The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

III. ESDRAS [No initial rubric in the MSS. of either version.] .

CAP. I.

[verse 1] AND Josias made pasch in Jerusalem to the Lord, and he offride pasch the fourtenthe dai of the moone of the firste [verse 2] monith, ordeinende prestis bi whilis of daȝis, clothid in stolis, in the temple of the Lord. [verse 3] And he seide to the Leuitus, the holi seruauns of Irael, that thei shulden halewe them self to the Lord, in setting of the holi arke of the Lord in the hous, that king Salamon, the sone of Dauid, [verse 4] bilde; It shal not be to ȝou to taken it vp on shuldris; and now serueth to oure Lord, and doth the cure of that folc of Irael, of parti aftir tounis, and [in A.] ther [verse 5] linagis, aftir the writing of Dauid, king of Irael, and aftir the grete wrshipeful doing of Salamon, his sone, alle in the temple, and aftir ȝoure litil fader partie of princehod of hem, that stonden in the siȝte of the brethern of the sonus of Irael. [verse 6] Offrith pasch, and maketh redi sacrifises to ȝoure brethern; and doth aftir the heste of the Lord, that [that that A.] is ȝiue to Moises. [verse 7] And Josias ȝaf in to the folc that is founde, shep, of lombis, and of kidis, and of she got, thretti thousend; calues thre thousend. [verse 8] These thingus of the kingus thingus ben ȝiuen aftir beheste to the puple, and to prestis, in to pasch; shep in noumbre two thousend, and caluis an

hundrid. [verse 9] And Jechonias, and Semeias, and Nathanael, brother, and Azabias, and Oziel, and Coraba, in to pasch, shep, fiue thousend; caluis, fiue hundrid. [verse 10] And whan these thingis weren do nobli, the prestis and Leuitus stoden, hauende therue loues bi linagys. [verse 11] And aftir the parties of the princehod of fadris in the siȝte of the puple thei offriden to the Lord, aftir thoo thingus that in the boc of Moises ben writen. [verse 12] And thei rosteden pasch with fijr, as it behouede; and ostus thei soden in sething vesselis and pottis, with weel willing. [verse 13] And thei broȝten to alle that weren of the folc; and aftir these thingus thei maden redi to hemself and to prestis. [verse 14] The prestus forsothe of|friden talewis, vnto the hour was endid; and Leuitus maden redi to hemself, and to ther bretheren, and to the sonys of Aron. [verse 15] And the sacrifieris [sacrifiseres AEFH.] offriden doȝ|tris, after ordre, and after the heste of Dauid; and Azaf, and Zacharias, and [verse 16] Jeddinus, that was of the king; and the ussheris bi alle the ȝatis, so that noon ouerpasside his. Forsothe the brethern of hem gretheden to hem. [verse 17] And thoo thingis, that perteneden to the sacrifise of the Lord, ben ended. [verse 18] In that dai thei dide pasch, and offriden ostis vp on the sacrifise of the Lord, after the heste of king Josie. [verse 19] And the sonus of Irael, that ben founde, diden in that time pasch, and the feste dai of therue loues bi seuene daȝes. [verse 20] And there is not solempnisid such a pasch in Irael, fro the times of Samuel, the profete. [verse 21] And alle the kingus of Irael haleweden not such a pasch, as dide Josias, and the prestus, and Leuitis, and Jewis, and al Irael, that ben founden in the commemoracioun at Jerusalem. [verse 22] The eiȝetenthe ȝer, regnende Josias, is halewid pasch. [verse 23] And the werkis of Josie ben made riȝte in the siȝte of his Lord, in ful herte [verse 24] dredende; and thoo thingus forsothe that abouten hym ben writen, in the rathere times of hem that sinneden, who so euere weren vnreligious aȝen the Lord, befor

alle folc, and that soȝten not the woordis of the Lord vp on Irael. [verse 25] And aftir al this deede of Josie, Farao, king of Egipt, steȝede vp, comende to casten awei in Carcamys vpon Eufraten; and Josias wente in to meeting to hym. [verse 26] And the king of Egipt sente to Josiam, seiende, What is to me and to thee, king of Jude? [verse 27] I am not sent of the Lord, vpon Eufraten forsothe is mi bataile; heeȝende go doun. [verse 28] And Josias is not turned aȝeen vp on the char, but enforcide to ouercomyn hym, not takende heede to the woord of the [verse 29] profete, of the mouth of the Lord; but he sette to hym bataile in the feld of Mecedan; and princis descendeden to king Josiam. [verse 30] And the king seide to his childer, Moueth me awei fro the bataile; forsothe I am gretli maad sijk. And anoon his childre moueden hym awei fro the sheltrun. [verse 31] And he steȝede vp vpon his secunde [secoundarie AEFH.] char; and comende to Jerusa|lem, diede, and is biried in the fader se|pulcre. [verse 32] And in al Jude thei weileden Josie, and thei that befor seten with wiues, weilede hym vnto this dai; and this is ȝiue to be don euermor in to al the kinrede of Irael. [verse 33] These thingus for|sothe ben beforn writen in the boc of stories of kingus of Juda, and `in to [in A.] alle iestis, the deede of Josie, the glorie of hym, and his vnderstonding in the lawe of God; for euenli ben don of hym, and thoo thingus that ben not writen in the boc of kingus of Irael and of Juda. [verse 34] And thei that weren of the kinrede, takende Jechoniam, the sone of Josie, setten king for Josie, his fadir, whan he was of thre and thretti ȝer. [verse 35] And he regnede vp on Irael thre monethis; and the king of Egipt putte hym awei, that he regne not in Jerusalem. [verse 36] And he pilde [pilede AEFH.] the folc of an hundrid talentus of siluer, and a talent of gold. [verse 37] And the king of Egipt sette Joachym, his brother, king of Jude and [verse 38] of Jerusalem; and he bond the maister iugis of Joachim; Saracel, his brother, takende, he broȝte aȝeen to Egipt. [verse 39] Joa|chim

was of fiue and twenti ȝer, whan he regnede in the lond of Juda and of Jerusalem; and he dide euel in the siȝte of the Lord. [verse 40] Aftir this forsothe Nabu|godonosor, king of Babiloine, steȝede vp, and bindende hym [Om. C pr. m.] in a strong [deuynyd E pr. m.] bond, [verse 41] broȝte in to Babiloine; and the holi ves|selis of God Nabugodonosor toc and broȝte, and sacride in his temple in Babi|loine. [verse 42] Forsothe of his vnclennesse and vnreligiosite it is writen in the boc of the times of kingus. [verse 43] And Joachim, his sone, regnede for hym; whan forsothe he was ordeined, he was of eiȝte ȝer. [verse 44] For|sothe he regnede thre monethis and ten daȝes in Jerusalem; and dide [he dide A.] euel in the siȝte of the Lord. [verse 45] And aftir a ȝer Nabu|godonosor sendende broȝte hym ouer in to Babiloine, togidere with the sacride vesselis of the Lord. [verse 46] And he sette Sede|chiam king of Juda and of Jerusalem, whan he was of oon and twenti ȝer. [verse 47] For|sothe he regnede elleuen ȝer; and dide euel in the siȝte of the Lord, and was not adrad of the woordis that ben seid of Je|remie, the profete, of the mouth of the [verse 48] Lord; and adiurid of king Nabugodono|sor, forsworn wente awei, and his [with his E pr. m.] hard|ned nol, and with his herte trespaside the lawful thingus of the Lord God of Irael. [verse 49] And the dukis of the puple of the Lord manie thingus wickeli beeren, and vnpi|tousli diden ouer alle the vnclennessis of Jentilis; and thei defouleden the temple of the Lord, that was holi [Om. C.] in Jerusalem. [verse 50] And God of ther fadris sente bi his aungil to aȝeen clepen hem, for the whiche thing he sparede to hem, and to ther tabernacle. [verse 51] Thei forsothe scorn|eden in ther corneris, and that dai that the Lord spac, thei weren bobbende his profetus. [verse 52] The whiche vnto wrathe is stirid vp on his folc [puple C pr. m.] , for ther irreligi|osite. Comaundende and steȝende vp the [verse 53] kingus of Caldeis, thei slowen the ȝunge men of hem in swerd, in the enuyroun of the holi temple of hem; and thei spareden not to ȝung man, and to maiden, and to

[verse 54] old man, and to ful waxen man; but and alle thei ben taken in to the hondus of hem; and alle the sacride vesselis of the Lord, and the kingis cofrys takende, thei broȝten in to Babiloine. [verse 55] And thei brenden vp the hous of the Lord, and distrieden the wallis of Jerusalem, and his touris brenden with fijr. [verse 56] And thei wasteden alle the wrshipeful thingus, and to noȝt broȝten; and the laft fro swerd thei broȝten in to Babiloine. [verse 57] And thei weren his thrallis, vnto the time that Persis reg|neden, in the fulfilling of the woord of [verse 58] the Lord, in the mouth of Jeremie; for to the lond wolde do benigneli ther sa|batis, al the time of ther forsaking he sabatisede, in the apliyng of seuenti [the seuenti AH.] ȝer.

