 That there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.
7:62 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,
7:63 And upon those also that turn to his law;
7:64 And that he is patient, and long suffereth those that have sinned, as his creatures;
7:65 And that he is bountiful, for he is ready to give where it needeth;
7:66 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.
7:67 For if he shall not multiply his mercies, the world would not continue with them that inherit therein.
7:68 And he pardoneth; for if he did not so of his goo that are cured with his word, and put out the multitude of contentions,
7:70 There should be very few left peradventure in an innumerable multitude.

Chapter 8

8:1 And he answered me, saying, The most High hath made this world for many, but the world to come for few.
8:2 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.
8:3 There be many created, but few shall be saved.
8:4 So answered I and said, Swallow then down, O my soul, understanding, and devour wisdom.
8:5 For thou hast agreed to give ear, and art willing to prophesy: for thou hast no longer space than only to live.
8:6 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?
8:7 For thou art alone, and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like as thou hast said.
8:8 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.
8:9 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.
8:10 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,
8:11 That the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time, till thou disposest it to thy mercy.
8:12 Thou broughtest it up with thy righteousness, and nurturedst it in thy law, and reformedst it with thy judgment.
8:13 And thou shalt mortify it as thy creature, and quicken it as thy work.
8:14 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.
8:15 Now therefore, Lord, I will speak; touching man in general, thou knowest best; but touching thy people, for whose sake I am sorry;
8:16 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;
8:17 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.
8:18 But I have heard the swiftness of the judge which is to come.
8:19 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,
8:20 O Lord, thou that dwellest in everlastingness which beholdest from above things in the heaven and in the air;
8:21 Whose throne is inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended; before whom the hosts of angels stand with trembling,
8:22 Whose service is conversant in wind and fire; whose word is true, and sayings constant; whose commandment is strong, and ordinance fearful;
8:23 Whose look drieth up the depths, and indignation maketh the mountains to melt away; which the truth witnesseth:
8:24 O hear the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy creature.
8:25 For while I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding I will answer.
8:26 O look not upon the sins of thy people; but on them which serve thee in truth.
8:27 Regard not the wicked inventions of the heathen, but the desire of those that keep thy testimonies in afflictions.
8:28 Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee: but remember them, which according to thy will have known thy fear.
8:29 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.
8:30 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.
8:31 For we and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because of us sinners thou shalt be called merciful.
8:32 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.
8:33 For the just, which have many good works laid up with thee, shall out of their own deeds receive reward.
8:34 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?
8:35 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.
8:36 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.
8:37 Then answered he me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according unto thy words it shall be.
8:38 For indeed I will not think on the disposition of them which have sinned before death, before judgment, before destruction:
8:39 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.
8:40 Like as I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.
8:41 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.
8:42 I answered then and said, If I have found grace, let me speak.
8:43 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:
8:44 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.
8:45 Be not wroth with us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon thine own inheritance: for thou art merciful unto thy creature.
8:46 Then answered he me, and said, Things present are for the present, and things to cometh for such as be to come.
8:47 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.
8:48 In this also thou art marvellous before the most High:
8:49 In that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.
8:50 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.
8:51 But understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.
8:52 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.
8:53 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:
8:54 Sorrows are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.
8:55 And therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish.
8:56 For when they had taken liberty, they despised the most High, thought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways.
8:57 Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,
8:58 And said in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that knowing they must die.
8:59 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:
8:60 But they which be created have defiled the name of him that made them, and were unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.
8:61 And therefore is my judgment now at hand.
8:62 These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I and said,
8:63 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.

