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***

The Project Gutenberg Etext of Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible

***

The Project Gutenberg Etext of Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible

also known as the Apocrypha [Book titles added as there were none

in the files we received. One typo of Ezra to Esdr was changed as

were some of the marginations. The books were each received as an

Etext file, and have been put here into one single file for utilty

and they are placed in an order suggested by one of our advisors‑‑

we would be happy to post indices of other suggested orderings and

other commentaries.]

***

Encoded under the direction of Robert Kraft for distribution through

the Center for Computer Analysis of Texts, (CCAT), at the University

of Pennsylvania. Robert Kraft <kraft@ccat.sas.upenn.edu>

Here is the suggested table of contents of Bob Kraft:

[I have written out the numerals and the words "Book of" etc., for a

certain amount of internal consistency with our two previous Project

Gutenberg releases of the King James Bible which did not include the

books listed below. The tables of contents I received for this were

inconsistent in this; I am not a Biblical scholar, and am just doing

the best I can; my sincere apologies for any errors, which with your

assistance, will be corrected by month's end. There are also Etexts

to be made of even more Apocryphal materials, if you can help us get

them into our Electronic Public Library. Thanks, Michael S. Hart]

The Books Presented Below Use These Titles

The First Book of Esdras

The Second Book of Esdras Esdras [sometimes Fourth Book of Ezra]

The Book of Tobit

The Book of Judith

The Rest of the Chapters of the Book of Esther

The Wisdom of Solomon

The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus

The Book of Baruch

The Epistle of Jeremy [sometimes Chapter Six of Baruch]

The Song of the Three Holy Children

The Prayer of Azariah [missing in one table of contents]

The History of Susanna [in Daniel]

The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon

The Prayer of Manasses King of Judah

The First Book of the Maccabees

The Second Book of the Maccabees

Here is the table of contents in the order presented below:

The First Book of Esdras

The Second Book of Esdras Esdras [sometimes Fourth Book of Ezra]

The Greek Additions to Esther

The First Book of the Maccabees

The Second Book of the Maccabees

The Book of Tobit

The Book of Judith

The Wisdom of Solomon

The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)

The Book of Baruch

The Epistle (or letter) of Jeremiah

The Book of Susanna (in Daniel)

The Prayer of Azariah

The Prayer of Manasseh

Bel and the Dragon (in Daniel)

The First Book of Esdras

1Esdr 1:1

And Josias held the feast of the passover in Jerusalem unto his Lord,

and offered the passover the fourteenth day of the first month;

1Esdr 1:2

Having set the priests according to their daily courses,

being arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.

1Esdr 1:3

And he spake unto the Levites, the holy ministers of Israel,

that they should hallow themselves unto the Lord, to set

the holy ark of the Lord in the house that king Solomon

the son of David had built:

1Esdr 1:4

And said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your shoulders:

now therefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his

people Israel, and prepare you after your families and kindreds,

1Esdr 1:5

According as David the king of Israel prescribed,

and according to the magnificence of Solomon his son:

and standing in the temple according to the several dignity

of the families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence

of your brethren the children of Israel,

1Esdr 1:6

Offer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices

for your brethren, and keep the passover according to the

commandment of the Lord, which was given unto Moses.

1Esdr 1:7

And unto the people that was found there Josias gave

thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves:

these things were given of the king's allowance,

according as he promised, to the people, to the priests,

and to the Levites.

1Esdr 1:8

And Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the governors of the temple,

gave to the priests for the passover two thousand and six hundred sheep,

and three hundred calves.

1Esdr 1:9

And Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Assabias,

and Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to the Levites

for the passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.

1Esdr 1:10

And when these things were done, the priests and Levites,

having the unleavened bread, stood in very comely order

according to the kindreds,

1Esdr 1:11

And according to the several dignities of the fathers,

before the people, to offer to the Lord, as it is written

in the book of Moses: and thus did they in the morning.

1Esdr 1:12

And they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth:

as for the sacrifices, they sod them in brass pots and pans

with a good savour,

1Esdr 1:13

And set them before all the people: and afterward they prepared

for themselves, and for the priests their brethren, the sons of Aaron.

