The Byble in Englyshe that is to saye, the content of all the holye scrypture, bothe of the olde and newe Testament, truly translated after the veryte of the Hebrue and Greke textes, by the diligent studye of dyuers excellent lerned [men e]xperte in the fore[saide] tongues.

❧ The fyrst boke of Esdras.

¶ Cyrus sendeth agayne the people that was in captiuy••e▪ and restoreth them theyr holy vessels, and cōmaundeth them to buylde agayne the temple.

CAPI. Primo.

IN the fyrst yere of * 1.1 Cyrus [unspec A] kyng of Persia (that the word of the lorde spoken * 1.2 by the mouth of Ieremi myghte be fulfylled) the lorde styrred vp the spirite of Cyrus kyng of Persia, that he caused to be proclaymed thorowout all his empyre, and to be wrytten, saynge. Thus sayth Cyrus the kyng of Per∣sia. The Lorde God of heuen hath gyuen me all the kyngdomes of the earthe, * 1.3 and hath commaunded me to buylde hym an house at Ierusalem whiche is in Iuda.

Who soeuer nowe among you is of his [unspec B] people, the Lorde his God be with hym, and let hym go vp to Ierusalem in Iuda, & buyld the house of the Lorde God of Israell. He is the God that is at Ierusalem. And who so∣euer remayneth yet in any maner of place, (where he is a straunger) let the men of that place helpe hym with syluer and golde, with good and cattell, besyde that which they wyl∣lynglye offer, for the house of God that is at Ierusalem.

Then gat vp the principall fathers of [unspec C] Iuda and Ben Iamin, and the preestes and Leuites, and all they whose spirite God had raysed to go vp, and to buylde the house of the Lorde, whiche is at Ierusalem. And all they that were aboute them strengthed theyr hande with vessels of syluer and golde, with good and cattell, and Iuels: in so moche that euery one shewed hym selfe lyberall. And kynge Cyrus brought forthe the vessels of the house of the Lorde, * 1.4 whiche Nabu∣chodonozer had taken out of Ierusalem, and had put in the house of his God. Those dyd [unspec D] Cyrus the kynge of Persia brynge forthe by the hand of Mithridates the treasurer, & nom¦bred them vnto Sesbazar the prince of Iuda And this is the nombre of them: thyrtie char¦gers of golde, a thousand changers of syluer nyne and twentye knyues, thyrtye basyns of golde: and of other syluer basyns, foure hun¦dred and ten, and of other vessels a thousand All the vessels of golde & syluer were. v. M. and foure hundred. All these dyd Sesbazar carye awaye with them that came vp out of the captiuite of Babilon vnto Ierusalem.

¶ The nombre of them that returned from the captiuyte.

CAPI. II.

THese are the chyldren of the lande that [unspec A] went vp out of the captiuite (whom Na¦buchodonozer the kynge of Babilō had caried away vnto Babilon) and came agayn vnto Ierusalem, and in to Iuda, euery one vnto his citye. They that came with Zoroba¦bel are these. Iesua * 1.5 Nehemiah, Saraea, Re••laia, Mardochai, Bilsan, Mispar, Bi∣guai, Rehum, Baana. This is the nombre of the men of the people of Israel: The children of Phares, two thousand, an hundred, seuen∣tye and two: the chyldren of Saphatia, thre hundred, & seuentye and two: the chyldren of Arath, seuen hundred, & seuenty and fyue: the chyldren of the captayne of Moab amonge the chyldren of Iesua and Ioab, two thou∣sande, eyght hundred & twelue: the chyldren of Elam, a thousande, two hundred, & fyfty & foure: the chyldren of Zathu, nyne hundred, and fourty & fyue: the chyldren of Zaccai, se∣uen hundred, and. lx: the chyldren of Bani / syxe hundred, & fourty and two: the chyldren of Bebai, syxe hundred and thre and twentye The chyldren of Asgad, a thousand, two hun¦dred, and two & twentye: the chyldren of Ado¦nicam, syxe hundred, and syxtye and syxe.

The chyldren of Beguai, two thousande, [unspec B] fyftye & syxe / the chyldren of Adin, foure hun¦dred, & fyftie & foure: the chyldren of Ater of Hezekia, nyntye & eyght: the chyldren of Be∣zai, thre hundred and thre and twentye: The chyldren of Iora, an hundred and twelue: The chyldren of Hasum, two hundred and thre and twentye: The chyldren of Gebar, nyntye and fyue: the chyldren of Bethleem, an hundred and thre and twentye: the men of Netopha, syxe and fyftye: The men of Ana∣thoth, an hundred and eyght and twentye: The chyldren of Asmaueth, two and fourtie: The chyldren of Kiriath Iarim, euen the chil¦dren of Cephira and Beeroth, seuen hundred and thre and fourtye: The chyldren of Hara∣ma and Geba, syxe hundred and one & twen∣tye: The men of Michmas, an hundred and two and twentye: The men of Bethel & Hai, two hundred and thre and twentye: The chyl¦dren of Nebo, two and fyftye: The chyldren of Magbis, an hundred and syxe and fyftye. The chyldren of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred & foure and fyftye: the chyldren of Harim, thre hundred and twentye: the chyl¦dren of Lodhadid and Ono, seuen hundred and fyue & twentye: the chyldren of Iericho, thre hundred and fyue and fourtye: the chyl∣dren of Senaa, thre thousande, syxe hundred

and thyrtye. The preestes of the chyldren of Iedaia of the house of Iesua, nyne hundred seuentye and thre: the chyldren of Immer, a thousande and two and fyftye: the chyldren of Phashur, a thousande, CC. and. xlvii. The chyldren of Harim, a thousande and se∣uentene. The Leuites. The chyldren of Ie∣sua, & Cadmiell of the chyldren of Hodauia, seuenty and foure. The syngers, the children of Asaph, an hundred and xxviii.