Chapter 9

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,
9:2 Then shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world which he made.
9:3 Therefore when there shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of the people in the world:
9:4 Then shalt thou well understand, that the most High spake of those things from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.
9:5 For like as all that is made in the world hath a beginning and an end, and the end is manifest:
9:6 Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in wonder and powerful works, and endings in effects and signs.
9:7 And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works, and by faith, whereby ye have believed,
9:8 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.
9:9 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.
9:10 For such as in their life have received benefits, and have not known me;
9:11 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;
9:12 The same must know it after death by pain.
9:13 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.
9:14 Then answered I and said,
9:15 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:
9:16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop.
9:17 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.
9:18 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.
9:19 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.
9:20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it.
9:21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people.
9:22 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.
9:23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,
9:24 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;)
9:25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.
9:26 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.
9:27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before:
9:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and said,
9:29 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.
9:30 And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words, thou seed of Jacob.
9:31 For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be honoured in it for ever.
9:32 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;
9:33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
9:34 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,
9:35 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.
9:36 For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it
9:37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.
9:38 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.
9:39 Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and turned me unto her,
9:40 And said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so grieved in thy mind?
9:41 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.
9:42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me.
9:43 She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had an husband thirty years,
9:44 And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my, prayer to the Highest.
9:45 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.
9:46 And I nourished him with great travail.
9:47 So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I made a feast.

Chapter 10

10:1 And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died.
10:2 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.
10:3 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.
10:4 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.
10:5 Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,
10:6 Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?
10:7 How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?
10:8 And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?
10:9 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.
10:10 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.
10:11 Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude; and not thou, which art sorry but for one?
10:12 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;
10:13 But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth is gone, as it came:
10:14 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.
10:15 Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which hath befallen thee.
10:16 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.
10:17 Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.
10:18 And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.
10:19 So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,
10:20 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.
10:21 For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed;
10:22 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;
10:23 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.
10:24 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.
10:25 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.
10:26 And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.
10:27 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,
10:28 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.
10:29 And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.
10:30 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,
10:31 What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?
10:32 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.
10:33 And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.
10:34 Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.
10:35 For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.
10:36 Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?
10:37 Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.
10:38 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.
10:39 He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.
10:40 This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:
10:41 Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:
10:42 But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.
10:43 And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:
10:44 This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,
10:45 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.
10:46 But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son.
10:47 And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.
10:48 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.
10:49 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.
10:50 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:
10:51 And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:
10:52 For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.
10:53 Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.
10:54 For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man’s building be able to stand.
10:55 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:
10:56 And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.
10:57 For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but few.
10:58 But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;
10:59 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.

Chapter 11

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.
11:2 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.
11:3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.
11:4 But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue.
11:5 Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.
11:6 And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.
11:7 And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake to her feathers, saying,
11:8 Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course:
11:9 But let the heads be preserved for the last.
11:10 And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.
11:11 And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.
11:12 And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;
11:13 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;
11:14 And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.
11:15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said,
11:16 Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,
11:17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof.
11:18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.
11:19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared no more.
11:20 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:
11:21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not.
11:22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:
11:23 And there was no more upon the eagle’s body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.
11:24 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.
11:25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.
11:26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.
11:27 And the second was sooner away than the first.
11:28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:
11:29 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.
11:30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.
11:31 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.
11:32 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.
11:33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.
11:34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.
11:35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.
11:36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.
11:37 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,
11:38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,
11:39 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?
11:40 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.
11:41 For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.
11:42 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.
11:43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty.
11:44 The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.
11:45 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:
11:46 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.

Chapter 12

12:1 And it came to pass, whiles the lion spake these words unto the eagle, I saw,
12:2 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.
12:3 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,
12:4 Lo, this hast thou done unto me, in that thou searchest out the ways of the Highest.
12:5 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.
12:6 Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end.
12:7 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;
12:8 Comfort me then, and shew me thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this fearful vision, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul.
12:9 For thou hast judged me worthy to shew me the last times.
12:10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision:
12:11 The eagle, whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel.
12:12 But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee.
12:13 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.
12:14 In the same shall twelve kings reign, one after another:
12:15 Whereof the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than any of the twelve.
12:16 And this do the twelve wings signify, which thou sawest.
12:17 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:
12:18 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.
12:19 And whereas thou sawest the eight small under feathers sticking to her wings, this is the interpretation:
12:20 That in him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be but small, and their years swift.
12:21 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.
12:22 And whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation:
12:23 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,
12:24 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.
12:25 For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last end.
12:26 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.
12:27 For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword.
12:28 For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself.
12:29 And whereas thou sawest two feathers under the wings passing over the head that is on the right side;
12:30 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.
12:31 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;
12:32 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.
12:33 For he shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them, and correct them.
12:34 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.
12:35 This is the dream that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations.
12:36 Thou only hast been meet to know this secret of the Highest.
12:37 Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them:
12:38 And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou knowest may comprehend and keep these secrets.
12:39 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.
12:40 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,
12:41 What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?
12:42 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.
12:43 Are not the evils which are come to us sufficient?
12:44 If thou shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been burned in the midst of Sion?
12:45 For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said,
12:46 Be of good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of Jacob:
12:47 For the Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not forgotten you in temptation.
12:48 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.
12:49 And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you.
12:50 So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded them:
12:51 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

