Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe.

The first boke of Esdras. (Book Ezra)

What this boke conteyneth.

• Chap. I. Cyrus (otherwyse called Cores) the kynge of Persia, geueth the Iewes lycōce to go agayne to Ierusalem, and to buylde it.
• Chap. II. The nombre of them that wente vp from Babilon vnto Ierusalem.
• Chap. III. The people resorte to Ierusalem, the prestes buylde the altare, kepe the feastes and sacrifices, and prepare to buylde the tem∣ple.
• Chap. IIII. The Heythen wolde buylde with them: and because they are not suffred, therfo¦re laboure they (with their councell and let∣ters) to hynder the buyldinge of the tem∣ple.
• Chap. V. In this tyme prophecied Aggeus and Zachary. The officers of the Heythen for∣byd the buyldinge, and hynder it.
• Chap. VI. Darius renueth the commaunde∣ment of Cyrus, and geueth the Iewes lycēce to buylde the temple.
• Chap. VII. Artaxerses sendeth Eszdras vnto Ierusalem with a charge vnto the officers beyonde the water.
• Chap. VIII. The nombre of them that wente vp with Eszdras vnto Ierusalem.
• Chap IX. Eszdras is sory that the people ha∣ue myxte them selues with the Heythenish we∣men.
• Chap. X. They make a couenaunt to put awaye their Heythenish wyues.

[illustration]

The first Chapter.

[ A] IN the first yeare of Cy¦rus kynge off Persia (that the worde of the LORDE spoken * 1.1 by the mouth of Ieremy might be fulfilled) the LORDE stered vp the sprete of Cyrus kynge of Persia, y^t he caused it be proclamed tho∣row out all his empyre, yee and by wrytinge also, sayenge: Thus sayeth Cyrus the kynge of Persia: The LORDE God of heauē hath geuen me all the kyngdomes in the londe * 1.2 and hath commaunded me to buylde him an house at Ierusalem in Iuda. Who soeuer now amonge you is of his people, the LOR¦DE his God be with him, and let him go vp to Ierusalem in Iuda, and buylde the house of the LORDE God of Israel. He is y^e God that is at Ierusalē. And who so euer remay∣neth yet in eny maner of place (where he is a straunger) let the mē of his place helpe him with syluer and golde, with good and catell of a good frewill, for the house of God at Ierusalem.

[ B] Then gat vp the pryncipall fathers of Iuda and Ben Iamin, and the prestes and Leuites, and all they whose sprete God had raysed to go vp, and to buylde the house of the LORDE at Ierusalē. And all they that were aboute them, strengthed their hande with vessels of syluer and golde, with good and catell, and Iewels, besydes that which they gaue of their awne frewill. And kynge Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the LOR¦DES house, * 1.3 which Nabuchodonosor had takē out of Ierusalem, and put in his gods house. But Cyrus y^e kynge of Persia brought thē forth by Mithredath the treasurer, and nombred thē vnto Seszbazar the prynce of Iuda. And this is the nombre of them: thirtye basens of golde, and a thousande ba¦sens of syluer, and nyne and twentye knyues, thirtye cuppes of golde, and of other syluer cuppes foure hundreth and ten, and of other vessels a thousande. So that all the vessels both of golde and syluer, were fyue thousan¦de and foure hundreth. Seszbazar broughte them all vp, with them that came vp out of the captiuyte off Babilon vnto Ieru∣salem.

The II. Chapter.

THese are the childrē of the londe that [ A] wente vp out of the captiuyte (whō Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Ba∣bilon had caried awaye vnto Babilon) and came agayne to Ierusalem and in to Iuda, euery one vnto his cite, and came with Zoro¦babel, Iesua, Nehemias, Seraia, Reeleia, Mardachai, Bilsan, Mispar, Begeuai, Re∣hum and Baena. This is now the nombre of the men of the people of Israel: The chil¦dren of Phares, two thousande, an hūdreth, and two and seuentye: the children of Se∣phatia, thre hundreth and two and seuen∣tye: the children of Arath, seuen hundreth and fyue and seuentye: the children of Pa∣hath Moab amonge the children of Iesua Ioab, two thousande, eight hundreth and twolue: the children of Elam, a thousande, two hundreth and foure and fiftye: the chil∣dren of Sathu, nyne hundreth▪ and fyue and fortye: the children of Sacai, seuē hundreth and thre score: the children of Bani, sixe hun¦dreth and two and fortye: the children of Bebai, sixe hundreth and thre and twentye∣the [ B] children of Asgad, a thousande two hun¦dreth and two and twentye: the children of Adonicam, sixe hūdreth and sixe and sixtye: the children of Bigeuai, two thousande and sixe and fiftye: the children of Adin, foure hundreth and foure and fiftye: the children of Ater of Ezechias, eight and nynetye: the children of Bezai, thre hundreth and thre and twentye: the children of Iorath, an hundreth and twolue: the children of Ha∣sum, two hundreth and thre and twentye: the children of Gibbar, fyue and nynetye: the children off Bethleem, an hundreth and thre and twentye: the men off Ne∣topha sixe and fiftye: the men off Anathot, an hundreth and eight and twentye: the children off Asmaueth, two and fortye: the children off Kiriath Arim, Caphira and Beeroth, seuen hundreth and thre and fortye: the children off Rama and Gaba, sixe hundreth and one and twētye: the men off Michmas▪ an hundreth and two and

twentye: the men of Bethel and Ai, two hundreth and thre and twentye: the childrē [ C] of Nebo, two and fyftye: the children of Magbis, an hūdreth and sixe and fiftye: the childrē of the other Elam a thousande, two hundreth and foure and fiftye: the children of Harim, thre hundreth and twentye: the childrē of Lodhadid and Ono, seuē hūdreth and fyue and twētye: the childrē of Iericho, thre hundreth and fyue and fortye: the chil∣dren of Senaa, thre thousande, sixe, hun∣dreth and thirtye.

