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/1Esd/ - 1 Esdras

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The First Book of Esdras

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8And after these things, when Artexerxes the king of the Persians reigned came Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Ezerias, the son of Helchiah, the son of Salum,

2The son of Sadduc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias, the son of Ezias, the son of Meremoth, the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of Abisum, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.

3This Esdras went up from Babylon, as a scribe, being very ready in the law of Moses, that was given by the God of Israel.

4And the king did him honour: for he found grace in his sight in all his requests.

5There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, of the priest of the Levites, of the holy singers, porters, and ministers of the temple, unto Jerusalem,

6In the seventh year of the reign of Artexerxes, in the fifth month, this was the king’s seventh year; for they went from Babylon in the first day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them.

7For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.

8Now the copy of the commission, which was written from Artexerxes the king, and came to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, is this that followeth;

9King Artexerxes unto Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord sendeth greeting:

10Having determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites being within our realm, as are willing and desirous should go with thee unto Jerusalem.

11As many therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with thee, as it hath seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counsellors;

12That they may look unto the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which is in the law of the Lord;

13And carry the gifts unto the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends have vowed, and all the gold and silver that in the country of Babylon can be found, to the Lord in Jerusalem,

14With that also which is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their God at Jerusalem: and that silver and gold may be collected for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things thereunto appertaining;

15To the end that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord upon the altar of the Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem.

16And whatsoever thou and thy brethren will do with the silver and gold, that do, according to the will of thy God.

17And the holy vessels of the Lord, which are given thee for the use of the temple of thy God, which is in Jerusalem, thou shalt set before thy God in Jerusalem.

18And whatsoever thing else thou shalt remember for the use of the temple of thy God, thou shalt give it out of the king’s treasury.

19And I king Artexerxes have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and Phenice, that whatsoever Esdras the priest and the reader of the law of the most high God shall send for, they should give it him with speed,

20To the sum of an hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to an hundred cors, and an hundred pieces of wine, and other things in abundance.

21Let all things be performed after the law of God diligently unto the most high God, that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.

22I command you also, that ye require no tax, nor any other imposition, of any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or porters, or ministers of the temple, or of any that have doings in this temple, and that no man have authority to impose any thing upon them.

23And thou, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and justices, that they may judge in all Syria and Phenice all those that know the law of thy God; and those that know it not thou shalt teach.

24And whosoever shall transgress the law of thy God, and of the king, shall be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.

25Then said Esdras the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord God of my fathers, who hath put these things into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in Jerusalem:

26And hath honoured me in the sight of the king, and his counsellors, and all his friends and nobles.

27Therefore was I encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and gathered together men of Israel to go up with me.

28And these are the chief according to their families and several dignities, that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of king Artexerxes:

29Of the sons of Phinees, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of the sons of David, Lettus the son of Sechenias:

30Of the sons of Pharez, Zacharias; and with him were counted an hundred and fifty men:

31Of the sons of Pahath Moab, Eliaonias, the son of Zaraias, and with him two hundred men:

32Of 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:

33Of the sons of Elam, Josias son of Gotholias, and with him seventy men:

34Of the sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with him threescore and ten men:

35Of the sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jezelus, and with him two hundred and twelve men:

36Of the sons of Banid, Assalimoth son of Josaphias, and with him an hundred and threescore men:

37Of the sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight men:

38Of the sons of Astath, Johannes son of Acatan, and with him an hundred and ten men:

39Of the sons of Adonikam the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalet, Jewel, and Samaias, and with them seventy men:

40Of the sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.

41And these I gathered together to the river called Theras, where we pitched our tents three days: and then I surveyed them.

42But when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,

43Then sent I unto Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,

44And Alnathan, and Mamaias, and Joribas, and Nathan, Eunatan, Zacharias, and Mosollamon, principal men and learned.

45And I bade them that they should go unto Saddeus the captain, who was in the place of the treasury:

46And commanded them that they should speak unto Daddeus, and to his brethren, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests’ office in the house of the Lord.