Chapter 13

13:1 And it came to pass after seven days, I dreamed a dream by night:
13:2 And, lo, there arose a wind from the sea, that it moved all the waves thereof.
13:3 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.
13:4 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.
13:5 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
13:6 But I beheld, and, lo, he had graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it.
13:7 But I would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was graven, and I could not.
13:8 And after this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.
13:9 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:
13:10 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.
13:11 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.
13:12 Afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and call unto him another peaceable Multitude.
13:13 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,
13:14 Thou hast shewed thy servant these wonders from the beginning, and hast counted me worthy that thou shouldest receive my prayer:
13:15 Shew me now yet the interpretation of this dream.
13:16 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!
13:17 For they that were not left were in heaviness.
13:18 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.
13:19 Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities, like as these dreams declare.
13:20 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,
13:21 The interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee, and I will open unto thee the thing that thou hast required.
13:22 Whereas thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is the interpretation:
13:23 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.
13:24 Know this therefore, that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be dead.
13:25 This is the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man coming up from the midst of the sea:
13:26 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.
13:27 And whereas thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wind, and fire, and storm;
13:28 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:
13:29 Behold, the days come, when the most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the earth.
13:30 And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth.
13:31 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.
13:32 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.
13:33 And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle they have one against another.
13:34 And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as thou sawest them, willing to come, and to overcome him by fighting.
13:35 But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion.
13:36 And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as thou sawest the hill graven without hands.
13:37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest;
13:38 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.
13:39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him;
13:40 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 Page 725 2 Esdras he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.
13:41 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,
13:42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.
13:43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.
13:44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over.
13:45 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.
13:46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,
13:47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace.
13:48 But those that be left behind of thy people are they that are found within my borders.
13:49 Now when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain.
13:50 And then shall he shew them great wonders.
13:51 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?
13:52 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.
13:53 This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and whereby thou only art here lightened.
13:54 For thou hast forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence unto my law, and sought it.
13:55 Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called understanding thy mother.
13:56 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.
13:57 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;
13:58 And because he governeth the same, and such things as fall in their seasons: and there I sat three days.

Chapter 14

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.
14:2 And I said, Here am I, Lord And I stood up upon my feet.
14:3 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:
14:4 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,
14:5 And told him many wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of the times, and the end; and commanded him, saying,
14:6 These words shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.
14:7 And now I say unto thee,
14:8 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:
14:9 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.
14:10 For the world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax old.
14:11 For the world is divided into twelve parts, and the ten parts of it are gone already, and half of a tenth part:
14:12 And there remaineth that which is after the half of the tenth part.
14:13 Now therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people, comfort such of them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption,
14:14 Let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the weak nature,
14:15 And set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and haste thee to flee from these times.
14:16 For yet greater evils than those which thou hast seen happen shall be done hereafter.
14:17 For look how much the world shall be weaker through age, so much the more shall evils increase upon them that dwell therein.
14:18 For the time is fled far away, and leasing is hard at hand: for now hasteth the vision to come, which thou hast seen.
14:19 Then answered I before thee, and said,
14:20 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.
14:21 For thy law is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that are done of thee, or the work that shall begin.
14:22 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.
14:23 And he answered me, saying, Go thy way, gather the people together, and say unto them, that they seek thee not for forty days.
14:24 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;
14:25 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.
14:26 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.
14:27 Then went I forth, as he commanded, and gathered all the people together, and said,
14:28 Hear these words, O Israel.
14:29 Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were delivered:
14:30 And received the law of life, which they kept not, which ye also have transgressed after them.
14:31 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.
14:32 And forasmuch as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that he had given you.
14:33 And now are ye here, and your brethren among you.
14:34 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.
14:35 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.
14:36 Let no man therefore come unto me now, nor seek after me these forty days.
14:37 So I took the five men, as he commanded me, and we went into the field, and remained there.
14:38 And the next day, behold, a voice called me, saying, Esdras, open thy mouth, and drink that I give thee to drink.
14:39 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.
14:40 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:
14:41 And my mouth was opened, and shut no more.
14:42 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.
14:43 As for me. I spake in the day, and I held not my tongue by night.
14:44 In forty days they wrote two hundred and four books.
14:45 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:
14:46 But keep the seventy last, that thou mayest deliver them only to such as be wise among the people:
14:47 For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge.
14:48 And I did so.