The prestes. The children of Iedaia of the house of Iesua, nyne hundreth and thre and seuentye: the childrē of Iemmer, a thou¦sande and two and fiftye: the children of Pa¦shur, a thousande and two hūdreth, and se∣uen and fortye: the childrē of Harim, a thou∣sande and seuentene.

The Leuites. The children of Iesua and Cadmiel of the children of Hodauia, foure and seuentye. The syngers, the children of Asaph, an hundreth and eight and twentye. The children of the dorekepers. The children of Sallum, the children of Ater, the childrē off Talmon, the children off Acub, the chil∣dren off Hatita, and the children off So∣bai: alltogether an hundreth and nyne and thirtye.

[ D] The Nethinims. the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Ta∣baoth, the children of Ceros, the children of Sieha, the children of Padon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the chil¦dren of Acub, the childrē of Hagab, the chil¦dren of Samlai, the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the childrē of Reaia, the children of Rezin, the children of Necuba, the children of Ga∣san, the children of Vsa, the children of Pas¦seah, the children of Bessai, the children of Asna, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephussim, the children of Bacbuc, the childrē of Hacupha, the children of Harhur, y^e childrē of Hazeluth, y^e childrē of Mehira, the children of Harsa, the children of Bar∣com, the children of Sissera, the children of Thamah, the children of Neziah, the chil∣dren of Hatipha.

The children of Salomons seruauntes. The children of Sotai, the children of So∣phereth, the children of Pruda, the children of Iaela, the childrē of Darcon, the childrē of Giddell, the childrē of Sephatia, the chil¦dren of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. All the Ne∣thinims and the children off Salomons seruauntes were alltogether, thre hundreth and two and nyentye.

And these wēte vp also, Mithel, Melath, Thel, Harso, Cherub, Addon and Immer. But they coulde not shewe their fathers house ner their sede, whether they were of Is¦rael. The children of Delaia, the children of Tobias, the children of Necoda, sixe hun∣dreth and two and fiftye.

And of the children of the prestes. The children of Habaia, the children of Hacom, the children of Barsillai, which toke one of the daughters of Barsillai the Gileadite to wife, and was counted amonge the same names: these soughte the register of their byrth, and founde none, therfore were they put from the presthode. And Hathirsatha sayde vnto them, that they shulde not eate of the most holy, tyll there rose vp a prest with the * 1.4 lighte and perfectnesse.

The whole congregacion as one man, [ F] was two and fortye thousande, thre hun∣dreth and thre score: besyde their seruauntes and maydēs, of whom there were seuē thou¦sande, thre hundreth and seuen and thirtye. And they had two hundreth singinge men and wemen, seuē hundreth and sixe and thir∣tye horses, two hundreth and fyue and for∣tye Mules, foure hūdreth and fyue and thir∣tye Camels, and sixe thousande, seuen hun∣dreth and twentye Asses.

And certayne of the chefe fathers, whan they came to the house of the LORDE at Ierusalem, they were well mynded vnto the house of God, that it shulde be set in his pla¦ce, and gaue after their abilyte vnto the trea¦sure of the worke, one and thre score thousan¦de guldens, and fyue thousande pounde of syluer, and an hundreth prestes garmentes. So the prestes and the Leuites, and certay∣ne of y^e people, and the syngers, and the po••¦ters, and y^e Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

The III. Chapter.

ANd whan the seuenth moneth came, [ A] and the children of Israel were now in their cities,* 1.5 the people came toge∣ther euen as one man, vnto Ierusalem. And there stode vp Iesua the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren the prestes, and Zoroba∣bel the sonne of Saalthiel and his brethren, and buylded the altare of the God of Is∣rael, to offre burnt offerynges theron, as it is wrytten in the lawe of Moses the man of God, and the altare set they vpon his sokettes (for there was a fearfulnes amonge

them because of the nacions and lōdes) and offred burnt offeringes theron vnto y^e LOR¦DE * 1.6 in the mornynge and at euen. And hel∣de the feast of Tabernacles * 1.7 as it is wryt∣ten, and offred burntsacrifices daylie after the nombre as acordinge was, euery daye his sacrifice. Afterwarde the daylie burntof¦ferynges also, and of the new Mones and of all the feast dayes of the LORDE that were halowed, and allmaner of fre wyllin∣ge offeringes, which they did of their awne fre wyl vnto the LORDE.

[ B] * 1.8 Vpon the first daye of the seuenth mo∣neth beganne they to offre burnt sacrifices vnto the LORDE. But the foundacion of the tēple of the LORDE was not yet layed. Neuertheles they gaue money vnto y^e ma¦sons and carpenters, and meate and drynke and oyle vnto them of Zidon and of Tyre, to brynge thē Cedre tymbre from Libanus by See vnto * 1.9 Ioppa, acordinge to the cō∣maundement of Cyrus the kynge of Persia.