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Regnende Ciro, king of Persis, in the fulfilling of the woord of the Lord, in [verse 2] the mouth of Jeremie, the Lord rerede the spirit of Ciri, king of Persis; and prechide in al his reume togidere bi [verse 3] scripture, seiende, These thingus seith Cirus, king of Persis, Me hath ordeined king to the world of erthis the Lord of [verse 4] Irael, the heeȝe Lord; and he signefiede to me to bilde to hym an hous in Jeru|salem, that is in Juda. [verse 5] If ani man is of ȝoure kinrede, his Lord steȝe vp with hym in to Jerusalem. [verse 6] Hou fele euere thanne aboute placis dwellen, helpe thei hym that ben in that place, in gold and [verse 7] siluer, in ȝiftis, with hors, and bestis, and with othere thingus, that aftir vouwis ben leid vp in to the hous of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem. [verse 8] And the stondende princis of linagis of tounus of Jude, of the linage of Beniamyn, and prestis and Leuitis, whom the Lord stiride to steȝen vp, and to bilden vp the hous of the

Lord, that is in Jerusalem; and thoo, that weren in the enuyroun of hem, [verse 9] shulden helpe [helpe them C.] in alle siluer and gold of it, and in bestis, and in manie vouwis; manie, of whom the wit is stirid. [verse 10] And king Cirus broȝte forth the sacride ves|selis of the Lord, that Nabugodonosor translatide fro Jerusalem, and sacride hem in his maumet. [verse 11] And bringende forth hem Cirus, king of Persis, toc to Mitridate, that was vp on the tresoris of hym. [verse 12] Bi hym forsothe thei ben taken to Salmanasar, gouernour of Jude. [verse 13] Of these forsothe this [this is A.] the noumbre; siluer sacrid vesselis of likouris, two thousend and foure hundrid; siluerene drinking vesselis, thretti; goldene violis, thretti; also siluerene, two thousend and foure hundrid; and othere vesselis, a thousend. [verse 14] Alle forsothe goldene vesselis and sil|uerene, four thousend foure hundrid and eiȝte and sixti. [verse 15] And thei ben deliuerd out to Salmanasar, togidere with hem, that of the caytifte of Babiloine weren comen in to Jerusalem. [verse 16] Forsothe in the times of Artaxerses, king of Persis, writen to hym [ben A.] , of these that dwelten in Jude and in Jerusalem, Balsamus, and Mitri|datus, and Sabellius, and Ratinius, Bal|teneus, Samelius, scribe, and othere dwell|ende in Samarie, and in othere placis, the vnderset lettre to king Artaxersi. [verse 17] Lord, thi childer, Ratinus, and Sabelius, scribe, and othere domysmen of thi cort, of thingus that fallen in to Coelem Siriem, and Fenicem. [verse 18] And now be it knowen to the lord the king, for Jewis, that steȝ|eden vp fro ȝou to vs, comende in to Je|rusalem, cite aȝeen flowen to, and werst [ferst H.] , bilden up [Om. C.] the ouenus of it, and setten the wallis, and reren the temple. [verse 19] That if this cite and wallis weren ful endid, thei shul not suffre to ȝelde tributis, but also thei shuln aȝen stonde to kingus. [verse 20] And for that that is do aboute the temple, to han riȝtli wee han demyd to not despisen [verse 21] that same thing, but `to maken knowen [anon to don E pr. m.] to the lord the king, that if [Om. H.] it shal

seme, O [of A.] ! thee [the A. Om. E pr. m.] king, be it soȝt in the [Om. A.] [verse 22] bokis of thi fadris; and thou shalt finde in the remembrauncis writen of hem, and thou shalt knowen, for that cite was aȝeen floun, and kingis and cites smitende [verse 23] togidere, and Jewis aȝeen fleende, and makende batailis in it fro euermor; for what cause this cite is desert. [verse 24] Now thanne knowen we maken, lord [the lord A.] king [the kyng A.] , for if this cite were bild vp, and of this the wallis weren rerid [arered AEFH.] , comyng doun shal not be to thee in to Coelem Ciriem and Fenicem. [verse 25] Thanne the king wrot aȝee to Ratinum, that wrot the fallende thingus, and to Bellumym, and to Sabellio, scribe, and to othire ordeined, and dwell|eris in Cirie and Fenyce, thoo thingus that ben sett vnder. [verse 26] I ha [haue AEFH.] rad the lettre [thingis E pr. m.] , that thou sentist to me. Thanne [That A.] I co|maundide to be soȝt; and it is founde, for that cite is fro alwei withstondende [verse 27] to kingus, and the men aȝeen fugitif, and batailis in it makende; and most stronge kingus han ben in Jerusalem lordship|ende, and tributus askende of Cele Cirie and Fenice. [verse 28] Now thanne I comaundede to forfende thoo men to bilden vp the cite, and to puruein, lest ani thing more [verse 29] this thing be maad; but go thei not forth in to more, sithen thei ben of malice, so that to kingis greeues ben [ben not C pr. m.] born in.

CAP. III.

[verse 30] Thanne these thingus rehersid, that of king Artaxerse weren writen, Rathinus, and Sabellius, scribe, and that with hem weren ordeined, ioynende [runnynge E pr. m.] , heeȝendeli [heeȝyngli EF.] camen in to Jerusalem, with horse men, [verse 31] and puple, and cumpanie; and begunnen to forfenden the bilders. And thei voided|en fro the bilding of the temple in Jeru|salem, vnto the secunde ȝer of the regne of Darie, king of Persis. [verse 1] King Darie

made a gret soper to alle his seruauns, and to alle the maister iugis of Meedis [verse 2] and of Persis, and to alle that wereden [werden C.] purper, and to gouernoures, and to coun|seileris, and to prefectis vnder hym, fro Ynde vnto Ethiope, to an hundrid and seuene and twenti prouincis. [verse 3] And whan they hadden eten and drunken, and ful|fild, turneden aȝeen, thanne king Darie steȝede vp in his litil bed place, and sleep [slepte AEFH.] , and is wakid [waken AEFH.] . [verse 4] Thanne thoo thre ȝunge men, keperis of the body, that kepten the bodi of the king, seiden the tothir to the [verse 5] tother, Seie wee eche of vs a woord, that befor passe; and whos euere woord seme wisere of the tother, king Darie shal [verse 6] ȝiue to hym grete ȝiftus, and to be couered with purper, and to drinken in gold, and vpon gold to slepen, and a goldene char, with bridel, and a bys mytre, and a beȝe [verse 7] aboute the necke; and in the secunde place he shal sitte fro Darie, for his wis|dam; and the cosin of Darie he shal be clepid. [verse 8] Thanne eche writende his woord, seleden, and putten vnder the pilwe [verse 9] of king Darie; and seiden, Whan the king hadde rise [arijse AEFH.] , thei shul ȝiue to hym ther thingus writen, and what euere thing the king shal demen of thre, and the maister iugis of Persis, for the woord of hym is wisere, to hym shal be ȝiue the victorie, as it is write. [verse 10] Oon wrot, Strong is win. [verse 11] The tother wrot, Strengere is the king. [verse 12] The thridde wrot, Strengere ben wymmen; ouer alle thingus forsothe ouercometh treuthe. [verse 13] And whan the king hadde risen, thei token ther writen thingis, and ȝeuen to hym, and he radde. [verse 14] And sendende he clepide alle the maister iugis of Persis, and of Meedis, and the clothed in purper, and the reuleris of [verse 15] prouincis, and prefectis; and thei seten in conseil, and ben rad write befor them. [verse 16] And he seide, Clepeth the ȝunge men, and thei shul shewe ther woordis. And thei ben clepid [clepen A.] , and camen in. [verse 17] And he seide to hem, Shewith to vs of these thingus that ben writen. And the rathere, that hadde

[verse 18] seid of the strengthe of win, began, and seide, Men! hou miche win is passende strong; to alle men that drinken it it [verse 19] berth doun the mynde; also of king and of faderles child it maketh the minde vein; also of seruaunt and of freman, of [verse 20] pore and of riche; and alle minde it [he A.] turneth in to sikyrnesse, and in to glad|nesse; and it remembreth not of [Om. AEFH.] any [verse 21] sorewe and dette; and alle the entrailis it makith onest; and it remembrith not king, ne maister iuge; and alle thingis [verse 22] bi talent it maketh to speke; and thei remembre not, whan thei han drunke, frendshipe ne brotherhed, and after not [verse 23] miche thei taken swerdis; and whan of win thei drownyn, and rijsen, thei han no mynde that thei diden. [verse 24] O men! whether win is not passendeli strong, that thus constreineth to do? And this seid, he held his pes.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] And the folewere began to sein, that [verse 2] seith of the strengthe of king, O men! whether men ben not passendely strong, that erthe and se holden, and alle thingus that in hem ben? [verse 3] The king forsothe ouer alle thingus passith, and hath lordshipe of hem, and alle thing, what euere he shal sei to them, thei don. [verse 4] And if [Om. C.] he sende hem to fiȝteres, thei gon, and destroȝen [verse 5] hillis, and wallis, and touris; thei ben slain, and slen, and the woord of the king thei passe not; for if thei ouer|comen, thei bringe to the king alle thingus, whateuere thingus thei han spoil|id [verse 6] euermor, and alle othere thingus. And [Om. A.] hou fele euere bern not [up E pr. m.] kniȝthod, ne fiȝten, but eren the lond, eftsone whan thei weren repende, thei bringe tributus to the king. [verse 7] And he oon alone; and if he seie to slen, thei slen; and if he seie to [verse 8] forȝiuen, thei forȝiuen; and if he seie to