The chyldren of dore kepers. The chyldren [unspec C] of Sallum, the children of Ater, the chyldren of Talmon, the chyldren of Akub, the childrē of Hatita, the chyldren of Sobai: al togyther an hundred and. xxxix. The Nethenims, the chyldren of Ziha, the chyldren of Hasupha, the chyldren of Tabaoth, the chyldren of Ce∣ros, the Chyldren of Sieha, The chyldren of Padon, the chyldren of Lebanah, the chyldrē of Hagaba, the chyldren of Akub, the chyl∣dren of Hagab, the chyldren of Samlai, the chyldren of Hanan, the chyldren of Giddell, the chyldren of Gahar, the chyldren of Rea••a the chyldren of Razin, the chyldren of Neco∣da, the chyldren of Gasam, the chyldren of Usa, the chyldren of Passeah, the chyldren of Bessai, the chyldren of Asna, the chyldren of Mehunim, the chyldren of Nephussim, the chyldren of Bacbuc, the chyldren of Hacuba, the chyldren of Hathur.

The chyldren of Bazluth, the chyldren of Mehira, the chyldren of Harsa, the chyldren of Barcom, the chyldren of Sisara, the chyl∣dren of Thamah, the chyldren of Neziah, the chylden of Hatipha. The chyldren of Salo∣mons seruauntes, the chyldren of Sotai, the chyldren of Sophereth, the chyldren of Pe∣ruda, the chyldren of Iaala, the chyldren of Darcon, the chyldren of Giddel, the chyldren of Sephatiah, the chyldren of Hattil, the chil¦dren of Pochereth Hazbaim, the chyldren of Ami. All the Nethimms and the chyldren of Salomons seruauntes, were all togyther, thre hundred nynetye & two. And these went vp from Thelmelah, and from Thel Harsa, Cherub, Addon and Immer. But they could not discerne theyr fathers house & theyr seede whyther they were of Israell. The chyldren of Delaia, the chyldrē of Tobia, the chyldren of Necoda, syxe hundred and two & fyftye.

And of the chyldren of the preestes. The [unspec D] chyldren of Hebaia, the chyldren of Hakoz, the chyldren of Berzilai, whiche toke one of the doughters of * 1.6 Berzilat the Gileadite to wyfe, and was called after theyr name: these sought theyr euidence among them that had the register of byrth, & were not found therin therfore were they put from the preesthode. And ☞ Hathirsatha sayde vnto them, that they shuld not eate of the most holy, tyl there rose vp a * 1.7 preest to weare ☞ Urim & Thu∣mim. The hole congregacion togyther, was two & fourtye thousande, thre hundred & thre score: besyde theyr seruauntes and maydens, of whom there were. vii. thousande, thre hun¦dred and seuen and thyrtye. And there were amonge them two hundred syngynge men & women. Theyr horses were seuen hūdred and syxe and thyrtie. Theyr Mules, two hundred & fyue and fourtye: and theyr Camels, foure hundred & fyue and thyrtie. Theyr Asses, syxe thousande, seuen hundred and twentye. And certayne of the cheyfe fathers, whē they came bycause of the house of the lorde at Ierusalē, they offred them selues wylling, for the house of god, to set it in his place, & gaue golde af∣ter theyr abilite vnto the tresure of the worke euen one & thre score thousande pe••••s, & fy••e thousande pounde of syluer, and an hundred preestes garmentes. So the preestes and the Leuit{is}, & certayne of the peple & the syngers, and the porters, and the Nethinims dwelt in theyr cityes, and all Israel in theyr cityes.

¶ After the foundacyon of the temple once renued: they sacrifyce vnto the Lorde.

CAPI. III.

[unspec A] ☜ ANd when ☞ * 1.8 the seuenth moneth came and the chyldren of Israel were now in theyr cityes, the people came togyther (euen as one mā) vnto Ierusalem. And there stode vp Iesua the sonne of Iosedee and his brethren the preestes, & Zorobabel the son of Salathiel & his brethren, & buylded the au••∣ter of the god of Israel, to offre burnt offryn∣ges theron, as it is wrytten in the law of Mo¦ses the man of god, & the aulter set they vpon his sockettes (for there was a fearefulnesse amonge them bycause of the nacions & lan∣des) therfore they offered burnt offerynges theron vnto the Lorde * 1.9 in the mornyng & at euen. And they helde the feast of tabernacles [unspec B] * 1.10 as it is wrytten, & offered burnt sacrifices dayly accordyng to the nombre and custome, daye by daye. Afterwarde they offered dayly burnt offerynges also, & in the newe moones and in al the feast dayes that were consecrate vnto the Lorde, and for all them whiche dyd (of theyr owne fre wyl) offre vnto the Lorde.

From the fyrst day of the seuenth moneth began they to offre burnt sacrifices vnto the Lorde: euen when the foundacion of the tem∣ple of the Lorde was not yet layde. They gaue money also vnto the masons and car∣penters, and meate & drynke, and oyle vnto

them of Zidon and of Tire, to brynge them Cedre tymbre frome Libanus by See vnto ☞ Iappa, accordyng to the graunt that they had of Cyrus the kynge of Persia.

In the seconde yere of theyr comyng vnto [unspec C] the place of the house of God at Ierusalem, in the seconde moneth, began Zorobabell the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and the remenaunt of theyr brethrē the preestes and Leuites, & all they that were come out of the captiuite vnto Ierusalem, & appoynted the Leuites from twentye yeare olde & aboue, to se that the worke of the house of the Lorde went forwarde. And Iesua stode with his sonnes and brethren, And Cadmiel with his sonnes, and the chyldren of Iuda, to forther the workemen of the house of God, euen the children of He••adab, with theyr chil¦dren and theyr brethren the Leuites.