1Esdr 1:14

For the priests offered the fat until night: and the Levites

prepared for themselves, and the priests their brethren,

the sons of Aaron.

1Esdr 1:15

The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order,

according to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias,

and Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue.

1Esdr 1:16

Moreover the porters were at every gate; it was not lawful

for any to go from his ordinary service: for their brethren

the Levites prepared for them.

1Esdr 1:17

Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices

of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might

hold the passover,

1Esdr 1:18

And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord,

according to the commandment of king Josias.

1Esdr 1:19

So the children of Israel which were present held the

passover at that time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days.

1Esdr 1:20

And such a passover was not kept in Israel since

the time of the prophet Samuel.

1Esdr 1:21

Yea, all the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias,

and the priests, and the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel

that were found dwelling at Jerusalem.

1Esdr 1:22

In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover kept.

1Esdr 1:23

And the works or Josias were upright before his Lord

with an heart full of godliness.

1Esdr 1:24

As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written

in former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against

the Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly,

so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel.

1Esdr 1:25

Now after all these acts of Josias it came to pass,

that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to raise war at Carchamis

upon Euphrates: and Josias went out against him.

1Esdr 1:26

But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying,

What have I to do with thee, O king of Judea?

1Esdr 1:27

I am not sent out from the Lord God against thee; for my war

is upon Euphrates: and now the Lord is with me, yea, the Lord is

with me hasting me forward: depart from me, and be not against the Lord.

1Esdr 1:28

Howbeit Josias did not turn back his chariot from him,

but undertook to fight with him, not regarding the words

of the prophet Jeremy spoken by the mouth of the Lord:

1Esdr 1:29

But joined battle with him in the plain of Magiddo,

and the princes came against king Josias.

1Esdr 1:30

Then said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of

the battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants

took him away out of the battle.

1Esdr 1:31

Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought

back to Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father's sepulchre.

1Esdr 1:32

And in all Jewry they mourned for Josias, yea, Jeremy the prophet

lamented for Josias, and the chief men with the women made lamentation

for him unto this day: and this was given out for an ordinance

to be done continually in all the nation of Israel.

1Esdr 1:33

These things are written in the book of the stories of the

kings of Judah, and every one of the acts that Josias did,

and his glory, and his understanding in the law of the Lord,

and the things that he had done before, and the things now recited,

are reported in the book of the kings of Israel and Judea.

1Esdr 1:34

And the people took Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king

instead of Josias his father, when he was twenty and three years old.

1Esdr 1:35

And he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and

then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.

1Esdr 1:36

And he set a tax upon the land of an hundred talents

of silver and one talent of gold.

1Esdr 1:37

The king of Egypt also made king Joacim his brother king

of Judea and Jerusalem.

1Esdr 1:38

And he bound Joacim and the nobles: but Zaraces his brother

he apprehended, and brought him out of Egypt.

1Esdr 1:39

Five and twenty years old was Joacim when he was made king in the land

of Judea and Jerusalem; and he did evil before the Lord.

1Esdr 1:40

Wherefore against him Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up,

and bound him with a chain of brass, and carried him into Babylon.

1Esdr 1:41

Nabuchodonosor also took of the holy vessels of the Lord,

and carried them away, and set them in his own temple at Babylon.

1Esdr 1:42

But those things that are recorded of him, and of his uncleaness and impiety,

are written in the chronicles of the kings.

1Esdr 1:43

And Joacim his son reigned in his stead:

he was made king being eighteen years old;

1Esdr 1:44

And reigned but three months and ten days in Jerusalem;

and did evil before the Lord.

1Esdr 1:45

So after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be

brought into Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord;

1Esdr 1:46

And made Zedechias king of Judea and Jerusalem, when he was

one and twenty years old; and he reigned eleven years:

1Esdr 1:47

And he did evil also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not

for the words that were spoken unto him by the prophet Jeremy

from the mouth of the Lord.

1Esdr 1:48

And after that king Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear

by the name of the Lord, he forswore himself, and rebelled;

and hardening his neck, his heart, he transgressed the laws

of the Lord God of Israel.