smyten, thei smite; if he seie to out|lawen, thei outlawen; if he seie to bilden, [verse 9] thei bilden; if he seie to fallen [hewen E pr. m.] of, thei fallen [hewen E pr. m.] of; if he seie to plaunten, thei [verse 10] plaunten; and alle folc and vertues hym obeshen; and ouer these [alle these C pr. m. E pr. m.] thingus he shal sitte, and drinke, and slepen. [verse 11] These forsothe in enuyroun kepen hym, and moun not go eche, and do ther werkis, but and in woord men ben obeshende to hym. [verse 12] What maner wise the king pass|eth not befor, that thus is losid [defamed E pr. m.] ? And he heeld his pes. [verse 13] The thridde, that hadde seid of wymmen, and of treuthe; [verse 14] this is Sorobabel; began to speke, Men! not gret the king, and manie men, ne win passeth beforn; who is thanne that hath lordshipe of hem? [verse 15] Whether not wymmen geete [geten the A. geeten E.] king, and al the puple, that lord|shipe to the se, and to [Om. A. al E pr. m.] the erthe, and of hem ben born? [verse 16] And thei broȝten forth hem that plaunteden vines, of the whiche win is maad. [verse 17] And thei maken the stolis of alle men, and thei don glorie to men, and men moun not ben seuered fro wym|men. [verse 18] If thei gedere togidere gold and seluer, and alle fair thing, and seen a womman in good abite, and in good fair|nesse, [verse 19] alle these thingis forsakende, in to hir thei taken heede, and the mouth opened, beholden, and [in C.] hir drawen [and drawen C.] to more than gold or [and AH.] siluer, or any precious thing [ston C pr. m.] . [verse 20] A man hys fader shal forsaken, that nurshide hym, and his regioun, and [verse 21] to a womman ioyneth togidere, and with a womman leueth the lif, and nouther fader remembreth, ne moder, ne regioun. [verse 22] And therfore it behoueth vs to knowen, for wymmen han lordshipe of vs. Whe|ther sorewe ȝee not? [verse 23] And a man take his swerd, and goth in the weie to do theftis, and manslaȝteris [manslaȝtis CH.] , and to seilen [verse 24] ouer the se and flodis; and a leoun [lioun AFH.] he seeth, and in dercnesse [dirknessis A.] he goth in; and whan he hath don thefte, and gilis, and raueines, he bringeth to his leef. [verse 25] And eft a man looueth his wif mor than fader

[verse 26] or modir; and manie woode men ben maade for ther wiues, and thrallis ben [verse 27] made for hem; and manie pershiden, and ben stranglid, and synneden for wymmen. [verse 28] And now leeueth to [Om. AEFH.] me; for gret is the king in his power, for alle regiouns [regioun A.] ben aferd to touchen hym. [verse 29] I saȝ ner the latere Apemen, the doȝter of wndirful man Besacis, the secundarie wif of the king, sittende biside the king at the riȝt side; [verse 30] and takende awei the diademe fro his hed, and puttende on to hirself [hym E pr. m.] , and with the hondis she smot the king of [and of C.] the lift hond. [verse 31] And ouer these thingus, the mouth opened, he beheeld hir, and if she loowe to hym, he looȝ [loowȝ E.] , and if she were wroth to hym, he glosith, to the time that he be recounsilid `in to [to in A.] grace. [verse 32] O men! whi ben not wymmen strengere? Gret is the erthe, and heeȝ is heuene, that these thingus don. [verse 33] And thanne the king and the purprid men beheelden either in to other; and he [Om. C.] began to speken of treuthe. [verse 34] O men! whether stronge ben not wymmen? Gret is the erthe, and heȝ is heuene, and swift is the cours of the sunne; it is turned in the cumpas of he|uene, and eft it renneth aȝeen in to the same place o dai. [verse 35] Whether not a gret doere is he, that maketh these thingus? and treuthe gret, and strengere beforn alle thingis? [verse 36] Al erthe treuthe inwardli clepeth, heuene also it blesseth, and alle werkus ben moued and dreden it; and ther is not with it any thing wickedj. [verse 37] Wicked [wicke C pr. m.] king, wicked [wicke C pr. m.] wymmen, and wicked [wicke C pr. m.] alle the sonis of men, and wicked [wicke C pr. m.] alle the werkis of hem, and ther is not in hem treuthe, and in ther wickednessis [wickenessis C.] [verse 38] thei shuln pershen; and treuthe dwellith, and waxeth in to with oute ende, and liueth, and weldeth, in to worldis of worldis. [verse 39] And to taken persones and differencis is not anent it; but thoo thingis that ben riȝtwis it doth, to alle vnriȝtwise and euele men; and alle men ben maad benigne in his werkis. [verse 40] And

ther is not in his dom wickednesse [wickenesse C.] , but strengthe, and reume, and power, and mageste of alle duringis aboue time. Blessid be the God of treuthe! [verse 41] And he lafte in speking. And alle puplis crieden, and seiden, Gret is treuthe, and beforn passeth. [verse 42] Thanne the king seith to hym, Aske, if any thing thou wilt more ouer, than ther ben [is A.] writen, and I shal ȝiue to thee, aftir that thou art founde wisere; and next to [Om. A.] me thou shalt sitte, and my cosin thou shalt be clepid. [verse 43] Thanne he seith to the king, Be thou myndeful of the vou, that thou vouwidist, to bilde [bilde in C.] Jerusalem, in the dai that [in whiche AH.] thou toke the [verse 44] reume; and alle the vesselis, that ben taken of Jerusalem, to senden aȝeen, the whiche Cirus seuerede, whan he sloȝ Ba|biloine, and wolde senden aȝeen thoo thingus thider. [verse 45] And thou woldist bilden vp the temple, that Idumeis brenden vp [Om. A.] , for Jude is put out of termes fro Caldeis. [verse 46] And now this is that I aske, lord, and that I bidde; this is maieste that of thee I aske, that thou do the vou, that thou vouwedist to the king of heuene, of thi mouth. [verse 47] Thanne Darie, the king, risende kiste hym, and wrot epistolis to alle the dispensatouris, and prefectis, and purprid men, that thei shulden leden hym forth, and hem that with hym weren, alle steȝ|ende vp to bilde Jerusalem. [verse 48] And to alle the prefectis that weren in Cirie, and [Om. C.] Fenice, and Liban, he wrot epistolis, that thei shulden drawe cedre trees fro Liban in to Jerusalem, that thei bilde vp with hem the cite. [verse 49] And he wrot to alle the Jewis, that steȝeden vp fro the reume in Jude, for fredam, alle myȝti man, and maister iuge, and prefect, to not comen [verse 50] ouer to the ȝatus of hem, and eche re|gioun, that thei hadden weldid, to be free fro hem; and Idumeis laften the castelis, [verse 51] that thei weldeden of the Jewis, and in to the making of the temple to [thei A.] ȝiue bi ȝeris twenti talentis, vnto the time that [verse 52] it be ful bildid; and to offren ostis eche

dai vp on the place of sacrid thingus, as thei han heste; othere ten talentus to of|fren [verse 53] bi alle ȝeris; and to alle men, that gon forth fro Babiloine, to make cite [cytees A.] , as fredam were, bothe to hem, and to the sonus of hem, and to alle the prestis that gon beforn. [verse 54] Forsothe he wrot and the quantite; and the sacrid stole he co|maundede to be ȝiue, in the whiche thei [verse 55] shulden serue; and to the Leuitis he wrot to ȝiue wagis, vnto the dai that the hous shulde be fulli endid, and Jerusalem [verse 56] maad out; and to alle men kepende the cite he wrot, to ȝiue to hem lotis and wagis. [verse 57] And he lafte alle the vesselis, that Cirus hadde seuered fro Babiloine; and alle thingis, whateuere Cirus seide, also he comaundede to be don, and to be sent to Jerusalem. [verse 58] And whan that ȝunge man hadde go forth, rerende the face in to Jerusalem, he [Om. CEFH.] blesside the king of he|uene, [verse 59] and seide, Of thee is victorie, and of thee is wisdam, and clernesse, and I am thy seruaunt. [verse 60] Blessid thou art, for thou hast ȝiue to me wisdam, and I knou|leche to thee, Lord of oure fadris. [verse 61] And he toc the epistolis, and wente forth in to Babiloine; and cam, and tolde to alle his brethern that weren in Babiloine. [verse 62] And thei blesseden the God of ther fadris, that ȝaf to hem forȝiuenesse and refresh|ing, [verse 63] that thei steȝen vp, and bilde Jeru|salem, and the temple, where is his name nemnyd in it; and thei ioȝeden ful out with musikis and gladnessys [gladnes A.] seuene daȝes.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] Aftir these thingus forsothe ben chosen, that thei steȝen vp, the princis of tounus, bi housis, bi ther linagis, and the wiues of hem, and sones and doȝtris of hem, and seruauns and hand wymmen of hem,