In the seconde yeare of their commynge vnto the house of God at Ierusalem in the seconde moneth, beganne Zorobabel the son¦ne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Io¦sedec, and the remnaunt of their brethren the prestes and Leuites, and all they that were come out of the captiuyte vnto Ieru¦salem, and appoynted the Leuites frō twen¦tye yeare olde and aboue, to se that the wor¦ke of the house of the LORDE wēte forwar¦de. And Iesua stode with his sonnes and brethren, and Cadmiel with his sonnes, and the children of Iuda, to furthur the work∣men of the house of God, namely the childrē of Henadad with their children and their brethren the Leuites.

[ C] And whan the buylders layed the foun∣dacion of the temple of the LORDE, the prestes stode in their araye, with trompet∣tes. And the Leuites the children of Asaph with Cimbales, to prayse y^e LORDE * 1.10 with the Dytie of Dauid kynge of Israel. And they sunge together, geuynge prayse & than¦kes vnto y^e LORDE, because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth for euer vpon Israell. And all the people shouted londe in praysinge the LORDE, because the foundacion of y^e house of the LORDE was layed. Neuertheles many of the olde prestes and Leuites and awncient fathers, which had sene the house afore in his foundacion, and this was now before their eyes, wepte loude. But many shouted with ioye, so that the noyse gaue a greate sounde, in so moch that the people coulde not knowe y^e ioyfull sounde for the noyse of the wepinge in the people: for the people shouted loude, so that the noyse was herde farre of.

The IIII. Chapter.

BVt whan the aduersaries of Iuda [ A] and Ben Iamin herde, that the chil¦dren of the captiuyte buylded the tē∣ple vnto the LORDE God of Israel, they ca¦me to Zorobabel & to the pryncipall fathers, and sayde vnto them: We wyl buylde with you: for we seke the LORDE youre God like as ye do. And we haue done sacrifice vnto him,* 1.11 sence the tyme that Assar Hadon the kynge of Assur broughte vs vp hither. But Zorobabel and Iesua and the other awnciēt fathers of Israel, answered them: It is not mete for vs and you to buylde the house of oure God, but we wyl buylde alone vnto the LORDE God of Israel, * 1.12 as Cyrus the kyn∣ge of Persia hath commaunded vs.

Then the folke of the londe hyndered the people of Iuda, and made them afrayed to buylde, and hyred councelers aganst them and hyndered their deuyce, as longe as Cy∣rus the kynge of Persia lyued, vntyll the reigne off Darius kynge off Persia. But whan Ahasuerus was kynge, in the begyn∣nynge off his reigne wrote they vnto him a complaynte agaynst them of Iuda and Ierusalem.

And in the tyme of Artaxerses, wrote Bi¦sellam, [ B] Mithridath, Tabeel and the other of their councell vnto Artaxerses the kynge of Persia. But the scripture of y^e letter was wrytten in the Syrians speach, and was in∣terpretated in the langage of the Syrians. Rehum y^e chaunceler, and Simsai the scry¦be, wrote this letter agaynst Ierusalem to Artaxerses the kynge.

We Rehum the chaunceler, and Simsai the scribe, and other of the councell of Dina, off Arphasath, off Tarplat, off Persia, off Arach, of Babilon, of Susan, of Deha, and of Elam, and other of the people * 1.13 whom the greate and noble Asnaphar broughte ouer, and set in the cities of Samaria, and other on this syde the water, and in Canaan. And this is y^e summe of the letter that they sent vnto kynge Artaxerses:

Thy seruauntes the men on this syde the [ C] water and in Canaan. Be it knowne vnto y^e kynge, that the Iewes which are come vp from the to vs vnto Ierusalē in to that sedi¦cious & wicked cite, buylde the same, and ma¦ke vp y^e walles of it, & brynge it out of y^e foun¦dacion. Be it knowne now therfore vnto y^e kynge, y^t yf this cite be buylded & the walies

made vp agayne, thē shal not they geue tri∣bute, toll, and yearly custome, and their de∣uyce shal do y^e kynge harme. But now that we all are therby which destroyed the tem∣ple, we wolde no longer se the kynges disho¦noure. Therfore sent we out, and caused the kynge to be certified therof: That it maye be soughte in y^e Cronicles of thy progenitours, and so shalt thou fynde in the same Croni∣cles, and perceaue, that this cite is sedicious and noysome vnto kynges and londes, and that they cause other also to rebell of ol∣de, and for the same cause was this cite des∣troyed. Therfore do we certifie the kynge, that yf this cite be buylded, and the walles therof made vp, thou shalt kepe nothinge on this syde the water by the reason of it.

[ D] Then sent y^e kynge an answere vnto Re∣hum the chaunceler, and Simsai the Scry∣be, and to the other of their councell that dwelt in Samaria, and vnto the other be∣yonde y^e water. Peace and salutacion. The letter which ye sent vnto vs, hath bene opē∣ly red before me, and I haue commaunded to make search: and it is founde, that this ci∣te of olde hath made insurreccion agaynst, kynges, & how y^t vpro^r and rebellion hath bene commytted therin. There haue bene mightie kynges also at Ierusalē, which ha∣ue reigned ouer all that is beyonde the wa∣ter, and toll, tribute and yearly custome was geuen vnto them. Do ye now after this com¦maundemēt, forbyd the same men, that the cite be not builded, tyll I haue geuē cōmaun¦demēt. Take hede now that ye be not necli∣gent here in, lest the kynge haue harme there thorow.