47And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought unto us skilful men of the sons of Moli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Asebebia, and his sons, and his brethren, who were eighteen.

48And Asebia, and Annus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Channuneus, and their sons, were twenty men.

49And of the servants of the temple whom David had ordained, and the principal men for the service of the Levites to wit, the servants of the temple two hundred and twenty, the catalogue of whose names were shewed.

50And there I vowed a fast unto the young men before our Lord, to desire of him a prosperous journey both for us and them that were with us, for our children, and for the cattle:

51For I was ashamed to ask the king footmen, and horsemen, and conduct for safeguard against our adversaries.

52For we had said unto the king, that the power of the Lord our God should be with them that seek him, to support them in all ways.

53And again we besought our Lord as touching these things, and found him favourable unto us.

54Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Esebrias, and Assanias, and ten men of their brethren with them:

55And I weighed them the gold, and the silver, and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, which the king, and his council, and the princes, and all Israel, had given.

56And when I had weighed it, I delivered unto them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of an hundred talents, and an hundred talents of gold,

57And twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, glittering like gold.

58And I said unto them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver is a vow unto the Lord, the Lord of our fathers.

59Watch ye, and keep them till ye deliver them to the chief of the priests and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, into the chambers of the house of our God.

60So the priests and the Levites, who had received the silver and the gold and the vessels, brought them unto Jerusalem, into the temple of the Lord.

61And from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was with us: and from the beginning of our journey the Lord delivered us from every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem.

62And when we had been there three days, the gold and silver that was weighed was delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day unto Marmoth the priest the son of Iri.

63And with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were Josabad the son of Jesu and Moeth the son of Sabban, Levites: all was delivered them by number and weight.

64And all the weight of them was written up the same hour.

65Moreover they that were come out of the captivity offered sacrifice unto the Lord God of Israel, even twelve bullocks for all Israel, fourscore and sixteen rams,

66Threescore and twelve lambs, goats for a peace offering, twelve; all of them a sacrifice to the Lord.

67And they delivered the king’s commandments unto the king’s stewards’ and to the governors of Celosyria and Phenice; and they honoured the people and the temple of God.

68Now when these things were done, the rulers came unto me, and said,

69The nation of Israel, the princes, the priests and Levites, have not put away from them the strange people of the land, nor the pollutions of the Gentiles to wit, of the Canaanites, Hittites, Pheresites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.

70For both they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy seed is mixed with the strange people of the land; and from the beginning of this matter the rulers and the great men have been partakers of this iniquity.

71And as soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and the holy garment, and pulled off the hair from off my head and beard, and sat me down sad and very heavy.

72So all they that were then moved at the word of the Lord God of Israel assembled unto me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.

73Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and the holy garment rent, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands unto the Lord,

74I said, O Lord, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face;

75For our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our ignorances have reached up unto heaven.

76For ever since the time of our fathers we have been and are in great sin, even unto this day.

77And for our sins and our fathers’ we with our brethren and our kings and our priests were given up unto the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, unto this day.

78And now in some measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from thee, O Lord, that there should be left us a root and a name in the place of thy sanctuary;

79And to discover unto us a light in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food in the time of our servitude.

80Yea, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord; but he made us gracious before the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food;

81Yea, and honoured the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Sion, that they have given us a sure abiding in Jewry and Jerusalem.

82And now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we have transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying,

83That the land, which ye enter into to possess as an heritage, is a land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness.

84Therefore now shall ye not join your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take their daughters unto your sons.

85Moreover ye shall never seek to have peace with them, that ye may be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that ye may leave the inheritance of the land unto your children for evermore.

86And all that is befallen is done unto us for our wicked works and great sins; for thou, O Lord, didst make our sins light,

87And didst give unto us such a root: but we have turned back again to transgress thy law, and to mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of the nations of the land.

88Mightest not thou be angry with us to destroy us, till thou hadst left us neither root, seed, nor name?