and bestis of hem. [verse 2] And king Darie sente togidere with hem a thousend horse men, to the time that thei broȝten hem in to Jerusalem, with pes, and with musikis, and timbres, and trumpis; and alle the brethern weren pleiende. [verse 3] And he made hem to steȝen vp togidere with hem. [verse 4] And these ben the namis of the [Om. A.] men that steȝeden vp, bi their tounus, in to linagis, and in to part of the princehod of hem. [verse 5] Prestus; the sonus of Finees, the sonus of Aron, Jesus, the sone of Josedech, Ja|chim, the sone of Sorobabel, sone of Sola|tiel, of the hous of Dauid, of the progenie of Fares, of the linage forsothe of Juda, [verse 6] that spac vnder Darie, king of Persis, merueilous doende woordis, in the se|cunde ȝer of his regne [rewme AH.] , in Aprill, the firste moneth. [verse 7] Forsothe these ben, that of Juda steȝeden vp fro the caitifte of transmigracioun, whom Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloine, translatide into Babi|loine; and is turned aȝeen in to Jerusa|lem, [verse 8] and in to alle the cites of Jude, eche in to his cite, that camen with Soro|babel and Jesu; Neemias, Ariores, Eli|meo, Emanio, Mardocheo, Beelsuro, Meth|satothor, Olioro, Eboma, oon of the princis of hem. [verse 9] And the noumbre fro the Jen|tilis of hem, fro the prouostis of hem; the sonus of Fares, two thousend an hundrid [verse 10] and seuenti and two; the sonus of Ares, [verse 11] thre thousend fifti and seuene; the sonus of Femo, an hundrid and two and fourti; in the sonus of Jese and Joabes, a thou|send [verse 12] thre hundrid and two; the sonus of Denny, two thousend foure hundrid and seuenti; the sones of Choraba, two hun|drid and fiue; the sonus of Banycha, an [verse 13] hundrid and sixti and eiȝte; the sonus of Bebeth, foure [thre E pr. m.] hundrid and thre; the sonus of Archad, foure hundrid and se|uene [verse 14] and twenti; the sonus of Hau, seuene and thretti; the sonus of Sozaar, two thousend sixti and seuene; the sonus of Adymy, foure hundrid and oon and [verse 15] sixti; the sonus of Azeroectis, an hundrid and eiȝte; the sonus of Ziazo and Zelas,

an hundrid and seuene; the sonus of Azo|roch, foure hundrid and nyne and thretty; [verse 16] the sonus of Jebdarbone, an hundrid and two and thretti; the sonus of Ananie, an hundrid and thretti; `the sonus of Arsom [Om. A.] ; [verse 17] the sonus of Marsar, foure hundrid and two and twenti [thretti A.] ; the sonus of Saberus, ninti and fiue; the sonus of Sofelomon, [verse 18] an hundrid and thre and twenti; the sonus of Nepobai, fiue and fifti; the sonus of Echanatus, an hundrid and eiȝte and fifti; the sonus of Ebeathamus, an hun|drid [verse 19] and two and thretti; the sonus of Octatarpatros, the whiche Enechades and Modie, foure hundrid and two and twenti; the whiche of Gramas and Ga|bia, [verse 20] an hundrid and oon and twenti; the whiche of Besellon and of [Om. A.] Agie, fiue and sixti; the whiche of Bascharo, an hun|drid [verse 21] and two and twenti; the whiche of Bethonobes, fiue and fifti; the sones of Lyptis, an hundred and fyue and fifty; the sonus of Jabomy, thre hundrid and [verse 22] seuene and fifti; the sonus of Sichem, thre hundrid and seuenti; the sonus of Sana|don and Chomus, thre hundrid and se|uenti [verse 23] and eiȝte; the sonus of Ericus, two thousend an hundrid and fiue and fifti; the sonus of Anaas, thre hundrid and se|uenti. [verse 24] Prestis; the sonus of Jeddus, the sonus of Enitem, the sonus of Eliazib, thre hundrid and two and seuenti; the sonus of Emmechus, two hundrid and two and [verse 25] fifti; the sonus of Sasurij, thre hundrid and seuene and fifti; the sonus of Caree, two hundrid and seuene and twenti. [verse 26] Le|uitis; the sonus of Jesu, in Caduel, and Banus, and Serebias, and Edias, foure and seuenti; al the noumbre fro the two [twelfthe E pr. m.] and twenti [twentithe E.] ȝer, thretti thousend foure [verse 27] hundrid and two and sixti; sones, and doȝtris, and wiues, al the noumbring, sixti [fourti E pr. m.] thousend two hundrid and two and fourti. [verse 28] Sonus of prestis, that sungen in the temple; the sonus of Asaf, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti. [verse 29] Ussheris forsothe; the [of the A.] sonus of Esuem, the sonus of Ather, the sonus of Amon, the sonus of Accuba

Copa, the sonus of Tobi, alle an hundrid and nyne and thretti. [verse 30] Prestis, seruende in the temple; sonus of Sel, the sonus of Gasipa, the sonus of Tabloth, the sonus of Carie, the sonus of Su, the sonus of Fellu, the sonus of Labana, the sonus of Acma|tha, the sones of Accub, the sonus of Vta, the sonus of Ceta, the sonus of Agab, the sonus of Obai, the sonus of Anan, the sonus [verse 31] of Caima, the sonus of Juddu, the sonus of An, the sonus of Radin, the sonus of De|samyn, the sonus of Nechoba, the sonus of Saseba, the sonus of Gaze, the sonus of Osin, the sonus of Finoe, the sonus of Atren, the sonus of Baseem, the sonus of Aziana, the sonus of Manai, the sonus of Nafisim, the sones of Accufu, the sonus of Agista, the sonus of Aria Faucin [the sonys of Faucin E pr. m.] , the [verse 32] sonus of Fasalon, the sonus of Meedda, the sonus of Fusia, the sonus of Careth, the sonus of Barchus, the sonus of Caree, the sonus of Thoesi, the sonus of Nasith, the sonys of Agisti, the sonus of Pedon. [verse 33] Sal|mon, the sonus of hym, the sonus of Asoffoth, the sonus of Farida, the sonus of Theli, the sonus of Dedon, the sonus of [verse 34] Gaddahel, the sonus of Cefegi, the sonus of Aggia, the sonus of Facareth, the sonus of Sabathan, the sonus of Saranoth, the sonus of Malcie, the sones of Amee, the sonus of Safuy, the sonus of Addus, the sonus of Suba, the sonus of Eyra, the sonus of Rabatis, the sonus of Fasofath, the sonus of Malmon. [verse 35] Alle in holi ser|uende; and the childer of Salomon, foure hundrid foure score and two. [verse 36] These ben the sonus, that steȝeden vp Atheemel and Thersas; the princis of hem, Carmellam [verse 37] and Careth; and thei myȝten not tellen out ther cites, and progenies, what maner thei ben; and of Irael, the sonus of Dalarij, the sonus of Tubam, the sonus of Nechodaici. [verse 38] And of the prestis, that vseden presthod, and ben not founde; the sonus of Obia, the sonus of Achisos, the sonus of Addin, that toc Vnim wif, of [verse 39] the doȝtris of Fargelen, and ben clepid bi the name of hir; and of these is soȝt the

write genelogie of kinrede, and it is not founden, and thei ben forfendid to vse presthod. [verse 40] And Neemie seide to hem, and Ascaras [Esderas A.] , that thei take not part of the holi thingus, to the time that ther rise [arise AH.] a taȝt bisshop, in to shewing and treuthe. [verse 41] Al [Om. A.] forsothe Irael was twelue thousend, out take seruauns and hand wymmen, two and fourti thousend thre hundrid and sixti. [verse 42] The seruauns of hem and hand wymmen, seuene thousend three hundrid and seuene and thretti; singeres and singeressis, two hundrid and fiue and [verse 43] sixti [thretti A.] ; camailis, foure hundrid and fiue and thretti; hors, seuen thousend sixe [and sixe A.] and thretti; mulis, two hundrid thousend and fiue and fourti; bestis vnder ȝoc, fiue thousend and fiue and twenti. [verse 44] And of thoo prouostis bi tounus, whil thei shul|den come in to the temple of God, that was in Jerusalem, to ben auouwid to rere the temple in his place, after ther [verse 45] vertue; and to be ȝiue in to the temple the [of A.] holi tresorie of werkis, eleue thou|send besauns, and prestis stolis an hun|drid. [verse 46] And ther dwelten prestus, and Leuitus, and that weren of the folc in Jerusalem, and in the regioun; and the holi singeres, vssheris, and al Irael, in ther regiouns. [verse 47] In stondende forsothe the seuenthe moneth, and whan the sonus of Irael weren eche in his owne thingus, thei camen togidere of oon acord in to the porche, that was befor the est ȝate. [verse 48] And stondende Jesus, the sone of Jose|dech, and his brether, prestis, and So|robabel, the sone of Salatiel, and of this [verse 49] the brether, maden redi an auter, that thei offre vpon it brent sacrifises, aftir thoo [the A.] thingus that in the boc of Moises, man of God, ben writen. [verse 50] And ther camen to hem of othere naciouns of the lond, and rereden the holi tresorie in his place, alle the folc of the lond; and thei offriden ostis, and morutide brent sacri|fises to the Lord. [verse 51] And thei diden the feste of tabernaclis, and a solempne dai, as it is write in the lawe, and sacrifises