1Esdr 1:49

The governors also of the people and of the priests did many things

against the laws, and passed all the pollutions of all nations,

and defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified in Jerusalem.

1Esdr 1:50

Nevertheless the God of their fathers sent by his messenger

to call them back, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.

1Esdr 1:51

But they had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the

Lord spake unto them, they made a sport of his prophets:

1Esdr 1:52

So far forth, that he, being wroth with his people for their great ungodliness,

commanded the kings of the Chaldees to come up against them;

1Esdr 1:53

Who slew their young men with the sword, yea, even within the compass

of their holy temple, and spared neither young man nor maid,

old man nor child, among them; for he delivered all into their hands.

1Esdr 1:54

And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord,

both great and small, with the vessels of the ark of God,

and the king's treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.

1Esdr 1:55

As for the house of the Lord, they burnt it, and brake down

the walls of Jerusalem, and set fire upon her towers:

1Esdr 1:56

And as for her glorious things, they never ceased till they

had consumed and brought them all to nought: and the people

that were not slain with the sword he carried unto Babylon:

1Esdr 1:57

Who became servants to him and his children, till the Persians reigned,

to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremy:

1Esdr 1:58

Until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, the whole time of her

desolation shall she rest, until the full term of seventy years.

1Esdr 2:1

In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the

word of the Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by

the mouth of Jeremy;

1Esdr 2:2

The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the

Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and

also by writing,

1Esdr 2:3

Saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of

Israel, the most high Lord, hath made me king of the whole

world,

1Esdr 2:4

And commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.

1Esdr 2:5

If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let

the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to

Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of

Israel: for he is the Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.

1Esdr 2:6

Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him,

those, I say, that are his neighbours, with gold, and with

silver,

1Esdr 2:7

With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things,

which have been set forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at

Jerusalem.

1Esdr 2:8

Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of

Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all

they whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an

house for the Lord at Jerusalem,

1Esdr 2:9

And they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all

things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with

very many free gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred

up thereto.

1Esdr 2:10

King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which

Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up

in his temple of idols.

1Esdr 2:11

Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth,

he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer:

1Esdr 2:12

And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of

Judea.

1Esdr 2:13

And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and

a thousand of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of

gold thirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten,

and a thousand other vessels.

1Esdr 2:14

So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried

away, were five thousand four hundred threescore and nine.

1Esdr 2:15

These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of

the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.

1Esdr 2:16

But in the time of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus,

and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus,

and Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission

with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him

against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters

following;

1Esdr 2:17

To king Artexerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the

storywriter, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their

council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice.

1Esdr 2:18

Be it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up

from you to us, being come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and

wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of

it and do lay the foundation of the temple.

1Esdr 2:19

Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they

will not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against

kings.

1Esdr 2:20

And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now

in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,

1Esdr 2:21

But to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if

it be thy pleasure it may be sought out in the books of thy

fathers:

1Esdr 2:22

And thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written

concerning these things, and shalt understand that that city was

rebellious, troubling both kings and cities:

1Esdr 2:23

And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars

therein; for the which cause even this city was made desolate.

1Esdr 2:24

Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that

if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew,

thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and

Phenice.

1Esdr 2:25

Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter,

to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that

were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and

Phenice, after this manner;

1Esdr 2:26

I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore

I commanded to make diligent search, and it hath been found that

that city was from the beginning practising against kings;

1Esdr 2:27

And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that

mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and

exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.

1Esdr 2:28

Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from

building the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more

done in it;

1Esdr 2:29

And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the

annoyance of kings,

1Esdr 2:30

Then king Artexerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and

Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with

them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of

horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to

hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem

ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the

Persians.

1Esdr 3:1

Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his

subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes

of Media and Persia,

1Esdr 3:2

And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that

were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty

and seven provinces.

1Esdr 3:3

And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were

gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and

slept, and soon after awaked.

1Esdr 3:4

Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the

king's body, spake one to another;

1Esdr 3:5

Let every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome,

and whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him

shall the king Darius give great gifts, and great things in

token of victory:

1Esdr 3:6

As, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep

upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire

of fine linen, and a chain about his neck:

1Esdr 3:7

And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and

shall be called Darius his cousin.