And when the bulders layde the founda∣cyon [unspec D] of the temple of the Lorde, the preestes stode in theyr aray, with trompettes. And the Leuites the chyldren of Asaph with cymbals to prayse the Lorde * 1.11 after the maner of Da∣uid kyng of Israel. And they sang togyther whan they gaue prayse and thankes vnto the lorde, bycause he is gracious, and bicause his mercy endureth for euer vpon Israell.

And al the people showted loude in praysyng the lorde, bycause the foūdacyon of the house of the Lorde was layde. Many also of the preestes and Leuites and auncient fathers, which had sene the fyrst house (when the foū∣dacyon of this house was layde before theyr eyes) wepte with a loude voyce. And many showted with ioye / so that the noyse gaue a great sounde, in so moch that the peple could not discerne the ioyful sounde and gladnes / from the noyse of the wepynge amonge the people: for the people showted with a loude crye, and the noyse was herde farre of.

¶ The buyldynge of the temple is hyndered and let.

CAPI. IIII. [unspec A]

BUt * 1.12 the aduersaries of Iuda and Ben Iamin herde, that the chyldrē of the cap¦tiuite buylded the temple vnto the lorde God of Israel. And they came to Zorobabel and to the principall fathers, and sayde vnto them. We wyll buylde with you: for we seke the Lorde youre God lyke as ye do. And we haue done sacrifice vnto hym, synce the tyme of Asor Hadon the kynge of Assur, * 1.13 whiche brought vs vp hyther. And Zorobabell, and Iesua, and the other auncient fathers of Is∣raell sayd vnto them. It can not be, that you and we togyther shuld buyld the house vnto our God: for we our selues wyl buylde alone vnto the lorde our god of Israel, * 1.14 as Cyrus the kynge of Persia hath cōmaunded vs.

And it came to passe, that the folke of the [unspec B] lande hyndered the people of Iuda, and trou¦bled them as they were buyldyng, and hyred counsaylours agaynst them, to hyndre theyr deuyce, as long as Cyrus the kynge of Per∣sia lyued, vntyl the reygne of Darius kynge of Persia. And in the reygne of Ahasuerus (euen in the begynnyng of his reygne) wrote they vnto hym a complaynte agaynst the en∣habitours of Iuda and Ierusalem. And in the dayes of Arthaxerses, wrote Mithridath Tabeell, and the other of his counsayle, vnto Arthaxerses the kynge of Persia with fayre wordes. And the scripture of the letter was wrytten in the Sirians speche, and interpre∣tated in the language of the Sirians. Rehum the recorder, and Samsai the scribe, wrote a letter frome Ierusalem to Arthaxerses the kynge, as it foloweth. Then Rehum the re∣corder, and Samset the scribe, and other of theyr companye of Dina, of Arphasath, of Tarpla, of Persia, of Arach, Of Babilon, of Susan, of Deha, of Elam, and other of the people * 1.15 whom the great and noble Asnapar brought ouer, and set in the cityes of Sama∣ria, and other, that are nowe on this syde the water. This is the copy of the letter that they sent vnto kynge Arthaxerses.

Thy seruauntes, and the men that are [unspec C] nowe on this syde the water. Be it knowen vnto the kynge, that the Iues whiche came vp from the to vs, are come vnto Ierusalem (a citye sedicious and frowarde) and buylde the same, and set vp the walles therof, & laye the foundacyons. Be it knowen nowe also vnto the kyng, that yf this citye be buylded, and the walles therof made vp agayne, then shall not they gyue toll, tribute, and custome, and the kynges profyte shal incur dāmage.

And nowe in the meane season we haue de∣stroyed the temple, & wolde no longer se the kynges dyshonoure. Therfore sent we oute also, and certified the kynge: that it maye be sought in the boke of Cronicles of thy proge¦nitours, and so shalte thou fynde in the boke of the Cronicles, and perceyue, that this citie is sedicious and noysome vnto kynges and land••, and that they cause other also among them to rebell of olde, and for the same cause was this citye destroyed. Therfore do we cer¦tifie the kynge, that yf this citye be buylded agayne, and the walles therof made vp; thou shalte hereafter haue no porcion on this syde the water. Then sente the kynge an answere vnto Rehum the recorder, and Samsai the

scrybe, and to the other of theyr companyons [unspec D] that dwelte in Samaria, and vnto the other that were beyonde the water, in S••lam and Cheheth. The letter whiche ye sent vnto vs, hath ben openly red before me, and I haue cōmaunded to make search: and it is found / that this citye of olde hath made insurrection agaynst kynges, and that rebellyon / and se∣dicion hath ben cōmytted therin. There haue ben myghty kyng{is} also at Ierusalem, which haue reygned ouer all countryes beyond the water: and tolle, trybute, and custome was gyuen vnto them: Gyue ye nowe therfore cō∣maundement, that the same men be forbyd∣den, & that the citye be not buylded agayne / tyll I haue gyuen another cōmaundement. Take hede nowe that ye be not neclygent to do this: for why shulde the kyng haue harme there thorowe? Now when the copye of kyng Arthaxerses letter was red before Rehū, and Simsai the scrybe and theyr companyons / they went vp in all the haste, to Ierusalem vnto the Iues, and forbad them with vyo∣lence, and power. Then ceased the worke of the house of God at Ierusalem, and conty∣nued so vnto the seconde yeare of Darius kynge of Persia.

¶ By the exhortacyon of Aggeus and zachary, in the temple buylded agayne.

CAPI. V.

THe Prophettes, * 1.16 Aggeus and Zachary [unspec A] the sonne of Iddo, prophecyed vnto the Iues that were in Iuda, & Ierusalem / in the name of the god of Israel. * 1.17 Then gat vp Zorobabell the sonne of Salathiell, and Iesua the Sonne of Iosedec, and began to buylde the house of God at Ierusalem / and with them were the prophettes of god, which helped them. At the same tyme came to them Tathnai / whiche was captayne on this syde the water, and Starbaznai, and theyr com∣panyons / and sayde thus vnto them:

Who hath commaunded you to buylde this house, and to make vp these walles? Then tolde we them the names of the men, that made this buyldynge. But the eye of theyr God was vpon the elders of the Iues, that they coulde not cause them to cease, tyll the matter was brought to Darius, and ☞ then they answered by letters therunto.