Now whā kynge Artaxerses letter was red before Rehum the chaunceler and Sim¦sai the Scrybe and their councell, they wen∣te vp in all the haist to Ierusalem vnto the Iewes, and forbad them with the arme and auctorite. Then ceassed the worke of the house of God at Ierusalem, and continued so vnto the seconde yeare of Darius kynge of Persia.

The V. Chapter.

[ A] THe prophetes, Aggeus and Zacha∣ry y^e sonne of Iddo, prophecied vn∣to y^e Iewes that were in Iuda and Ierusalē, in the name of the God of Israel. Then gat vp Zorobabel the sonne of Sala∣thiel,* 1.14 and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and be∣ganne to buylde the house of God at Ieru∣salem, and with them the prophetes of God which strengthed thē. At the same tyme ca¦me to thē Thathnai the debite on this syde the water, and Sethar of Bosen, and their councelers, and sayde thus vnto them: Who hath commaunded you to buylde this hou∣se, and to make vp the walles therof? Then tolde we them the names of the men, that made this buyldinge. But the eye of their God came vpon the Elders of the Iewes, that they were not inhibyte, tyll the matter was brought before Darius, and tyll there came a wrytinge therof agayne.

This is the summe of the letter y^t Thath∣naithe Debyte on this syde the water, and Sethar of Bosen, and their councellers of Apharsach (which were on this syde the wa¦ter) sent vnto kynge Darius. And these are the wordes that they sent vnto him: Vnto [ B] Darius the kynge, all peace. Be it knowne vnto the kynge, that we came in to Iewry to the house of y^e greate God, which is buyl∣ded with all maner of stone, and balckes are layed in the walles, and y^e worke goeth fast forth, and prospereth in their handes. Ne∣uertheles we axed the Elders and sayde vn∣to them: Who hath cōmaunded you to buyl¦de this house, and to make vp the walles therof? We axed their names also, that we might certifye the, and haue wrytten the na¦mes of the men that were their rulers.

But they answered vs w^t these wordes, and sayde: We are the seruaūtes of the God of heauen and earth, and buylde the house y^t was buylded many yeares agoo,* 1.15 which a greate kynge of Israel buylded and set vp. Howbeit whan oure fathers prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath,* 1.16 he gaue them ouer in the hande of Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon the Caldee, which brake downe this house, & caried y^e people awaye vnto Babilon.

* 1.17 Neuertheles in the first yeare of Cyrus [ C] the kynge of Babilon, y^e same kynge Cyrus commaunded to buylde this house of God: for the vessels of golde and siluer in the hou∣se of God, which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple at Ierusalē, and broughte thē in to y^e temple at Babilon, those dyd Cyrus the kynge take out of y^e temple at Babilon, * 1.18and delyuered them vnto Seszbazer by na∣me, whom he made Debyte, and sayde vnto him: Take these vessels, go thy waye and brynge them vnto the temple at Ierusa∣lem, and let the house of God be buylded in his place. Then came the same Seszbazar, and layed y^e foundacion of the house of God at Ierusalem. Sence that tyme hath it bene in buyldinge, and yet is it not fynished. Yf it please y^e kynge now, let there be search made

in y^e kynges treasure house which is at Babi¦lon, whether it haue bene kynge Cyrus com¦maundement, that the house of God at Ie∣rusalem shulde be buylded: & sende vs y^e kyn∣ges mynde concernynge the same.

The VI. Chapter.

[ A] THen cōmaunded kinge Darius, that search shulde be made in y^e library of y^e kynges treasure house, which laye at Babilon. So at Egbathanis in a castell that lyeth in the londe of the Meedes, there was founde a boke, & in it was there an acte wrytten after this maner: In the first yeare of kynge Cyrus, cōmaunded the same kynge Cyrus to buylde y^e house of God at Ierusa¦lem, in the place where the sacrifice is made, & to laye the foundacion to beare thre score cubites heyght, & thre score cubites bredth, & thre walles of all maner of stones, and one wall of tymber, & the expences shalbe ge∣uen of the kynges house. And the goldē and syluer vessell of y^e house of God (which Na¦buchodonosor toke out of the temple at Ie∣rusalem, and broughte vnto Babilon) shal∣be restored agayne, y^t they maye be brough∣te vnto the temple at Ierusalē to their place in to the house of God.

Get you farre from them therfore, thou Thathnai Debyte beyonde the water, and Sethar of Bosen, & youre councelers which are beyonde the water. Let them worke in y^e [ B] house of God, that the Debyte of y^e Iewes and their Elders maye buylde the house of God in his place. I haue commaunded also, what shalbe done to y^e Elders of Iuda for the buyldinge of the house of God, that the¦re shal diligently be takē of the kynges goo¦des, euen of the rentes beyonde the water, & geuen vnto the men, and that they be not hyndered.

And yf they haue nede of calues, lambes, or goates for the burnt offrynge vnto y^e God of heauen, wheate, salt, wyne and oyle, after the custome of the prestes at Ierusalem, the¦re shalbe geuen them daylie as is acordinge: and se that this be not done necligētly, that they maye offre swete sauoures vnto y^e God of heauen, and praye for the kynges lyfe, and for his children. This commaundement ha∣ue I geuē. And what man so euer he be that altereth these wordes, there shal a balke be taken from his house, and set vp, and he shal be hanged theron, and his house shalbe pry∣sed for the dede.

[ C] But the God that dwelleth in heauen, destroye all kynges and people, that put to their hāde to alter and to breake downe the house of God at Ierusalem. I Darius haue commaunded, that this be diligently done.