1Esdr 3:8

And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it

under king Darius his pillow;

1Esdr 3:9

And said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the

writings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of

Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall

the victory be given, as was appointed.

1Esdr 3:10

The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.

1Esdr 3:11

The second wrote, The king is strongest.

1Esdr 3:12

The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things

Truth beareth away the victory.

1Esdr 3:13

Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and

delivered them unto him, and so he read them:

1Esdr 3:14

And sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and

Media, and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants,

and the chief officers;

1Esdr 3:15

And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the

writings were read before them.

1Esdr 3:16

And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their

own sentences. So they were called, and came in.

1Esdr 3:17

And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning

the writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the

strength of wine;

1Esdr 3:18

And he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it

causeth all men to err that drink it:

1Esdr 3:19

It maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to

be all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man

and of the rich:

1Esdr 3:20

It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that

a man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt:

1Esdr 3:21

And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth

neither king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by

talents:

1Esdr 3:22

And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both

to friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords:

1Esdr 3:23

But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they

have done.

1Esdr 3:24

O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do

thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.

1Esdr 4:1

Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king,

began to say,

1Esdr 4:2

O ye men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over

sea and land and all things in them?

1Esdr 4:3

But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these

things, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he

commandeth them they do.

1Esdr 4:4

If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do

it: if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and break

down mountains walls and towers.

1Esdr 4:5

They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king's

commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the

king, as well the spoil, as all things else.

1Esdr 4:6

Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do

with wars, but use husbundry, when they have reaped again that

which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one

another to pay tribute unto the king.

1Esdr 4:7

And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill;

if he command to spare, they spare;

1Esdr 4:8

If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make

desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they

build;

1Esdr 4:9

If he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to

plant, they plant.

1Esdr 4:10

So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he

lieth down, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest:

1Esdr 4:11

And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one

depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in any

thing.

1Esdr 4:12

O ye men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such

sort he is obeyed? And he held his tongue.

1Esdr 4:13

Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth,

(this was Zorobabel) began to speak.

1Esdr 4:14

O ye men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men,

neither is it wine, that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth

them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not women?

1Esdr 4:15

Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule

by sea and land.

1Esdr 4:16

Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that

planted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh.

1Esdr 4:17

These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men;

and without women cannot men be.

1Esdr 4:18

Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or

any other goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely

in favour and beauty?

1Esdr 4:19

And letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even

with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have not all men

more desire unto her than unto silver or gold, or any goodly

thing whatsoever?

1Esdr 4:20

A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own

country, and cleaveth unto his wife.

1Esdr 4:21

He sticketh not to spend his life with his wife. and

remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country.

1Esdr 4:22

By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you:

do ye not labour and toil, and give and bring all to the woman?

1Esdr 4:23

Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to

steal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;

1Esdr 4:24

And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when

he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.

1Esdr 4:25

Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.

1Esdr 4:26

Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women,

and become servants for their sakes.

1Esdr 4:27

Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.

1Esdr 4:28

And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his

power? do not all regions fear to touch him?

1Esdr 4:29

Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, the

daughter of the admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of

the king,

1Esdr 4:30

And taking the crown from the king's head, and setting it

upon her own head; she also struck the king with her left hand.

1Esdr 4:31

And yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with

open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she

took any displeasure at him, the king was fain to flatter, that

she might be reconciled to him again.

1Esdr 4:32

O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing

they do thus?

1Esdr 4:33

Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he

began to speak of the truth.

1Esdr 4:34

O ye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is

the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth

the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his

own place in one day.

1Esdr 4:35

Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is

the truth, and stronger than all things.

1Esdr 4:36

All the earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth

it: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no

unrighteous thing.

1Esdr 4:37

Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the

children of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked works;

and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also

they shall perish.

1Esdr 4:38

As for the truth, it endureth, and is alwaYs strong; it

liveth and conquereth for evermore.

1Esdr 4:39

With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she

doeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unjust

and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.

1Esdr 4:40

Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is

the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed

be the God of truth.

1Esdr 4:41

And with that he held his peace. And all the people then

shouted, and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.