This is the copye of the letter that Tath∣nai [unspec B] (whiche was Captayne on this syde the water) and Starbaznai, and the coūsaylers of Apharsah (whiche were on this syde the water) sent vnto kyng Darius. And the mat∣ter that they sent vnto hym, was wryttē thus within the letter: Unto Darius the kyng, all peace. Be it knowen vnto the kynge, that we went in to the lande of Iurye to the house of the great God, which is buylded with mygh∣tye great stones, and beames are layde in the walles, and the worke goeth fast forth, and prospereth in theyr handes. Then asked we the elders, and sayde vnto them as it folow∣eth: Who commaunded you to buylde this house, and to make vp the walles therof?

We asked theyr names also, that we myght [unspec C] certifye the, and wryte the names of the men that were theyr rulers. But they answered vs with these wordes, and sayde: We are the seruauntes of hym, that is god of heuen and earth, and buylde the house that was buyl∣ded many yeres a go * 1.18 which a greate kynge of Israel buylded, and set vp. But after that our fathers had prouoked the God of heuen vnto wrath, * 1.19 he gaue them ouer in to the hande of Nabuchodonozer the kynge of Ba∣bilon, & of the Caldyes / whiche brake downe this house, and caryed the people away cap∣tyue vnto Babilon.

* 1.20 But in the fyrst yere of Cyrus the kyng of Babilon, the same kynge Cyrus gaue cō∣maundement [unspec D] concernyng this house of god / that it shulde be buylte agayne. And the ves∣sels of golde and syluer of the house of God, whiche Nabucodo••ozer toke out of the tem∣ple that was at Ierusalem, & brought them into temple at Babilon, those dyd Cyrus the kynge take out of the temple at Babilō, and * 1.21 they were delyuered vnto one Sasbazar by name, whome he made captayne, and sayde vnto hym: Take these vessels, & go thy way, and set them in the temple that is at Ierusa∣lem / and let the house of God be buylded in his place. Then came the same Sasbazar, and layde the foundacyō of the house of god, which is at Ierusalem. Synce that tyme also vntyll now hath it ben in buyldynge, & yet is it not finysshed. Yf it please the kynge nowe therfore, let there be searche made in the kyn∣ges librarie, which is there at Babilon, why∣ther it had ben kyng Cyrus cōmaundement, that this temple of god at Ierusalem shulde be buylded: and let hym sende vs the kynges mynde concernynge the same matter.

¶ At the cōmaundemente of Darius kynge of Persia. after the temple was buylded and dedicate, the Chyl∣dren of Israell kepte the feast of vnleuended breade.

CAPI. VI.

THen cōmaunded kynge Darius, & they [unspec A] made search in the librarye, euen in the place where they layde vp the treasure at Ba¦bilon.* 1.22 ❀ And there was founde in a Coffe•• (in the place that is in the land of the Med{is}••

a volume: and therein was it thus wrytten, and soche a memoryall: In the fyrst yeare of kynge Cirus, gaue the same kynge Cirus cō∣maundement concernynge the house of God at Ierusalem, that the same house shulde be buylded in the place where they offer the sa∣crifyces, ❀ and to ••oyne the walles togyther of thre score cubytes heyght, and thre score cu¦bytes bredth. Thre rowes of rough stones / and one rowe of tymber, & the expences shall be gyuen of the kynges house. And let the golde and syluer vessell of the house of God (whiche Nabuchodonozer toke oute of the temple at Ierusalem / and brought vnto Ba¦bilon) be restored, and brought agayne vnto the temple at Ierusalem to theyr place in the house of God.

Get you far••e from them therfore / thou [unspec B] Thahnai captayne beyonde the water / and Stharbuzanai, and your counsaylers, and Aphersechei / whiche are beyonde the water / get you away frō them. Let the worke of the house of this God alone, that the captayne of the Iues and theyr Elders maye buylde the house of god in his place. I haue cōmaūded what shall be done to the Elders of Iuda for the buyldyng of the house of God, that there shall be dylygent hede taken of the Kynges goodes, euen of the rentes beyond the water, & gyuen vnto the men, that they be not hyn∣dred. And yf they haue nede of calues ramm{is} and lambes, for the burnt offeryng of the god of heuen / wheate / salte, wyne and oyle / after the custome of the preestes at Ierusalem / let the same be gyuen them daylye without any delaye, that they may offer swete sauours vn¦to the god of heuen, and pray for the kynges lyfe / and for his Chyldren. And soche a com∣maundement haue I gyuen that what man soeuer he be that altereth this worde, there shall a beame be taken from his house, and set vp, and he shal be hanged theron, and his house shall be ❀ made a donghyll for the same thynge.

And the God that set his name there, de∣stroye [unspec C] all kynges, & people / that put to theyr hande to alter / & to breake downe that house of God whiche is at Ierusalem. I Darius haue cōmaūded, that this be done with spede Then Tathnai the captayne of the countrey beyonde the water, and Stharbuzanai with theyr counsaylers (to whome kynge Darius had sent) dyd theyr dilygence. And the El∣ders of the Iues buylded, and they prospe∣red thorowe the prophesyenge of Aggeus the Prophet and Zachary the son of Iddo: and they buylded, and layde v•• the foundacyon / accordynge to the cōmaundement of the god of Israell, and after the commaundement of Cyrus, and Darius & Arthaxerses kynges of Persia. And the house was finysshed the thyrde daye of the moneth Adar, euen in the syxte yere of the reygne of kynge Darius. * 1.23 And the Chyldren of Israell, the Preestes / the Leuites, & the other Chyldren of the cap∣tiuyte helde the dedicacyon of this house of God with ioye, and offered at the dedicacion of this house of God, an hundred Oxen, two hundred rammes, foure hūdred gootes: and for the reconcylynge of all Israell twelue he gootes, accordynge to the nombre of the try∣bes of Israell, and set the Preestes in theyr [unspec D] sondrye courses, and the Leuites in theyr dy∣uerse offices to minyster vnto God at Ieru∣salem, as it is wrytten in the boke of Moses.