Then Thathnai y^e Debyte beyonde y^e wa¦ter, and Sethar of Bosen with their coun∣celers (to whom kynge Darius had sent) dyd their diligence. And y^e Elders of the Iewes buylded, and they prospered thorow the pro¦phecienge of Aggeus the prophet and Za∣chary the sonne of Iddo: and they buylded, and set vp the worke, acordinge to the com∣maundement of the God of Israel, and af∣ter the commaundement of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerses kynges of Persia. And they perfourmed the house vnto the thirde daye of the moneth Adar, that was the sixte yea∣re of the reigne of kynge Darius.

* 1.19And the children of Israel, the prestes, the Leuites, and the other children of y^e cap¦tyuite helde the dedicacion of the house of God with ioye, and offred at the dedicacion of the house of God, an hundreth calues, [ D] two hundreth lambes, foure hundreth goa∣tes: and for the syn offerynge for all Israel, twolue he goates, acordinge to the nombre of the trybes of Israel, and set the prestes in their courses, and y^e Leuites in their offices, to mynister vnto God which is at Ierusalē, as it is wrytten in the boke of Moses.

And the children of the captyuite helde Passeouer vpon the fourtenth daye of the first moneth: for y^e prestes and Leuites had purified them selues, so y^t they were all clea∣ne as one man, and kylled Passeouer for all the children of the captyuite, and for their brethrē the prestes, and for them selues. And the childrē of Israel which were come agay¦ne out of captiuyte, and all soch as had sepa¦rated them selues vnto them from the fylthi¦nesse of the Heythen in the londe, to seke the LORDE God of Israel, ate & helde the feast of vnleuēded bred seuen dayes with ioye: for the LORDE had made them glad, and tur∣ned the hert of the kynge of Assur vnto thē, so that their handes were strengthed in the worke of the house of God, which is y^e God of Israel.

The VII. Chapter.

AFter these actes in the reigne of Ar∣taxerses [ A] kynge of Persia,* 1.20 there wente vp from Babilon, Eszdras the sonne of Seraia, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne of Helchias, the sonne of Sallum, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Amaria, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne Me∣raioth, the sonne of Serahia, y^e sonne of Vsi, the sonne of Buki, the sonne of Abisua, the sonne of Phineas, the sonne of Eleasar, the

sonne of Aaron the chefe prest, which was a quycke scrybe in the lawe of Moses, * 1.21 which the LORDE God of Israel dyd geue. And y^e kynge gaue him all that he requyred, acor¦dinge to the hande of the LORDE his God vpon him.

And there wente vp certayne of the chil∣dren of Israel, and of the prestes, and of the Leuites, of the syngers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims vnto Ierusalem, in the se¦uenth yeare of kynge Artaxerses. And they came to Ierusalem in the fifth moneth, that is the seuenth yeare of the kynge. For vpon the first daye of the first moneth, deuysed he to go vp from Babilon: and on y^e first daye of the fifth moneth came he to Ierusalem, acordinge to the good hande of God vpon him: For Eszdras prepared his hert to seke the lawe of the LORDE, and to do it, and to teach the precepte & iudgment in Israel.

[ B] And this is the summe of the letter, that kynge Artaxerses gaue vnto Eszdras the prest, the scrybe, which was a teacher in the wordes of the LORDE and of his statutes ouer Israel. Vnto Eszdras the prest and scry¦be in the lawe of the God of heauen, peace and salutacion. I haue commaunded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the prestes and Leuites in my realme, which are mynded of their awne good wyll to go vp to Ierusalem, that they go with the, beynge sent of the kynge and of the seuen lordes of the councell, to vyset Iuda and Ierusalem, acordinge to the lawe of God, which is in thy hāde: And that thou shuldest take with the, syluer and golde, which the kynge and the lordes of his councell geue of their aw∣ne good wyll vnto the God of Israel (who∣se habitacion is at Ierusalem) and all the syl¦uer and golde that thou canst fynde in all y^e countre of Babilon: with it that the people and prestes geue of their awne good wil vn¦to the house of God at Ierusalem.

[ C] Take thou the same, and bye diligently with the same money, calues, lambes, goa∣tes, and meat offerynges and drynk offeryn∣ges, to be offred vpon the altare of the house of youre God at Ierusalem. And loke what it lyketh the and thy brethren to do with the remnaunt of the money, that do after the wyll of youre God. And the vessels that are geuen the for the mynistracion in the house of thy God, those delyuer thou before God at Ierusalem.

And what so euer thinge more shal be ne∣defull for the house of thy God, which is ne∣cessary for the to spende, let the same be geuē out of the kynges chamber. I kynge Artax¦erses haue commaunded all the treasurers beyonde the water, y^t loke what so euer Esz∣dras the prest and scrybe in the lawe of the God of heauē, requyreth of you, that ye ful¦fyll the same diligently, vntyll an hundreth talētes of syluer, and tyll an hundreth quar¦ters of wheate, and tyll an hūdreth Batthes of wyne, and tyll an hundreth Batthes of oyle, and salt without measure. Whatsoeuer belongeth to the lawe of the God of hea••uen, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heauē, that there co¦me no wrath vpon the kynges realme & his children.