eche dai, as it behouede [is behouede C sec. m. H.] . [verse 52] And aftir these thingus the [thei AH.] ordeined offringus, and ostus of sabatis, and of newe mones, and of alle halewid solempne daȝes. [verse 53] And hou fele euere vouweden to the Lord, fro the newe mone of the seuenthe moneth, token [thei token E pr. m.] ostis to offre to God; and the temple of the Lord ȝit was not bild vp. [verse 54] And thei ȝeue monee to masonus, and to wriȝtus, and drink and metus with ioȝe. [verse 55] And thei ȝeue carris to Sidonyes and to Tires, that thei shulden carien ouer to hem fro Liban wode cedre bemus, and maken a naue in to Joppe hauene, aftir the decre that was write to them fro Ciro, king of Persis. [verse 56] And in the se|cunde ȝer thei comende in to the temple of God, in to Jerusalem, the secunde moneth began Sorobabel, the sone of Sa|latiel, and Jesus, the sone of Josedech, and the brethern of hem, and prestis, and Leuitus, and alle that camen fro the [verse 57] caitifte in to Jerusalem; and foundeden the temple of God, in the newe mone of the secunde moneth of the secunde ȝer, whan thei hadde comen in to Jude and [verse 58] Jerusalem; and setten [senten A.] Leuitus fro twenti ȝer vpon the werkis of the Lord. And Jesus stod, his sone, and brethern, alle Leuitus togidere castende, and foleweris out of the lawe, and doende werkis in the hous of the Lord. [verse 59] And ther stoden prestys, hauende stolis, with trumpis, and Leuitus, the sonus of Asaf, hauende [verse 60] cymbalis, togidere preisende the Lord, and blessende, aftir Dauid, king of Irael. [verse 61] And thei sungen a song to the Lord, for his swetnesse and wrshipe in to worldis vp on al Irael. [verse 62] And al the puple with trumpe sungen, and crieden with gret vois, preisende togidere the Lord, in the rering of the hous of the Lord. [verse 63] And ther camen of prestus, and of Leuitus, and of presidentus aftir the tounus, to the [Om. A.] elders that hadden seen the rathere [verse 64] hous, and at the bilding vp of this, with cri, and with gret weiling; and manye [verse 65] with trumpis, and gret ioȝe, so that

the puple herde not the trumpis, for the weiling of the puple. Forsothe a cumpanye was singende wrshipefulli in trumpe, so that afer it was herd. [verse 66] And the enemis herden the linagis of Juda and of Beniamyn, and camen to wite, what was the vois of the trumpes. [verse 67] And thei knewen, for thei that weren of the caitifte bilden the temple to the Lord God of Irael. [verse 68] And comende neeȝ to So|robabel, and to Jesu, and to the prouostis of tounus, seiden to hem, Wee shul bilde togidere with ȝou. [verse 69] Lic maner forsothe wee han herd of [Om. AH.] oure Lord, and we to|gidere han go fro the daȝes of Asbasa|reth, king of Assiries, that wente ouer hennus. [verse 70] And seide to hem Sorobabel, and Jesue, and the princis of the tounus [verse 71] of Irael, It is not to vs and to ȝou to bilden vp the hous of oure God; we for|sothe alone shul bilden the hous of oure God, aftir thoo thingus, that Cirus, king of Persis, comaundede. [verse 72] The Jentilis for|sothe of the lond leuende to them that ben in Jude, and rerende vp the werk of the [Om. AH.] bilding, and aspies and puple bring|ende forth, forfendeden hem to bilden [verse 73] vp; and letteden the men, hauntende the goingus to, that the bilding shulde not ben endid al the time of the lif of king Ciri; and thei drowen along the making vp bi two ȝer, vn to the regne of Darie.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] In the secunde forsothe ȝer of the regne of Darie profeciede Agge, and Sacharie, the sone of Addin, profete, anent Jude and in Jerusalem, in the name of the Lord God of Irael, vpon hem. [verse 2] Thane stondende Sorobabel, the sone of Salatiel, and Jesus, the sone of Jesedech, begun|nen to bilden vp the hous of the Lord, [verse 3] that is in Jerusalem; whan ther weren

neeȝ to hem profetis of the Lord, and holpen [helpeden AH.] hem. In that time cam to hem Cisennes, the vnder litil king of Cirie and of Fenices, and Satrabosones, and ther felawis. [verse 4] And thei seiden to hem, Who comaundende to ȝou, this hous ȝe bilden, and this rof, and othere manie thingus ȝee parformen? and who ben the bilders, that these thingus bilden vp? [verse 5] And the visiting don vp on hem that weren of the caitifte, hadden grace of the Lord the [verse 6] elders of Irael; and thei ben not lettid to bilden vp, to the time that it were signefied to Darie of alle these thingus, and an answere were taken. [verse 7] The saum|ple of the epistil, that to Darie senten Cisennes, vnder king of Cirie and of Fenyces, and Satrobosanes, and ther felawis, in Cirie and in Fenice reuleris. To king Darie, greeting. [verse 8] Alle thingus knowen be thei to the lord the king; for whan we camen in to the regioun of Jude, and wenten in to Jerusalem, wee founde men bildende a gret hous of God, [verse 9] and a temple of grete poolisht stones, [verse 10] and of precious materes in wallis; and thoo werkis besili to be maad, and to helpe, and [Om. A.] to make welsum in the hondis of hem, and in alle glorie, as most diligentli to be parformed. [verse 11] Thanne wee askeden the eldere men, seiende, Who suffrende ȝee bilden to ȝou this hous, and these werkus founden? [verse 12] Therfore for|sothe wee askeden hem, that knowen wee myȝten make to thee the men, and the prouostis; and the writing of the namis of the prouostus wee askeden hem. [verse 13] And thei answerden to vs, seiende, We ben the seruauns of the Lord, that made [verse 14] heuene and erthe; and this hous was bild beforn these manie ȝeris of the king of Irael, gret, and most strong, and it is ful endid. [verse 15] And for oure fadris weren terrende and synneden [thei synneden A.] in the God of Irael, he [and he A.] toc hem in to the hondus of Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloine, king [verse 16] of Caldeis; and this hous destroȝende brenden vp, and the puple caitif broȝten

in to Babiloyne. [verse 17] In the firste ȝer reg|nende Ciro, king of Babiloine, king Cirus [verse 18] wrot to bilden vp this hous; and thoo [the F.] holi goldene vesselis and siluerene, that Nabugodonosor hadde born awei fro the hous, that is in Jerusalem, and hadde sacrid hem in his temple, eft king Cirus broȝte them forth fro the temple that was in Babiloyne, and ben take to Soro|babel, and to Salmanasar, vndir litil king. [verse 19] And it is comaundid to hem, that thei offren these vesselis, and lein vp in the temple, that was in Jerusalem, and that temple of God to bilden vp in that place. [verse 20] Thanne Salmanasar vnder leide the foun|demens of the hous of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem; and fro thennus vn to now is bild vp, and toc no ful ending. [verse 21] Now thanne, if it is demed of thee, O king! be it parfitli soȝt in the kingis libraries of [verse 22] king Ciri, that ben in Babiloine; and if it were founden in the counseil of king Ciri, to ben begunne the making of the hous of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem, and it shal be shewid of the lord oure king, wrijte he of these thingus to vs. [verse 23] Thanne king Darie comaundede to ben inwardli soȝt in the librarijs; and ther is founde in Egbatenis, burȝtoun, that is in the myddel regioun, o place, in the whiche weren writen these thingus. [verse 24] The firste ȝer regnende Ciro king, Cirus co|maundede the hous of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem, to bilden vp, where thei [verse 25] brenden with [Om. C.] contynuel fijr; whos heiȝte is maad of ten cubitis, and breede of fourti cubitus, squarid with thre polisht stonus, and with soleer tree of the same regioun, and with oon newe soleer; and costus to be ȝiuen of the hous of king [verse 26] Cirus; and the holi vesselis of the hous of the Lord, both goldene and siluerene, that Nabugodonosor bar awei, that thei be put thider in to [Om. A.] the hous, that is in Jerusalem, where thei weren put. [verse 27] And he comaundede besinesse to don Cisen|nem, vnder litil king of Cirie and Fe|nice, and Satrabusanam, and his felawis,

and thei that weren in Cirie and in Fe|nice ordeineden reuleris, that thei ab|stene them fro the same place. [verse 28] And I also comaundede al to maken vp, and forth lookide, that thei helpe them that ben of the caitifte of Jewis, to the time that the temple of the hous of the Lord [verse 29] be ful endid; and of the trauaile of the tributus of Cirie Choeles and Fenices dili|gentli a quantite to be ȝiue to these men, to the sacrifise of the Lord, to Soroba|bel, prefect, to bolis, and wetheris, and [verse 30] lambis; also forsothe and whete, and salt, and win, and oile, besili bi alle ȝeris, as the prestus, that ben in Jerusalem, or|deineden to be fulfild eche dai, with oute [verse 31] any delai; that ther ben offrid offringus of likourus to the heiȝeste God, for the king, and his childer, and preȝe for the lif of hem. [verse 32] And be it denounsid, that whoso euere ouer passen [passith A.] any thing of these thingus that ben writen, or despisen, be ther taken a tree of ther own pro|per, and be thei hangid, and the goodis of hem to the king be eschetid. [verse 33] Therfore and the Lord, whos name is inwardli clepid there, outlawe eche king and folc, that strecchen out ther hond to forfenden, or to euele treten that hous of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem. [verse 34] I, king Darie, haue maad a decre, to be don as most dili|gentli aftir these thingis.