Chapter 15

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:
15:2 And cause them to be written in paper: for they are faithful and true.
15:3 Fear not the imaginations against thee, let not the incredulity of them trouble thee, that speak against thee.
15:4 For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness.
15:5 Behold, saith the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world; the sword, famine, death, and destruction.
15:6 For wickedness hath exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and their hurtful works are fulfilled.
15:7 Therefore saith the Lord,
15:8 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.
15:9 And therefore, saith the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and receive unto me all the innocent blood from among them.
15:10 Behold, my people is led as a flock to the slaughter: I will not suffer them now to dwell in the land of Egypt:
15:11 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.
15:12 Egypt shall mourn, and the foundation of it shall be smitten with the plague and punishment that God shall Page 727 2 Esdras bring upon it.
15:13 They that till the ground shall mourn: for their seeds shall fail through the blasting and hail, and with a fearful constellation.
15:14 Woe to the world and them that dwell therein!
15:15 For the sword and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people shall stand up and fight against another, and swords in their hands.
15:16 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.
15:17 A man shall desire to go into a city, and shall not be able.
15:18 For because of their pride the cities shall be troubled, the houses shall be destroyed, and men shall be afraid.
15:19 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.
15:20 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.
15:21 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;
15:22 My right hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them that shed innocent blood upon the earth.
15:23 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.
15:24 Woe to them that sin, and keep not my commandments! saith the Lord.
15:25 I will not spare them: go your way, ye children, from the power, defile not my sanctuary.
15:26 For the Lord knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore delivereth he them unto death and destruction.
15:27 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.
15:28 Behold an horrible vision, and the appearance thereof from the east:
15:29 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.
15:30 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.
15:31 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,
15:32 Then these shall be troubled bled, and keep silence through their power, and shall flee.
15:33 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.
15:34 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.
15:35 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,
15:36 And dung of men unto the camel’s hough.
15:37 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.
15:38 And then shall there come great storms from the south, and from the north, and another part from the west.
15:39 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.
15:40 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,
15:41 Fire, and hail, and flying swords, and many waters, that all fields may be full, and all rivers, with the abundance of great waters.
15:42 And they shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees of the wood, and grass of the meadows, and their corn.
15:43 And they shall go stedfastly unto Babylon, and make her afraid.
15:44 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.
15:45 And they that remain under her shall do service unto them that have put her in fear.
15:46 And thou, Asia, that art partaker of the hope of Babylon, and art the glory of her person:
15:47 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.
15:48 Thou hast followed her that is hated in all her works and inventions: therefore saith God,
15:49 I will send plagues upon thee; widowhood, poverty, famine, sword, and pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death.
15:50 And the glory of thy Power shall be dried up as a flower, the heat shall arise that is sent over thee.
15:51 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.
15:52 Would I with jealousy have so proceeded against thee, saith the Lord,
15:53 If thou hadst not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of thine hands, and saying over their dead, when thou wast drunken,
15:54 Set forth the beauty of thy countenance?
15:55 The reward of thy whoredom shall be in thy bosom, therefore shalt thou receive recompence.
15:56 Like as thou hast done unto my chosen, saith the Lord, even so shall God do unto thee, and shall deliver thee into mischief
15:57 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.
15:58 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.
15:59 Thou as unhappy shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues again.
15:60 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.
15:61 And thou shalt be cast down by them as stubble, and they shall be unto thee as fire;
15:62 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.
15:63 Thy children shall they carry away captive, and, look, what thou hast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face.