And knowne be it vnto you, that ye shall haue no auctorite to requyre taxinge & custo¦me, and yearly rentes vpon eny of the pres∣tes, Leuites, syngers, porters, Nethinims and mynisters in y^e house of this God. But thou Eszdras (after the wyszdome of y^e God that is in thy hande) set thou iudges and ar¦biters, to iudge all the people that is beyon¦de Iordane, euen all soch as knowe the lawe of thy God: and them that knowe it not, tho¦se se that ye teache. And who so euer wyl not diligently fulfyll the lawe of thy God, and the kynges lawe, shall haue his iudgmēt for the dede, whether it be vnto death, or to be banyshed, or to be condemned in good, or to be put in preson.

Praysed be the LORDE God of oure fa∣thers, which so hath inspyred y^e kynges her•• to garnysh the house of God at Ierusalem: and hath enclyned his mercy vnto me in the presence of the kynge, and his councelers, and before all the kynges hye estates. And I was comforted (acordinge to the hāde of the LORDE my God ouer me) and so gathe∣red I the heades of Israel together, y^t they mighte go vp with me.

The VIII. Chapter.

THese are the heades of their fathers that were named, which wente vp w^t me from Babilon, what tyme as kyn¦ge Artaxerses reigned. Of the childrē of Phi¦neas, Gersom: of the children of Ithamar, Daniel: of the children of Dauid, Hattus: of the childrē of Pareos, Zachary, and the men childrē nombred with him, an hundreth and fiftye. Of the children of Pahath Moab, Eleoenai the sonne of Serahia, and w^t him two hundreth males.

Of the children of Sechania, the sonne of Iehasiel, and with him thre hundreth ma¦les. Of the children of Adin Ebed, the son∣ne of Ionathan, and with him fiftie males.

Of the children of Elam, Iesaia the sonne of Athalia, and with him seuentie males. Of the children of Sephatia, Sebadia the son∣ne of Michael, and w^t him foure score males.

Op the children of Ioab, Obadia the son¦ne of Iehiel, and with him two hundreth & eightene men children. Of the children of Selomith, the sonne of Iosiphia, and with him an hundreth and thre score males.

[ B] Of the children of Bebai, Zachary the son¦ne of Bebai, and with him eight and twen∣tye males. Of the children of Asgad, Ioha∣nan the yongest sonne, and with him an hun¦dreth and ten males. Of the last children of Adonicam, and these were their names: Eli¦phelet, Ieiel and Semaia, and with them thre score males. Of the children of Bige∣nai, Vthai and Sabud, and with them seuē males. And I gathered them together by the water that renneth towarde Ahena, & there abode we thre dayes.

And whan I loked amonge the people & the prestes, I founde no Leuites there. Thē sent I Elieser, Ariel, Semaia, Elnathan, Ia¦rib, Elnathan, Natha, Zachary and Mesul∣lam the rulers, and Ioiarib and Elnathan the teachers, and those sent I vnto Iddo y^e chefest at Casiphia, that they shulde fetch us mynysters for the house of oure God, and I tolde them what they shulde saye vnto Id¦do and to his brethren the Nethinims at Ca¦siphia.

[ C] And (acordinge to the good hande of oure God vpon us) they broughte us a wy∣se man from amonge the children of Maheli the sonne of Leuithe sonne of Israel, euen Serebia with his sonnes and brethren, eigh¦tene. And Hasabia, and with him Iesaia of the children of Merari, with his brethren & their sonnes, twentye. And of the Ne••hi∣nims, whom Dauid and the princes gaue to mynister vnto the Leuites, two hundreth & twentye, all named by name.

And euen there at the water besyde Ahe∣na, caused I a fastinge to be proclamed, y^t we mighte humble oure selues before oure God, to seke of him a righte waye for us, & oure children and all oure substaunce. For I was ashamed to require of the kynge, sou¦dyers & horsmen, to helpe us agaynst the ene¦mye in the waye. For we had sayde vnto the kynge: The hande of oure God is for the best vpon all them that seke him, and his vio¦lence and wrath vpon all them that forsake him. So we fasted, and soughte this at ou∣re God, and he herde us.

[ D] And I toke out twolue of the chefe pres∣tes, Serebia and Hasabia, and ten of their brethren with them, and weyed them there the syluer and golde and vessels for the Heue offeringe vnto the house of oure God, which the kynge, and the lordes of his councell and prynces, and all Israel that were at hande, had geuen to the Heue offerynge: and there weyed I them vnder their hande sixe hun∣dreth and fiftye talentes of syluer, and in syl∣uer vessell an hundreth talentes, and in gol∣de an hundreth talentes, twentye cuppes of golde of a thousande guldens, and two cos∣tly ornamentes of good brasse, as cleare as golde, and sayde vnto them: Ye are holy vn¦to the LORDE, therfore are the vessels ho∣ly also, and so is the syluer and golde that is geuen of a good wyll vnto the LORDE God of youre fathers: Watch ye therfore and ke∣pe it, tyll ye weye it downe before the chefe prestes and Leuites, and awncient fathers of Israel at Ierusalem in the chestes of the house of the LORDE. Then toke the prestes and Leuites that weyed syluer and golde & vessell, to brynge it to Ierusalem vnto y^e hou¦se of oure God.

So we brake vp, from the water of Ahe∣na [ B] on the twolueth daye of the first moneth, to go vnto Ierusalem: and the hande of ou∣re God was vpon us, and delyuered us frō the hande of the enemies and preuy waytin∣ges by the waye. And we came to Ierusa∣lem, and abode there thre dayes. But on y^e fourth daye was the syluer and golde, and vessell weyed in the house of oure God vn∣der the hande of Meremoth the sonne of V∣rias the prest, and with him Eleasar the son¦ne of Phineas, and with them Iosabad the sonne of Iesua, and Noadia y^e sonne of Be¦nui the Leuites, acordinge to the nombre & weight of euery one. And the weight was all wrytten vp at the same tyme.