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Thanne Cisennes, vnder litil king of Choelem Cirie and Fenicem, and Satra|busanes, and the felawis, obesheden to these thingus, that of king Darye weren [verse 2] demed, stoden in to the holi werkis most diligentli, togidere werkende with the eldere men of Jewis, princis of Cirie. [verse 3] And the sacrid holi werkis ben made welsum, profeciende Agge and Sacarie, profetus. [verse 4] And alle thingus thei fulfilden, bi the heste of the Lord God of Irael, and of the counseil of Ciri, and of Darie,

and of Artaxerse, king of Persis. [verse 5] And oure hous is endyd, vnto the thre and twentithe dai of the moneth of March, the sixte ȝer of king Darie. [verse 6] And the sonus of Irael diden, and the prestis, and Leuitus, and othere that weren of the caitifte, that ben set to, after thoo thingus that ben writen in the boc of Moises. [verse 7] And thei offriden in to the dedicacioun of the temple of the Lord, bolis, an hun|drid; wetheris, two hundrid; lambis, [verse 8] foure hundrid; kidis for the synnes of al Irael, twelue, after the noumbre of the linagis of Irael. [verse 9] And the prestus stoden, and Leuitus, clad [clothede AEFH.] the stolis, bi the linagis, vpon the werc of the Lord God of Irael, after the boc of Moises; and vssheris bi alle the ȝatis. [verse 10] And the sonus of Irael diden, with hem that weren of the cai|tifte, that pasch, the mone of the firste moneth, fourtene, whan ben halewid the prestis and the Leuitus. [verse 11] And alle the sonus of caitifte ben not togidere halewid, for alle the Leuitus ben togidere halewid. [verse 12] And thei offriden pasch to alle the sonus of caitifte, and to ther brethern, prestis, and to hemself. [verse 13] And the sonus of Irael eeten, that weren in [of E pr. m.] the caitifte, alle that hadden laft fro alle the cursidnessis of the Jentilis of the erthe, sechende the [verse 14] Lord; and thei haleweden the feste dai of therue loues, seuene daȝes etende in [verse 15] the siȝte of the Lord; for he conuertide the counseil of the king of Assiris in hem, to coumforte the hondus of hem to the werkis of the Lord God of Irael. [verse 1] And after this, regnende Artaxerse, king of Persis, wente to Esdras, the sone of Azarie, sone of Elchie, sone of Salome, [verse 2] sone of Sadduch, sone of Achitob, sone of Ameri, sone of Azaei, sone of Bocce, sone of Abisae, sone of Finees, sone of Eleasar, sone of Aron, firste preest. [verse 3] This Esdras steȝede vp fro Babiloine, whan he was scribe, and witti in the lawe of Moises, that is ȝiuen of the Lord of Irael, to sein and to do. [verse 4] And the king ȝaf to hym glorie, that he hadde

founde grace in alle dignete, and desijr, in the siȝte of hym [hem C pr. m.] . [verse 5] And ther steȝeden vp togidere with hym of the sonus of Irael, and prestis, and Leuitus, and holi singeres of the temple, and vssheris, and seruauns of the temple, in to Jerusalem. [verse 6] The seuenthe ȝer regnende Artaxerse, in the fifte monyth, this is the seuenthe ȝer of the regne, goende out forsothe fro Babiloine in the newe mone of the fifte [verse 7] moneth, thei camen to Jerusalem, after the [Om. A.] hestus of hym, after the ȝiuen pros|perite of the weie to hem of that Lord. [verse 8] In these thingys forsothe Esdras weldede gret discipline, lest he passide biside any thing of thoo thingis that weren of the lawe of the Lord, and hestus, and in techende al Irael alle riȝtwesnesse and dom. [verse 9] Comende forsothe neeȝ thei that writen the writen thingus of king Arta|xerses, token writen that, that cam fro king Artaxerses to Esdras, prest, and redere of the lawe of the Lord, of whiche thinge the exsaumple is leid vnder.

CAP. VIII.

[verse 10] King Artaxerse to Esdre, prest, and redere of the lawe of the Lord, greeting. [verse 11] More benygne I demende also to bene|fetus, comandede to hem that desiren of the folc of Jewis ther owne thingus wil|fulli, and of the prestis, and Leuits, that ben in my reume, to felashipen with thee in to Jerusalem. [verse 12] Thane if any couetten to go with thee, come thei togidere, and go thei forth, as it pleseth to me, and to [verse 13] my seuene frendis counseileris; that thei visite thoo thingus, that ben don after Jude and Jerusalem, kepende the [in the C.] lawe, as thou hast in the lawe of the Lord; [verse 14] and bere thei ȝiftus to the Lord of Irael, the whiche I knewȝ, and the frendis of Jerusalem, and al the gold and siluer,

that were founden in the regioun of Ba|biloine, to the Lord in Jerusalem, with [verse 15] that that is ȝiuen of that folc in the temple of the Lord, of hem that is in Jerusalem; that be gedered this gold and siluer, and to bolis, and wetheris, and lambis, and kidis, and that to these ben [verse 16] couenable; that thei offre ostis to the Lord, vp on the auter of the Lord of hem, that is in Jerusalem. [verse 17] And alle thingus what euere thou wilt with [that A.] thi brethern don, with gold and siluer parforme, for the wil, after the heste of the Lord thi God. [verse 18] And the sacride holi vesselis, that ben ȝiue to thee, to the werkis of the hous of the Lord thi God, that is in Je|rusalem, [verse 19] and othere thingus, what euere to thee wiln helpen to the werkis of the temple of thi God, thou shalt ȝiue of the [verse 20] kingis tresorie, whan thou wilt with thi brethern maken, with gold and siluer; and parforme thou aftir the wil of thi Lord. [verse 21] And I, king Artaxerses, haue co|maundid to the keperis of the tresories of Cirie and of Fenice, that what euere thingus Esdras, prest, and redere of the lawe of the Lord, write fore, besili be it ȝiue to hym, vnto an hundrid talentis of [verse 22] siluer, lic maner and of gold; and vnto an hundrid busshelis of whete, and an hundrid vesselis of win, and othere thingis, what euere abounden, with oute taxing. [verse 23] Alle thingus after the lawe of God be don to the heiȝeste God, lest par|auenture rise [arijse AEFH.] vp wrathe in the reume of the king, and of the sone, and of [Om. C.] the sones of hym. [verse 24] To ȝou forsothe is seid, that to alle the prestis, and Leuitus, and holi singeres, and seruauns of the temple, and [verse 25] scribis of this temple, no tribute, ne any other forfending be born to, ne haue any man power to aȝen casten any thing to hem. [verse 26] Thou forsothe, Esdras, aftir the wisdam of God ordeine domesmen and arbitrouris, in al Cirie and Fenice, and alle that the lawe of thi God knewen, [verse 27] teche; that hou fele euere ouerpasse the lawe, bisili be thei punshid, or bi deth,

or bi torment, or also bi multing of monee, or bi seuering awei. [verse 28] And Esdras, scribe, seide, Blessid be the Lord God of oure fadris, that ȝaf this wil in to the herte of the king, to clarifien his hous, [verse 29] that is in Jerusalem; and me hath wrshipid in the siȝte of the king, and counseileris, and his frendis, and of his purprid men. [verse 30] And I am maad stedefast in inwit, after the helping of the Lord oure God; and I gederede of Irael men, that thei shulden steȝen vp togidere with me. [verse 31] And these ben the prouostis, after ther kuntres, and porciounelis [porciounel C pr. m.] prince|hodis of hem, that with me steȝeden vp fro Babiloine, in the reume of Artaxersis. [verse 32] Of the sonus of Fares, Jersomus; of the sonus of Ciameruth, Amenus; of the sonus [verse 33] of Dauid, Accus, the sone of Cecelie; of the sonus of Fares, Zacharie, and with hym ben turned aȝeen an hundrid men [verse 34] and fifti; of the sonus of Ductor, Moabi|lonys, Zaraei, and with hym two hun|drid [verse 35] men and fifti; of the sonus of Sa|cues, Jechonie, Cetheeli, and with hym [verse 36] two hundrid men and fifti; of the sones of Solomosias, Gotholie, and with hym [verse 37] seuenti men; of the sones of Sofocie, Zarias, Micheli, and with hym foure [verse 38] score men; of the sonus of Jobab, Dias, Jeseli, and with hym two hundrid men [verse 39] and twelue; of the sonus of Banie, Sal|imoth, the sone of Josafie, and with hym [verse 40] an hundrid men and sixti; of the sonus of Beer, Zacharias, Bebei, and with hym [verse 41] two hundrid men and eiȝte; of the sones of Azachie, Channes, Acharie, and with [verse 42] hym an hundrid men and ten; of the sonus of Adonicam, hem last, and these ben the namus of hem, Elifalam, the sone of Jebel, and Semeias, and with hym se|uenti men. [verse 43] And I gederede hem to the flod, that is seid Thia and Methati; there wee weren thre daȝis, and I knewȝ hem. [verse 44] And of the sonus of prestis and of Leuitus I fond not there. [verse 45] And I sente to Eleasar, and to Accebam, and Masman, and Malolan, and Enathan, and Samea, and Joribum, Nathan, Ennagan, Zacharie,