And the Chyldren of the captyuyte helde Passeouer vpon the. x••iii. day of the fyrst mo¦neth: for the preestes and Leuites were pury¦fied, so that they were al cleane togyther, and kylled Passeouer for all the Chyldren of the captiuyte, and for theyr brethren the preestes, and for them selues. And the chyldren of Is∣raell which were come agayne out of the cap¦tiuyte, and all soche as had seperated them selues vnto them from the fylthynesse of the Heathen of the lande: to seke the Lorde God of Israell, dyd eate / and helde the feast of vn∣leuened breade seuen dayes with ioye: for the Lorde had made them glad, and turned the herte of the kynge of Assur vnto them, to strengthen theyr handes in the worke of the house of God / euen the God of Israell.

¶ By the cōmaundement of Arthaxerses, ••••dras ta••••eth hi•• companyo•••• the chyldren of Israel, & returneth to Ierusalē.

CAPI. VII.

AFter these actes, ther was in the reygne [unspec A] of * 1.24 Arthaxerses Kynge of Persia, one Esdras the son of Saraiah, the son of Azaria, the son of Helkia, the son of Sallum, the son of Zadoc, the son of Ahitob, the son of Ama∣ria, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne of Mera∣••oth, the sonne of Zeraia, the sonne of Uzi / the sonne of Bucki / the sonne of Abisua▪ the son of Phinehes / the sonne of Eleazar / the sonne of Aaron the cheyfe preest. This Esdras also went vp from Babilon / and was a perfyte scrybe in the law of Moses / * 1.25 which the lorde god of Israell dyd gyue. And the kyng gaue hym all that he requyred / bycause the hande of the Lorde his God was vpon hym. And there went vp certayne of the chyldren of Is∣raell / of the preestes / Leuites / syngers / por∣ters / and of the Nethinims vnto Ierusalem in the seuenth yere of kyng Arthaxerses.

And he came to Ierusalem in the fyfth mo∣neth / euen in the seuenth yeare of the kynge. For vpon the fyrst daye of the fyrst moneth / began he to go vp from Babilon / and on the fyrst daye of the fyfth moneth came he to Ie∣rusalem / bycause the good hand of god was vpon hym. For Esdras prepared his herte to seke the lawe of the lorde / and to do it / and to teache the precepte and iudgement in Israel.

And this is the copye of the letter / that [unspec B] kynge Arthaxerses gaue vnto Esdras the preest and scrybe / whiche was a wryter of the wordes and cōmaundementes of the Lorde and of his statutes ouer Israell. Arthax∣erses a kynge of kynges. Unto Esdras the Preest and Scrybe of the lawe of the God of heuen / peace & salutacyon. I haue cōmaun∣ded, that all they of the people of Israell, and of the preest{is} & Leuites in my realme (whiche are mynded of theyr owne good wyl to go vp to Ierusalem) go with the: and therfore arte thou sent of the kynge and of his seuen coun¦saylers / to vyset Iuda and Ierusalem, accor¦dynge to the lawe of thy god, which is in thy hande: And that thou shuldest take with the, syluer and golde / whiche the kynge and his counsaylers offer of theyr owne good wyl vn¦to the god of Israell (whose habitacyon is at Ierusalem) and all the syluer and golde that thou canst fynde in all the countrey of Babi∣lon, with it that the peple offer of theyr owne good wyl, and the preestes gyue for the house of theyr god whiche is at Ierusalem.

Take thou the same, & bye dilygently with [unspec C] the same money, oxen / rammes, and lambes, with theyr meate offerynges and drynke offe∣rynges / and thou shalte offer them vpon the aulter of the house of your God whiche is at Ierusalem. And loke what it lyketh the and thy brethren to do with the remenaunt of the money / that do after the wyll of youre God. And the vessels that are gyuen the for the mi¦nystracyon in the house of thy god, those de∣lyuer thou before God at Ierusalem. And whatsoeuer thynge more shall be nedeful for the house of thy God, whiche is necessary for the to spende, thou shalt receyue the charges out of the kynges treasure house. I kyng Ar¦thaxerses haue cōmaunded all the treasures beyonde the water, that loke whatsoeuer Es∣dras the Preest and scrybe in the lawe of the god of heuen, requireth of you, that ye fulfyl the same spedyly, vntyll an hundred talentes of syluer, vntyll an, C. quarters of wheate / and tyl an hundred Batthes of wyne, and tyl an hundred * 1.26 Batthes of oyle, and salte with∣out measure.

Whatsoeuer also belongeth to the law of the [unspec D] God of heuen, let the same be done without any delaye for the house of the god of heuen, that he be not wroth agaynst the realme, and agaynst the kynge, and his chyldren. And we certifye you, that ye haue no auctoryte to re∣quyre taxynge and custome, and yearly ren∣tes vpon any of the preest{is}, Leuites, syngers, porters, Nethinims, & minysters in the house of his god. And thou Esdras (after the wys∣dome of thy god, that is in thy hande) set iud∣ges & arbyterers (by my auctoryte) to iudge all the people that is beyond the water, euen all soche as knowe the lawe of thy God: and them that know it not, those se that ye teach. And whosoeuer wyll not fulfyll the lawe of thy god, and the kynges lawe, let hym haue his iudgement without delaye, whyther it be vnto death, or to be routed out, or to be con∣dempned in goodes, or to be put in pryson.