And the children of the captiuyte, which were come out of preson, offred burnt offerin¦ges vnto y^e God of Israel: twolue bullockes for all Israel, sixe and nynetye rammes, seuen and seuentye lambes, and twolue goates for a syn offerynge, all to the burnt offeringe of the LORDE. And they delyuered the kyn∣ges commyssion vnto the kynges officers, & to the Debytes on this syde the water. And they promoted the people and the house of God.

The IX. Chapter.

WHan all this was perfourmed, the rulers came to me, and sayde: The [ A] people of Israel, and the prestes, & Leuites are not separated from the nacions

in the londes as touchinge their abhomina∣cions, namely of the Cananites, Hethites, Pheresites, Iebusites, Ammonites, Moabi∣tes, Egipcians, and Amorites. * 1.22 For they ha¦ue taken the doughters of the same, & their sonnes, and haue myxte the holy sede with y^e nacions in the londes: and the hande of the rulers and lordes of councell hath bene prin¦cipall in this trespace.

Whan I herde this, I rente my clothes and my rayment, and plucte out the heer of my heade and of my beerd, and sat mournyn¦ge. And there resorted vnto me all soch as feared the worde of the LORDE God of Is¦rael because of the greate transgression. And I sat mournynge vntyll the euenynge sacri∣fyce. [ B] And aboute the euenynge sacrifice I ro¦se vp fro my heuynes, and rente my clothes and my raiment, and fell vpon my knees, and spred out my handes vnto the LORDE my God, and sayde:

My God, I am ashamed, and darre not lifte vp mine eies vnto the my God: for oure wickednesses are growne ouer oure heade, & oure trespaces are waxen greate vnto y^e hea¦uē. Sence the tyme of oure fathers haue we bene in greate trespace vnto this daie, * 1.23 and because of oure wickednesses haue we and o^r kynges bene delyuered in to the hande of y^e kynges of the nacions, in to the swerde, in to captiuyte, in to spoyle, and in to confusion of face, as it is come to passe this daye.

But now is there a litle and sodane gra∣ciousnes [ C] come from the LORDE oure God, so that some of vs are escaped, that he maie geue vs a nayle in his holy place, that oure God maye lighte oure eyes, and geue vs a litle lyfe in oure bondage. For we are bond∣men, and o^r God hath not forsakē vs though we be bondmen, and hath enclyned mercy vnto vs in the sighte of the kynges of Per∣sia, that they shulde geue vs lyfe, and pro∣mote the house of oure God, and to sett vp the desolacion therof, and to geue vs an hed¦ge in Iuda and Ierusalem.

O oure God, what shall we saye now af∣ter this? that we haue forsaken thy com∣maundementes, which thou hast commaun¦ded by thy seruauntes the prophetes, and saide: The londe wherin ye shal come to pos∣sesse it, is an vncleane londe thorow the fyl∣thines of the people of the londes, in their abhominacions wherwith they haue made [ D] it full of vnclennes on euery syde. * Therfore shal ye not geue youre doughters vnto their sonnes, and their doughters shall ye not ta∣ke vnto youre sonnes, and seke not their pea¦ce and welth for euer, that ye maye be stron∣ge, and enioye the good in the londe, and y^t ye and youre children maye haue the inheri∣taunce of it for euermore.

And after all this that is come vpon vs (because of oure euell dedes and greate tres∣pace) thou oure God hast spared oure wic∣kednesses, and hast geuen vs a delyueraunce as it is come to passe.

As for vs, we haue turned backe, & haue let go thy commaundementes, to make con∣tracte with the people of these abhomina∣cions. Wilt thou then be wroth at vs, tyll we be vtterly consumed, so that nothynge re∣mayne, and tyll there be no delyueraunce? O LORDE God of Israel, thou art righteous, for we remaine yet escaped, as it is this daie. Beholde, in thy presence are we in oure tre∣space, for because of it is there no stondinge before the.

The X. Chapter.

ANd whan Eszdras prayed after this maner and knowleged, wepte, and laie [ A] before the house of God, there resorted vnto him out of Israel a very greate congre¦gacion of men and wemen, and children: for the people wepte very sore. And Sachania the sonne of Iehiel one of the children of E∣lam, answered, and sayde vnto Eszdras: We haue trespaced agaynst the LORDE oure God, in that we haue taken straunge wyues of all the people of the londe. Now there is hope yet in Israel cōcerninge this, therfore let vs make a couenaūt now with oure God, that we shal put awaye all the wyues (and soch as are borne of them) acordynge to the councell of y^e LORDE, and of them that fea∣re the commaundement of oure God, y^t we maye do acordynge to the lawe. Get the vp therfore, for the matter belongeth vnto the. We wyll be with the, be of good comforte, and do it.

Then rose Eszdras, and toke an ooth of the rulers, prestes and Leuites, and of all Is∣rael, [ B] that they shulde do acordynge to this worde: and they swore. And Eszdras stode vp before the house of God, and wente in to the chamber of Iohanan the sonne of Elia¦sab. And whan he came thither, he ate no bred, and dranke no water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had bene in captiuyte.