and Mosollamym, hem leders and wise men. [verse 46] And I seide to hem, that thei shulden come to Luddyum, that was at the place of the tresorie. [verse 47] And I sente to them, that thei shulden sei to Luddium, and his brethern, and to hem that weren in the tresorie, that thei shulden sende to vs hem that shulden vse presthod in the hous of the Lord oure God. [verse 48] And thei broȝten to vs, after the stronge hond of the Lord oure God, wise men of the sonus of Mooli, sone of Leuy, sone of Irael, Sebebian, and sonus, and brethern, [verse 49] that weren eiȝtetene; Asbiam, and A|mum, of the sonus of Cananei; and the sonus of hem, twenti men. [verse 50] And of hem that in the temple serueden, the whiche Dauid ȝaf, and thei princis, to the werk|ing to the Leuitus, to the temple, of men seruende, two hundrid and twenti. The [And the C.] namys of alle ben signefied in scripturis. [verse 51] And I vouwede there fasting to ȝunge men, in the siȝte of the Lord, that I shulde sechen of hym good weie to vs, and that weren with vs, of sonus, and bestus, for aspies. [verse 52] Forsothe I shamede to asken of the king foot men and horse men, in felashipe of grace, of keping aȝen oure aduersaries. [verse 53] Forsothe we seiden to the king, For the vertue of the Lord shal be with hem, that inwardli sechen hym in alle efect. [verse 54] And eft we preȝeden the Lord oure God, after these thingis, whom and benigne we hadden; and hol wee ben maad to oure God. [verse 55] And I seuerede of the prouostis of the folc, and of the prestus of the puple, twelue men, and Sedebian, and Affamian, and with hem of ther brethern ten men. [verse 56] And I peisede to hem siluer and gold, and prestis vesselis, of the hous of the Lord oure God, the whiche the king hadde ȝiuen, and his counseileris, and princis, and al Irael. [verse 57] And whan I hadde peisid, I toc talentus of siluer an hundrid and fifti, and siluerene vesselis of an hundrid ta|lentis, and of gold talentus an hundrid, [verse 58] and of goldene vesselis seue score, and brasene vesselis of good metal shinende,

twelue, ȝeldende the licnesse of gold. [verse 59] And I seide to hem, And ȝee ben holi to the Lord, and the vesselis ben holi, and the gold and the seluer is of the auou to the Lord God of oure fadris. [verse 60] Waketh, and kepeth, to the time that ȝee take of the prouostis of the puple, and of the prestis, and of the Leuitis, and princis of the cites of Irael, in Jerusalem, in the priue chaumbre of the hous of oure God. [verse 61] And these prestis and Leuitus, that token gold and siluer, and vesselis, that weren in Jerusalem, broȝten in to the temple of the Lord. [verse 62] And we moueden forth fro the flod of Thia, the twelfthe dai of the firste moneth, for to we ȝiden in to Jeru|salem. [verse 63] And whan the thridde dai was don, the ferthe forsothe dai the peisid gold and siluer is taken in the hous of the Lord oure God, to Marymoth, the [verse 64] sone of Jori, prest; and with hym was Eleasar, the sone of Finees; and ther weren with hem Josabdus, the sone of Jesu, and Medias, and Banny, the sone of a Leuite; at noumbre and weiȝte alle thingus. [verse 65] And the peis of hem is writen in the same hour. [verse 66] Thoo forsothe, that camen fro the caitifte, offriden sacrifise of the Lord of Irael, bolis, twelue for al Irael; wetheres, foure score and sixe; [verse 67] lambis, two and seuenti; get for synne twelue, and for helthe twelue kijn; alle in to the sacrifise of the Lord. [verse 68] And thei eft radden the hestis of the king to the kingis dispensatouris, and to the litle vnder kingus of Choele, and Cirie, and Fenice; and thei wrshipeden the folc and the temple of the Lord. [verse 69] And these thingis ful endid, thei camen to me, seiende, The kinrede of Irael, and the [verse 70] princis, and prestys, and Leuitis, and aliene folkis, and naciouns of the lond, han not seuered ther vnclennesses fro Cananeis, and Etheis, and Fereseis, and Jebuseis, and Moabitis, and Egipcienes, [verse 71] and Idumeis; forsothe thei ben ioyned to

the doȝtris of hem, and thei and ther sonis; and the holi sed is [and A.] mengd to|gidere to the hethene folc of the lond; and parceneres weren the prouostus and maistir iugis of this wickednesse, fro the begynnyng of that reume. [verse 72] And anon as I herde these thingis, I cutte the clothis, and the sacrid cote, and to-terende the heris of the hed, and the berd, I sat so|rewende, and dreri. [verse 73] And ther camen to me as fele as euere weren thanne moued in the woord of the Lord God of Irael, me weilende vp on this [the H.] wicke|nesse [wickidnes AH.] ; and I sat soreweful vnto the euentid sacrifise. [verse 74] And risende fro fast|ing, hauende the clothis cut, miche knelende, and strecchende out the hondis [verse 75] to the Lord, I seide, Lord, I am con|foundid, and I am adrad befor thi face. [verse 76] Forsothe oure synnes ben multiplied vp on oure hedis, and oure wickednessis ben [verse 77] enhauncid vnto heuene; for fro the time of oure fadris we ben in gret synne vn to this day. [verse 78] And for oure synnes, and of oure fadris we ben taken, with oure brethern, and with oure prestus, and kingus of the lond, in to swerd, and cai|tifte, and in to prei, with confusion, vn to the dai that is now. [verse 79] And now hou myche is, that falleth to vs the merci of thee, Lord God; lef to vs a roote and a [verse 80] name, in to the place of thin halewing, to vnkoueren oure ȝiuere of liȝt in the hous of the Lord oure God, to ȝiue to vs mete in the time of oure seruage. [verse 81] And whan wee seruen, wee ben not forsaken of the Lord oure God; but he sette vs in grace, puttende to vs kingus of Persis to ȝiue mete, [verse 82] and to clarifien the temple of the Lord oure God, and to edefie the desertis of Sion, and to ȝiue to vs stablenesse in Jude and Jerusalem. [verse 83] And now what sei wee, Lord, hauende these thingus? We han ouyr passid thin hestis, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] thou ȝeue in to the hondis of thi childer, pro|fetus, [verse 84] seiende, For the lond, in the

whiche ȝee wenten in, to welden his eri|tage, is a defoulid lond with filthes of the [Om. A.] hethene men of the lond, and the vnclennessis of hem han fulfild it al in his vnclennesse. [verse 85] And now ȝoure doȝtris ȝee shul not ioyne to ther sonus, and ther doȝtris ȝee shul not take to ȝoure sonus; [verse 86] and ȝee shul not seche to han pes with hem alle time, that comende aboue ȝee ete the beste thingus of the lond, and the eritage ȝee delen to ȝoure sonus, in to the during aboue time. [verse 87] And thoo thingus that fallen to vs, alle ben do for oure shrewde werkis, and oure grete synnes. [verse 88] And thou hast ȝiue to vs such a roote, and eft wee ben turned aȝeen to ouer passe thi laweful thingis, that the vn|clennessis [vnclennes A.] of the hethene folc of this lond weren mengd. [verse 89] Whether thou shalt not wrathen to vs, to leesen vs, for to the roote be forsaken, and oure sed? [verse 90] Lord God of Irael, thou art sothfast; forsothe the roote is forsaken, vnto the dai that is now. [verse 91] Lo! now we ben in thi siȝte in oure wickenessis [wickidnessis A et H passim.] ; forsothe it is not ȝit to stonde befor thee in these thingus. [verse 92] And whan honourende Esdras knou|lechede, wepende, falle [fallid AEFH.] doun to the erthe befor the temple, ben gedered beforn hym of Jerusalem a ful gret cumpanye, men, and wemmen, and ȝunge men, and ȝunge wymmen; forsothe the weping was gret in that multitude. [verse 93] And whan Jechonias, the sone of Jeeli, of the sonus of Irael, hadde cried, Esdras seide, Wee han synned aȝen the Lord, that wee han sett with vs in to matrimoyne hethene wymmen, of the Jentilis of the lond. [verse 94] And now who so euere is ouer al Irael in these thingus, be ther to vs an oth of the Lord, to putten awei alle oure wiues, that of the hethene ben, with ther sonus; [verse 95] as to thee is demed of the more, aftir the lawe of the Lord. Risende [Arijsynge AEFH.] vp, sheu [verse 96] out; to thee forsothe abideth this nede, and wee ben with thee; do manli. [verse 97] And risende [Arijsynge AEFH.] vp Esdras, he made the princis

off prestis, and the Leuitus, and al Irael, to swere to don aftir these alle these thingis; and thei sworen.