* 1.27 Blessed be the Lorde god of our fathers / whiche so hath inspired the kynges herte, to garnysshe the house of the lorde, that is at Ie¦rusalem: and enclyned his mercy vnto me ••n the presence of the kynge, and his counsay∣lers, and before all the kynges hygh estates. And I was comforted (euen as the hande of the Lorde my god was vpon me) and so ga∣thered I the heades of Israell togyther, that they myght go vp with me.

The nombre of them that returne to Ierusalē with Esdra••.

CAPI. VIII.

THese are the princypal fathers of them / [unspec A] and this is theyr regyster that went vp with me from Babilon, what tyme as kynge Arthaxerses reygned. Of the chyldren* 1.28 of Phinches, Gerson: of the chyldrē of Itha∣mar, Daniell: of the chyldren of Dauid, Ha∣tus: of the Chyldren of Zecania amonge the chyldren of Pharos, Zachary, and with hym were nombred an hundred and fyftye men. Of the Chyldren of the captayne, of Moa•• / Elioenai the sonne of Zerahia, and with him two hundred men. Of the chyldren of Zecha∣nia the sonne of Iahasiell, and with hym thre hundred men. Of the chyldren of Adin, Abed the sonne of Ionathan, and with hym fyftye men. Of the chyldren of Elam, Isai the Son of Athalia, and with hym seuentye men. Of the Chyldren of Saphatia, Zebadia the son of Michaell, and with hym foure score men.

Of the chyldren of Ioab, Obadia the son of Iehiell, and with hym two hundred and [unspec B] eyghtene men. Of the chyldren of Selomith, the sonne of Iosiphia, and with him an hun∣dred and thre score men. Of the Chyldren of Bebai, Zachary the Sonne of Bebai, & with

hym eyght and. xx. men. Of the chyldren of Asgad, Iohanan, the Son of Hakatan, and with hym an hundred and ten men. Of the Chyldren of Adonicam, that were the laste / whose names were these: Eliphelet, Iehiell, and Samaiah, and with them thre score men Of the chyldren of Biguai, Uthai / and Za∣bud, and with them seuentye men. And I ga∣thered them togyther by the water that ren∣neth toward Aha••a, and there abode we thre dayes. And I loked amonge the people and the Preestes & founde there none of the chyl∣dren of Leui.

Then sent I to Elieser, to Ariel, Semeia, [unspec C] Elnathan / Iarib / Elnathan / Nathan / Za∣chary and to Mesullam the rulers, and to Ioiarib and Elnathan whiche were men of vnderstandynge / and to those gaue I com∣maundement vnto Iddo the cheyfest at Cas∣phia / that they shulde fetch vs minysters for the house of our god, and I tolde them what they shulde saye vnto Iddo, and to his bre∣thren the Nethinims at Casphia. And (tho∣rowe the good hande of oure God vpon vs) they brought vs a wyse man from amonge the chyldren of Moholi the Sonne of Leui / the sonne of Israell, and Sarabia with his sonnes and his brethren, euen eyghtene. And Hasabia, and with hym Isai of the chyl¦dren of Merari / with his brethren and theyr sonnes twentye.

And of the Nethinims / whome Dauid & [unspec D] the Prynces gaue to minyster vnto the Le∣uites, two hūdred and twentye of Nethinim, whiche all were named by name. And euen there at the water, besyde Ahaua, I procla∣med a fast, that we myght humble ourselues before our god, and seke of hym a ryght way for vs, and for our chyldren and for our sub∣staunce. For I was ashamed to requyre of the kynge, souldyers and horsemen / to helpe vs agaynste the enemye in the waye: but we sayd vnto the kynge: The hande of our god is vpon all them that seke hym in goodnesse, and ❀ (his dominyon) his violence & wrath is agaynst all them that forsake hym. So we fasted, and besought our god for this, and he herde vs.

And I toke out twelue of the cheyfe pree∣stes, [unspec E] Sarabia and Hasabia, and ten of theyr brethren with them, & weyed them the syluer and golde, and vessels that were appyonted for the house of oure God, whiche the kynge and his counsaylers and his Lordes / and all Israell that there were at hande, had gyuen togyther. And I weyed vnto theyr hande sixe hundred and fyftye talentes of syluer, and in syluer vessell an hundred talentes, and in golde an hundred talentes: twentye basens of golde of a thousand peces, and two costly ornament{is} of good brasse as cleare as golde: and I sayde vnto them: Ye are consecrate vn to the lorde, lyke as the vessels are holy also, and the golde & syluer are gyuen of a good wyll vnto the Lorde God of your fathers. Watch ye, & kepe it: for ye shal weye it downe before the cheyfe Preestes and Leuites, and auncient fathers of Israell at Ierusalem in the treasuryes of the house of the Lorde.

Then toke the preestes and Leuites that [unspec F] weyed syluer and golde and vessel to brynge it to Ierusalem, vnto the house of our God. And we brake vp, from the water of Ahaua on the twelueth daye of the fyrste moneth, to go vnto Ierusalem: and the hande of oure God was vpon vs, and delyuered vs from the hande of the enemyes, & of so••h as layde wayte for vs by the way. And we came to Ie∣rusalem, and abode there thre dayes. But on the fourth daye was the syluer, & Golde and vessel weyed in the house of our God, by the hande of Meremoth the Sonne of Uria the preest, and with hym was Eleazar the sonne of Phy••ches, and with them was Iosabad the sonne of Iesua, and Noadia the sonne of Benoi the Leuites.

Accordynge to the nombre and weyght of [unspec G] euery one, was the weyght all wrytten vp at the same tyme. And the chyldren of the capti∣uyte, which were come out of pryson, offered burntofferynges vnto the god of Israel: xii. bullockes for al Israel: nynety and syre ram∣mes, seuentye and seuen Lambes, twelue he gootes for a synofferynge, all to the burntof∣feryng of the Lorde. And they delyuered the kynges commyssyon vnto the kynges offy∣cers, and to the captaynes that were o•• this syde the water. And they promoted the peo∣ple and the house of God.