And they caused a proclamacion be made thorow out Iuda and Ierusalem, vnto all the children which had bene in captiuite, y^t they shulde gather them selues together vn¦to Ierusalē: And that who soeuer came not

within thre dayes acordinge to the deuyce of the rulers and Elders, all his substaunce shulde be forfett, and he put out from the cō¦gregacion of the captiue.

[ C] Then all the men of Iuda and Ben Ia∣min gathered them selues together vnto Ie¦rusalem in thre dayes, y^t is on the twentieth daye of the nyenth moneth: and all the peo∣ple sat in the strete before the house of God, and trembled because of the matter, and for the rayne. And Eszdras y^e prest stode vp, and sayde vnto them: * 1.24 Ye haue transgressed, y^t ye haue taken straunge wyues, to make the trespace of Israel yet more: confesse now therfore vnto y^e LORDE God of youre fa∣thers, & do his pleasure, and separate youre selues from the people of the londe, & from y^e straunge wyues. Thē answered all the cō¦gregacion, & sayde with loude voyce: Let it be done as thou hast sayde. But the people are many, & it is a raynye wether, & they cā¦not stōde here without, nether is this a wor∣ke of one daye or two, for we are many y^t ha¦ue [ D] offended in this transgression. Let vs ap¦poynte oure rulers therfore in all the congre¦gacion, y^t all they which haue taken straun∣ge wyues in oure cities, maye come at the ty¦me appoynted, and the Elders of euery cite and their Iudges with them, tyll the wrath of oure God because of this matter be tur∣ned awaye from vs.

Then were appoynted Ionathan the son¦ne of Asahel & Iehasia the sonne of Thecua ouer this matter. And Mesullam and Sab∣thai the Leuites helped them. And the chil∣dren of the captiuyte dyd euen so. And Esz∣dras the prest, and y^e awncient fathers tho¦row the house of their fathers, and all that were now rehearsed by name, separated thē selues, and sat them downe on the first daye of the tenth moneth, to examē this matter. And on y^e first daye of y^e first moneth brough¦te they the matter to a conclusion, concernyn¦ge all the men y^t had takē straunge wyues.

[ E] And amōge the childrē of the prestes the¦re were men founde y^t had takē straunge wy¦ues, namely amōge the children of Iesua the sonne of Iosedec & of his brethrē, Maeseia, Elieser, Iarib and Godolia. And they gaue their hādes there vpon, that they wolde put awaye their wyues: & for their trespace offe¦rynge to geue a rāme for their trespace. Amō¦ge the children of Immer, Hanani & Saba¦dia. Amonge the childrē of Harim, Maeseia, Elia, Semaia, Iehiel, and Vsia. Amonge y^e children of Pashur, Elioenai, Maeseia, Is∣mael, Nethaneel, Iosabad & Eleasa. Amon∣ge the Leuites, Iosabad, Simei and Celaia, He is that Celita, Pethahia, Iuda & Elea∣sar. Amonge the syngers, Elyasib. Amonge the porters, Sallum, Telem and Vri.

Of Israel. Amonge the children of Pa∣reos, Ramia, Iesia, Malchia, Meiamin, Eleasar, Malchia & Benaia. Amonge y^e chil¦dren of Elam, Mathania, Zachary, Iehiel, Abdy, Ieremoth & Elia. Amonge the chil∣dren of Sathu, Elioenai, Eliasib, Matha∣nia, Ieremoth, Sabad & Asisa. Amonge the children of Bebai, Iohanan, Hanania, Sa∣bai & Athlai. Amonge the children of Ba∣ni, Mesullam, Malluch, Adaia, Iasub, Seal and Ieremoth. Amonge the children of Pa∣hath Moab, Adna, Chelal, Benaia, Maesea, Mathania, Bezaleel, Benui and Manasse. Amonge the children of Harim, Elieser, Ie∣sia, Malchia, Semaia, Simeon, Bē Iamin, Malluch & Samaria. Amonge the childrē of Hasum, Mathnai, Mathatha, Sabad, Eli∣phelet, Ieremai, Manasse & Simei. Amōge the childrē of Bani, Maedai, Amram, Huel, Benaia, Bedia, Chelui, Naia, Meremoth, Eliasib, Mathania, Mathnai, Iaesau, Ba∣ni, Benui, Simei, Selemia, Nathan, Adaia, Machnadbai, Sasai, Sarai, Afareel, Sele∣mia, Samaria, Sallum, Amaria, & Ioseph. Amonge the childrē of Nebo, Ieiel, Mathi¦thia, Sabad, Sebina, Iaddai, Ioel, and Be∣naia. All these had taken straunge wyues. And amonge the same wyues there were so¦me, that had borne children.

The ende of the first boke of Eszdras.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4••. a
• * 1.3

  ••▪ Pa. ••6. c 〈…〉〈…〉. 1. a
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.5

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.6

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.7

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 5.••
• * 1.9

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 17▪ b
• * 1.11

  4. Re. 17. c
• * 1.12

  1. Esd. 1. a
• * 1.13

  4. Re. 17. c
• * 1.14

  Agg. 1 c
• * 1.15

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.16

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.17

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.18

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.19

  2. Par. 7.
• * 1.20

  ••. Esd. ••. a
• * 1.21

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 20. a
• * 1.22

  Deut. 7. a ••nd 12. d ••osu. 23. c ••udic. 3. a
• * 1.23

  Deu. 28. d
• * 1.24

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7. a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. a