CAP. IX.

[verse 1] And risende [arisynge A.] vp Esdras fro `the beforn [before the A.] porche of the temple, wente in to the celle of Jonathe, sone of Nazabi. [verse 2] And herberewid there, he tastede no bred, ne water [no water A.] dranc, vp on the wickednesses of the multitude. [verse 3] And ther is maad a preching in al Jude and in Jerusalem, to alle that weren of the caitifte gedered in [verse 4] Jerusalem, Whosoeuere aȝeen cometh not to the secunde or the thridde dai, aftir the dom of the eldere men sittende, his facultees shul ben taken awei, and he alien demed fro the multitude of caitifte [the caitifte C pr. m. H.] . [verse 5] And alle ben gedered togidere, that weren of the linage of Juda and of Beniamyn, thre daȝes in Jerusalem; this is the nynthe moneth, the twentithe dai of the monyth. [verse 6] And al the multitude sat in the flor of the temple, tremblende for the present winter. [verse 7] Esdras risende vp, seide to Irael, Ȝee wickedeli diden, set|tende [settynge AEFH. sentende C.] ȝou in to matrimoine hethene wiues, that ȝee adde to the synnes of Irael. [verse 8] And now ȝiueth shrifte, and gret doing to the Lord God of oure fadris; [verse 9] and parformeth his wil, and goth awei fro the hethene folc of the lond, and fro hethene wiues. [verse 10] And al the multitude criede, and seiden with a gret vois, As thou hast seid, wee [so wee E pr. m.] shul do. [verse 11] But for the multitude is gret, and the time win|ter, and wee moun not vnholpen [vnhelpid AH.] stonde, and this werc is not to vs of o dai, ne of two; myche in these thingus wee han [verse 12] synned; stonde the prouostus of the mul|titude, and alle that with vs dwellen, and hou fele euere han `anent them [anentis vs A.] hethene [verse 13] wiues; and stonde thei neȝ in the accept time of alle place, prestis, and domes men, for to thei losne the wrathe of the Lord, of this nede. [verse 14] Jonathas forsothe,

the sone of Ezeli, and Ozias, Thethan, token aftir these thingus, and Bosoramus, and Leuys [Leuytis A.] , and Satheus togidere wroȝten with hem. [verse 15] And ther stoden aftir alle these thingus, alle that weren of the cai|tifte. [verse 16] And Esdras, prest, ches to hym men, grete princis, of the fadris of hem, after the names; and thei seten togidere, in the newe mone of the tenthe moneth, to examyne this nede. [verse 17] And it is deter|myned of the men, that hadden hethene wiues, vnto the newe mones of the firste moneth. [verse 18] And there ben founden mengd among of the prestis, that hadden he|thene [verse 19] wiues; of the sonus of Jesu, the sonus of Josedech, and of his brethern, Maseas, and Eleeserus, and Joribus, and Joadeus. [verse 20] And thei leiden [wenten in E pr. m.] hondis, that thei shulden putten awei ther wiues, and to sacrifien, in to preieere for ther ignoraunce. [verse 21] And of the sonus of Sem|mery, Masseas, and Esses, and Geleth, [verse 22] Azarias; and of the sones of Fosore, Leomasias, Hismaeius, and Nathanias, Jussio, Leddus, and Talsas. [verse 23] And of the Leuitus, Josabdus, and Semeis, and Cho|litus, and Calitas, and Facceas, and Colu|as, [verse 24] and Elionas. And of the sacrid syng|eres, [verse 25] Eliazub, Zaccurus. And of the vssheris, Salumus, and Tholbanes. [verse 26] And of Irael, of the sonus of Forchosi, and Remias, and Jeddias, and Melchias, and Michelus, and Eliasarus, and Jemebias, and Bannas. [verse 27] And of the sonis of Jola|mani, Anias, and Zacharias, Jerselus, and [Om. A.] Jobdius, and Erimoth, and Elias. [verse 28] And of the sonus of Sachon, Eliadas, and Elia|sumus, and Othias, and Jarimoth and Zabdis, and Thebedias. [verse 29] And of the sones of Bede, Johannes, and Amanyas, and Zabdias, and Emetis. [verse 30] And of the sonis of Baum, Olamus, and Mallucus, and Jeddeus, and Jasub, and Azabus, and Jerimoth. [verse 31] And of the sonis of Ad|din, Nathus and Moosias, and Caalemus, and Raanas, and Baseas, Mathatias, and Bethsel, and Bonnus, and Manasses.

[verse 32] And of the sonus of Miaie, Nenyas, and Afeas, and Melcheas, and Sameas, and Simon, Beniamyn, and Malchus, and Marias. [verse 33] Of the sonus of Azom, Cartaneus, Mathatias, and Bannus, and Elifalath, and Manasses, and Semeth. [verse 34] And of the sonus of Banny, Jeremias, and Modias, and Abramus, and Johel, and Baneas, and Pelias, and Jonas, and Marymoth, and Eliazub, and Mathaneus, and Ele|asis, and Orisas, and Dielus, and Same|dius, and Zambris, and Josefus. [verse 35] And of the sonus of Nobei, Idelus, and Matha|tias, and Zabadus, and Cetheda, Seduni, and Jessei, Baneas. [verse 36] Alle these ioineden to hem hethene wiues, and laften hem, with the sones. [verse 37] And prestis, and Le|uitus, and that weren of Irael, dwelten in Jerusalem in oon hol regioun, the newe mone of the seuenthe moneth; and the sonus of Irael weren in ther abidingus. [verse 38] And al the multitude is gedered togidere in to the flor, that is fro the est of the sacrid ȝate. [verse 39] And thei seiden to Esdre, bisshop and redere, that he shulde bringe forth the lawe of Moises, that is ȝiuen of the Lord God of Irael. [verse 40] And Esdras, bisshop, broȝte forth the lawe to al the multitude of hem, fro man vnto wom|man, and to alle the prestus, to heren the lawe, in the newe mone of the seuenthe moneth. [verse 41] And he radde in the flor, that is befor the holi ȝate of the temple, fro the firste liȝt vnto euen, befor men and wymmen; and alle thei ȝeuen wit to the lawe. [verse 42] And Esdras, prest, and redere of the lawe, stod vp on the treene chaȝer, that was forgid. [verse 43] And there stoden to hym Mathatias, and Samus, and Ana|nyas, Azarias, Vrias, Ezechias, and Bal|samus, [verse 44] at the riȝt; and at the lift, Faldeus, and [Om. AH.] Misael, Malachias, Abustas, Sabus, Nabadias, and Zacharias. [verse 45] And [Om. A.] Esdras toc a boc beforn al the multitude; for|sothe he sat beforn in glorie, in the siȝte [multitude E pr. m.] of alle. [verse 46] And whan he hadde asoilid the lawe, alle stoden vp riȝt. And Esdras

blesside the Lord God, al ther heiȝest God of Sabaoth, al myȝti. [verse 47] And al the puple answerde, Amen. And eft, the hondis rerid vp, thei, fallende doun in to the erthe, honoureden the Lord. [verse 48] And Esdras comaundede, that ther shulden teche the lawe, Jesus, and Banaeus, and Sarabias, and Jadinus, and Accubus, and Sabatheus, and Calithes, and Azarias, and Joradus, and Ananias, and Filas, Leuite. [verse 49] The whiche taȝten the lawe of the Lord, and in [Om. A.] the multitude radden the lawe of the Lord; and eche putten beforn hem, that vndirstoden the lessoun. [verse 50] And Atharathes seide to Esdre, the bis|shop and redere, and to the Leuitus that [verse 51] taȝten the multitude, seiende, This dai is holi to the Lord. And alle wepten, whan thei hadden herd the lawe. [verse 52] And Esdras seide, Ȝee thanne, gon atwynne, eteth alle most fatte thingys, and drink|eth alle most sweete, and sendeth ȝiftus [verse 53] to hem that han not; forsothe holi is this dai of the Lord; and wileth not ben sori, the Lord forsothe shal clarifien vs. [verse 54] And the Leuitus denounceden in opene to alle men, seiende, This dai is holi; wileth not ben sori. [verse 55] And alle wenten awei, to eten, and to drinken, and to han plente of mete, and to ȝiue ȝiftus to hem that han not, that thei plenteuousli eten. Gret doingli forsothe thei ben enhauncid in the woordis, with the whiche thei ben taȝt. [verse 56] And alle thei ben gedered in to Jerusalem, to make solempne the glad|nesse, after the testament of the Lord God of Irael.

Here endith the thridde book of Esdre, and now begynneth the prolog of the book of Tobie [From A. Explicit liber Esdre tertius. E. Here endith the thrid bok of Esdre. F. No final rubric in CH.] .