¶ Esdra•• complayneth on the people that had ••••rned them selues from god, and maryed with the gentyles.

CAPI. IX.

WHen these thynges were done, the ru∣lers [unspec A] came to me, and sayd: The people of Israell, and the preestes, and Leuites are not separated from the people of the landes, (as touchyng theyr abhominacons) namely of the Cananites, Hethites, Pheresites, Ie∣busites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorytes. * 1.29 For they haue taken the doughters of the same to them selues, and to theyr sonnes, and the holy seede is myxt with the nacyons in the landes: and the hande of the prynces and rulers hath ben pryncypall

in this trespasse. * 1.30 And when I herde this saynge / I rent my clothes and my rayment / and piuckte of the heere of my heade, and of my beerde, and sat mournyng. And there re∣sorted vnto me all soch as feared the wordes of the the lorde God of Israel, bycause of the transgressyon of the people of the captiuite.

And I sat mournynge vntyll the eue∣nynge [unspec B] sacrifyce. And aboute the euenyng sa∣crifyce, I rose vp from my heuynes, and rent my clothes and my rayment, and fell vpon my knees, and spred out my handes vnto the Lorde my God, and sayde:

My god, I am ashamed, and dare not lyf•• vp myne eyes vnto the my god: for our wye∣kednesses are growen ouer oure heade, and our trespasse is waxen great vnto the heuen. Synce the tyme of our fathers haue we ben in great trespasse vnto this daye / * 1.31 and by∣cause of our wyckednesses haue we and oure kynges ben delyuered in to the hande of the kynges of the nacyons, into the swerde, in to captiuyte, into shame, and into confusyon of face / as it is to se this day. And now is there a lytle and sodayne gracyousnesse come from the Lorde our God, in causynge some of vs to escape / and that he maye gyue vs a nayle [unspec C] in his holy place / & that our god maye lyght our eyes / & gyue vs a lytle lyfe to take breth in our bondage. For we are bondmen / & our God hath not forsaken vs in oure bondage / & hath enclyned mercye vnto vs in the syght of the kynges of Persia, to gyue vs lyfe, to set vp the house of oure God, and to redresse the desolacyon therof, and to gyue vs a wall in Iuda and Ierusalem. And nowe, O oure god, what sha•••• we say after this? for we haue forsaken thy cōmaundementes, whiche thou hast cōmaunded by thy seruauntes the Pro∣phettes, sayenge: The lande vnto whiche ye go to possesse it, is an vncleane land, bycause of the fylthynesse of the people of the landes / whiche w^t theyr abhominacyons haue made it full of vnclennesse on euery syde.

* 1.32 Therfore shal ye not gyue your dough¦ters vnto theyr sonnes, and theyr doughters [unspec D] shall ye not take vnto youre sonnes, nor seke theyr peace and welth for euer, that ye maye be stronge, and enioye the good in the lande / and that ye and your chyldren may haue the enherytaunce of it for euermore. And after that all these thynges are come vpon vs (by∣cause of our euyl dedes and great trespasses) thou our god hast ☞ thrust downe our wye∣kednesses, and hast gyuen vs a delyueraūce, ❀ (as it is come to passe this day. And yf we turne backe agayne to let go thy cōmaunde∣mentes, and make contracte with the people of these abhominacyons, wylte thou not then be wroth at vs, (and not without cause) tyll we be vtterly consumed, so that nothinge re∣mayne, and tyll there be no delyueraunce? O Lorde god of Israel, thou art ryghteous, for we remayne yet escaped, as it is to se this daye. Beholde also, in thy presence are we in oure trespasses / and bycause of it may we not stande before the.

¶ The people repente, and turn••: and put away theyr straunge wyues.

CAPI. X.

ANd when * 1.33 Esdras prayed after this [unspec A] maner, and knowledged, wept, and lay before the house of God / there resorted vnto hym out of Israell a very greate con∣gregacyon of men / and women / and Chyl∣dren: and the people wept very sore. And Se¦chania the son of Iehiell one of the chyldren of Elam, answered, and sayde vnto Esdras: We haue trespassed agaynst our god, & haue taken straunge wyues of the people of the lande. Nowe there is hope yet in Israell con¦cernynge this thyng: For nowe we wyl make a couenaunt with our god, and put away all the wyues (and soch as are borne of them) ac∣cordynge to the counsayle of the Lorde, and we wyll be in the feare of the cōmaūdement{is} of our God, that we maye do accordynge to the lawe. Get thevp, for this matter belōgeth vnto the. We also wyl be with the, be of good comforte therfore, and do it.

* 1.34 Then rose Esdras, and toke an othe of the cheyfe Preestes and Leuites, and of all [unspec B] Israell / that they shulde do accordynge to this word: and they sware. And Esdras stode vp from before the house of God, and wente in to the chamber of Iohanan the Sonne of Eliasib. And when he came thyther, he dyd eate no bread, nor drynke water: for he mour∣ned bycause of the transgressyon of the peple that had ben in captiuyte. And they caused & proclamacyon to go thorowout Iuda, and Ierusalem / vnto all the chyldren whiche had ben in captiuyte, that they shuld gather them selues togyther vnto Ierusalem: And that whosoeuer came not within thre dayes accor¦dyng to the deuyce of the rulers and Elders / al his substaunce shulde be forfet, & he shuld be put out from the congregacion of the cap∣tyue. Then all the men of Iuda and Benia∣min gathered them selues togyther vnto Ie∣rusalem within thre dayes, euen the twentye daye of the nyenth moneth: and all the peple sat in the strete before the house of God / and trembled bycause of this matter, and for the

rayne. And Esdras the Preest stode vp, and sayd vnto them. * 1.35 Ye haue transgressed, and haue taken straūge wyues, to make the tres∣passe of Israell yet more: confesse nowe ther∣fore vnto the Lorde god of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and seperate your selues frō the people of the lande, and from the straūge wyues. And all the congregacyon answered / and sayde with a loude voyce: It shall be so / and we wyll do as thou hast sayde. But the people are many, and it is a raynye wether, and the people are to faynt to tarye without in the streete, neyther is this a worke of one daye or two / for we haue offended very sore in this thynge. Let our rulers stand therfore in all the cōgregacyon, and let al them which haue taken straunge wyues in oure Cityes come at the tyme appoynted, and let the El∣ders of euery citye and theyr Iudges be with them, tyll they haue turned the wrath of oure god away from vs concernyng this matter.