89O Lord of Israel, thou art true: for we are left a root this day.

90Behold, now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer by reason of these things before thee.

91And as Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered unto him from Jerusalem a very great multitude of men and women and children: for there was great weeping among the multitude.

92Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel, called out, and said, O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of the nations of the land, and now is all Israel aloft.

93Let us make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our wives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their children,

94Like as thou hast decreed, and as many as do obey the law of the Lord.

95Arise and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter appertain, and we will be with thee: do valiantly.

96So Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do after these things; and so they sware.

9Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,

2And remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.

3And there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:

4And that whosoever met not there within two or three days according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from them that were of the captivity.

5And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.

6And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the present foul weather.

7So Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.

8And now by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,

9And do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.

10Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do.

11But 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:

12Therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,

13And with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.

14Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.

15And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.

16And Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their families, all by name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat together to examine the matter.

17So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in the first day of the first month.

18And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found:

19Of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and Joadanus.

20And they gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their errors.

21And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and Sameius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.

22And of the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas.

23And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.

24Of the holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.

25Of the porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.

26Of them of Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias.

27Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and Hieremoth, and Aedias.

28And of the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus.

29Of the sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and Amatheis.

30Of the sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael, and Hieremoth.

31And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, and Mathanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.

32And of the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.

33And of the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia, Eliphalet, and Manasses, and Semei.

34And of the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambis, Josephus.

35And of the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel, Banaias.

36All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children.

37And the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the country, in the first day of the seventh month: so the children of Israel were in their habitations.

38And the whole multitude came together with one accord into the broad place of the holy porch toward the east:

39And they spake unto Esdras the priest and reader, that he would bring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel.

40So Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole multitude from man to woman, and to all the priests, to hear law in the first day of the seventh month.

41And he read in the broad court before the holy porch from morning unto midday, before both men and women; and the multitude gave heed unto the law.

42And Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which was made for that purpose.

43And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezecias, Balasamus, upon the right hand:

44And upon his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, and Nabarias.

45Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in the first place in the sight of them all.

46And when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.

47And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.

48Also Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas, Maianeas, and Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it.

49Then spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest. and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying,

50This day is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard the law:)

51Go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing;

52For this day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to honour.

53So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.

54Then went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give part to them that had nothing, and to make great cheer;

55Because they understood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.

The Prayer of Manasseh, or, The Prayer of Manasses King of Judah

1O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;

2who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof;

3who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name;

4whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable:

5but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable;

6for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.

7Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner:

8for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities.

9I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.

10Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace.

11I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities:

12wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent;

13and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.

14Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Second Book of Esdras

1The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob,

2The 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 Arna, the son of Ozias, the son of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,

3The 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.

4And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

5Go 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:

6Because the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they have forgotten me, and have offered unto strange gods.

7Am 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.

8Pull 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.

9How long shall I forbear them, into whom I have done so much good?

10Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his servants and all his power have I smitten down.

11All 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.

12Speak thou therefore unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord,

13I 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.

14I gave you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I done among you; yet have ye forgotten me, saith the Lord.

15Thus saith the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I gave you tents for your safeguard: nevertheless ye murmured there,

16And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this day do ye yet murmur.

17Where are the benefits that I have done for you? when ye were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, did ye not cry unto me,

18Saying, 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.

19Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so ye did eat angels’ bread.

20When 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.

21I 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.

22Thus saith the Almighty Lord, When ye were in the wilderness, in the river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my name,

23I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the river sweet.

24What 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.

25Seeing 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.

26Whensoever 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.

27Ye have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the Lord.

28Thus 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,

29That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should be your father?

30I 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.

31When ye offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feastdays, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I forsaken.

32I 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.

33Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble.

34And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is an evil before me.

35Your 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.

36They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.

37I 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.

38And now, brother, behold what glory; and see the people that come from the east:

39Unto whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonas,

40Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachy, which is called also an angel of the Lord.

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