Chapter 16

16:1 Woe be unto thee, Babylon, and Asia! woe be unto thee, Egypt and Syria!
16:2 Gird up yourselves with cloths of sack and hair, bewail your children, and be sorry; for your destruction is at hand.
16:3 A sword is sent upon you, and who may turn it back?
16:4 A fire is sent among you, and who may quench it?
16:5 Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that may drive them away?
16:6 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?
16:7 May one turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?
16:8 The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues and who is he that can drive them away?
16:9 A fire shall go forth from his wrath, and who is he that may quench it?
16:10 He shall cast lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid?
16:11 The Lord shall threaten, and who shall not be utterly beaten to powder at his presence?
16:12 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:
16:13 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.
16:14 Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the earth.
16:15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the earth.
16:16 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.
16:17 Woe is me! woe is me! who will deliver me in those days?
16:18 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?
16:19 Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment.
16:20 But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.
16:21 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.
16:22 For many of them that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine; and the other, that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy.
16:23 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.
16:24 There shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it
16:25 The trees shall give fruit, and who shall gather them?
16:26 The grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? for all places shall be desolate of men:
16:27 So that one man shall desire to see another, and to hear his voice.
16:28 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.
16:29 As in an orchard of Olives upon every tree there are left three or four olives;
16:30 Or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some clusters of them that diligently seek through the vineyard:
16:31 Even so in those days there shall be three or four left by them that search their houses with the sword.
16:32 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.
16:33 The virgins shall mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall mourn, having no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, having no helpers.
16:34 In the wars shall their bridegrooms be destroyed, and their husbands shall perish of famine.
16:35 Hear now these things and understand them, ye servants of the Lord.
16:36 Behold, the word of the Lord, receive it: believe not the gods of whom the Lord spake.
16:37 Behold, the plagues draw nigh, and are not slack.
16:38 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:
16:39 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.
16:40 O my people, hear my word: make you ready to thy battle, and in those evils be even as pilgrims upon the earth.
16:41 He that selleth, let him be as he that fleeth away: and he that buyeth, as one that will lose:
16:42 He that occupieth merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it: and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therein:
16:43 He that soweth, as if he should not reap: so also he that planteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes:
16:44 They that marry, as they that shall get no children; and they that marry not, as the widowers.
16:45 And therefore they that labour labour in vain:
16:46 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.
16:47 And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more they deck their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own persons:
16:48 The more will I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord.
16:49 Like as a whore envieth a right honest and virtuous woman:
16:50 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.
16:51 And therefore be ye not like thereunto, nor to the works thereof.
16:52 For yet a little, and iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign among you.
16:53 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.
16:54 Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts:
16:55 Which spake but the word, Let the earth be made; and it was made: Let the heaven be made; and it was created.
16:56 In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them.
16:57 He searcheth the deep, and the treasures thereof; he hath measured the sea, and what it containeth.
16:58 He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters.
16:59 He spreadeth out the heavens like a vault; upon the waters hath he founded it.
16:60 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.
16:61 He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life, and understanding.
16:62 Yea and the Spirit of Almighty God, which made all things, and searcheth out all hidden things in the secrets of the earth,
16:63 Surely he knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in your hearts, even them that sin, and would hide their sin.
16:64 Therefore hath the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and he will put you all to shame.
16:65 And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day.
16:66 What will ye do? or how will ye hide your sins before God and his angels?
16:67 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.
16:68 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.
16:69 And they that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden under foot.
16:70 For there shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord.
16:71 They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and destroying those that fear the Lord.
16:72 For they shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.
16:73 Then shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire.
16:74 Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same.
16:75 Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,
16:76 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.
16:77 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!
16:78 It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.