Then were appoynted Ionathan the son [unspec C] of Asahel, and Iahasia the sonne of Thekua ouer this matter: And Mesullam and Sa∣bathat the Leuites helped them. And the chyl¦dren of the captiuyte dyd euen so. And Es∣dras the preest, and the auncient heades tho∣••o we the house of theyr Fathers, (all men of great fame) seperated them selues, and sat them downe on the fyrst day of the tenth mo∣neth, to examen the matter. And vntyll the fyrst day of the fyrst moneth they were finys∣shynge the busynesse with all the men that had taken straunge wyues. And amonge the chyldren of the preestes there were men foūd that had taken straunge wyues, namely a∣monge the chyldren of Iesua the son of Io∣sedec and of his brethren, Masiah, and Elie∣zer, Iarib & Gedalia. And they gaue theyr hand{is} there vpon, that they wolde put awaye theyr wyues, and for theyr trespasse offeryng, to gyue a Ram for theyr trespas. And among the chyldren in Emer, Honani, and Zabadia. Amonge the Chyldren of Harim, Maasia / Elia / Semeiah▪ Iehtel / & Usia. Amonge the Chyldren of Phashur, Elioenai, Maasia / Ismaell / Nethanell / Iosabad and Elasa. Amonge the Leuites, Iosabad / Simei / and Kela••a (which same is Kalithah) Pathahiah Iuda and Eliazar. Among the syngers also, Eliasib. And amonge the porters Sellum / and Telem and Uri.

And of Israell. Amonge the chyldren of [unspec D] Phathos / Remia / Iesia / Malchia, Miamin Eliazar / Malchia / and Banaia. Among the the Chyldren of Elam / Methania / Zachati / Iehiell / Abdy / Ierimoth and Elia. Amonge the chyldren of Zathu Elioenai, Eliasib, Ma∣thania / Ierimoth / Zabad and Aziza.

Amonge the chyldren of Bebai / Iehohanan Hanania / Zabai and Athalai. Amonge the chyldrē of Beni / Mesulam, Maluc, Adaiah, Iasub / Saall and Ierimoth. Amonge the chyldrē of the captayne Moab, Adna, Cholal Benaia, Masia, Mathania / Bezelell, Benui and Manasse. Amonge the Chyldren of Ha∣rim, Eliezer / Iesia / Malchia / Semeia, and Simeon: Ben Iamin / Malluch and Sa∣maria. Amonge the chyldren of Hasum, Ma¦thanai / Mathathah / Zabad, Eliphelet, Ie∣remi, Manasse and Simei. Among the chyl∣dren of Bani, Madai, Amram, Huel, Bane•• Cheluhi, Badaiah, Uaniah, Maremoth, & Eliasib / Mathania, Mathanai, Iaesai, Ba∣ni, Beni, and Semeiah, Selemia. Nathan / and Adaia, Machnadba••, Sa••ai, and sarai, Asarell, Selemiahu, and Samariah, Sal∣lum / Amaria, and Ioseph, Amonge the chyldren of Nebo, Ieh••ell, Mathathia, Zabad / Zabina, Iadai, Ioell, and Banaia. All these had taken straūge wyues. And among the same, there were some, that had chyldren by the wyues.

¶ The ende of the fyrst boke of Esdras. ❧ ❀ ❧

Notes

• * 1.1

  ii. Pa. 36. d
• * 1.2

  Iere. xxv. b
• * 1.3

  Esal. 44. d
• * 1.4

  ii Par. 36. •• 3 E••g. 25. a Daniel. i. ••
• * 1.5

  2. Es••••. ii. ••
• * 1.6

  •• ••e. 17. ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •• ••. E••g. ii. ••.
• * 1.7

  Exodi. 28. ••
• * 1.8

  ii. Esd••. 8. •• 3 Esd••. v ••
• * 1.9

  Num. 2••. ••
• * 1.10

  Num. 29. ••
• * 1.11

  ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.12

  ••. Esdr. v. g
• * 1.13

  3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 17. d
• * 1.14

  ••. Esdr ••. ••▪
• * 1.15

  3. Reg 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.16

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.17

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. ••
• * 1.18

  3. Reg. v••. •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Pa. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••.
• * 1.19

  4. Reg. 24▪ and▪ xxv.
• * 1.20

  ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. ••
• * 1.21

  ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. ••
• * 1.22

  ••. Esdr. ••••••
• * 1.23

  ••••. P••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.24

  ••. 〈…〉〈…〉 ••. ••
• * 1.25

  Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.26

  ••••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. b.
• * 1.27

  3. Esdra. •• ••
• * 1.28

  3. E••d••. ••. ••.
• * 1.29

  D••••••. 〈…〉〈…〉 Iosu••. 13▪ Iud••. 〈…〉〈…〉. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.30

  •• E••••••. 8. c
• * 1.31

  〈…〉〈…〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. b •• 〈…〉〈…〉. 33. b •• 〈…〉〈…〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 b
• * 1.32

  〈…〉〈…〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.33

  3. Esdr. 8. ••
• * 1.34

  ••. E••••••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.35

  Deut. vii. a Iudi. iii. a