1Esdr 4:42

Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is

appointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou

art found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be

called my cousin.

1Esdr 4:43

Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast

vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy

kingdom,

1Esdr 4:44

And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of

Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy

Babylon, and to send them again thither.

1Esdr 4:45

Thou also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the

Edomites burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldees.

1Esdr 4:46

And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and

which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality

proceeding from thyself: I desire therefore that thou make good

the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast

vowed to the King of heaven.

1Esdr 4:47

Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote

letters for him unto all the treasurers and lieutenants and

captains and governors, that they should safely convey on their

way both him, and all those that go up with him to build

Jerusalem.

1Esdr 4:48

He wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in

Celosyria and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they

should bring cedar wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that

they should build the city with him.

1Esdr 4:49

Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm

up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no

ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into

their doors;

1Esdr 4:50

And that all the country which they hold should be free

without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the

villages of the Jews which then they held:

1Esdr 4:51

Yea, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the

building of the temple, until the time that it were built;

1Esdr 4:52

And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings

upon the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer

seventeen:

1Esdr 4:53

And that all they that went from Babylon to build the city

should have free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and

all the priests that went away.

1Esdr 4:54

He wrote also concerning. the charges, and the priests'

vestments wherein they minister;

1Esdr 4:55

And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them

until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem

builded up.

1Esdr 4:56

And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions

and wages.

1Esdr 4:57

He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus

had set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the

same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem.

1Esdr 4:58

Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face

to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,

1Esdr 4:59

And said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom,

and thine is the glory, and I am thy servant.

1Esdr 4:60

Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I

give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.

1Esdr 4:61

And so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto

Babylon, and told it all his brethren.

1Esdr 4:62

And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had

given them freedom and liberty

1Esdr 4:63

To go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is

called by his name: and they feasted with instruments of musick

and gladness seven days.

1Esdr 5:1

After this were the principal men of the families chosen

according to their tribes, to go up with their wives and sons

and daughters, with their menservants and maidservants, and

their cattle.

1Esdr 5:2

And Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had

brought them back to Jerusalem safely, and with musical

[instruments] tabrets and flutes.

1Esdr 5:3

And all their brethren played, and he made them go up

together with them.

1Esdr 5:4

And these are the names of the men which went up, according

to their families among their tribes, after their several heads.

1Esdr 5:5

The priests, the sons of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the

son of Josedec, the son of Saraias, and Joacim the son of

Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the house of David, out of

the kindred of Phares, of the tribe of Judah;

1Esdr 5:6

Who spake wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in

the second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the

first month.

1Esdr 5:7

And these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity,

where they dwelt as strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of

Babylon had carried away unto Babylon.

1Esdr 5:8

And they returned unto Jerusalem, and to the other parts of

Jewry, every man to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with

Jesus, Nehemias, and Zacharias, and Reesaias, Enenius,

Mardocheus. Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana,

their guides.

1Esdr 5:9

The number of them of the nation, and their governors, sons

of Phoros, two thousand an hundred seventy and two; the sons of

Saphat, four hundred seventy and two:

1Esdr 5:10

The sons of Ares, seven hundred fifty and six:

1Esdr 5:11

The sons of Phaath Moab, two thousand eight hundred and

twelve:

1Esdr 5:12

The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the

sons of Zathul, nine hundred forty and five: the sons of Corbe,

seven hundred and five: the sons of Bani, six hundred forty and

eight:

1Esdr 5:13

The sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three: the sons of

Sadas, three thousand two hundred twenty and two:

1Esdr 5:14

The sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and seven: the sons

of Bagoi, two thousand sixty and six: the sons of Adin, four

hundred fifty and four:

1Esdr 5:15

The sons of Aterezias, ninety and two: the sons of Ceilan and

Azetas threescore and seven: the sons of Azuran, four hundred

thirty and two:

1Esdr 5:16

The sons of Ananias, an hundred and one: the sons of Arom,

thirty two: and the sons of Bassa, three hundred twenty and

three: the sons of Azephurith, an hundred and two:

1Esdr 5:17

The sons of Meterus, three thousand and five: the sons of

Bethlomon, an hundred twenty and three:

1Esdr 5:18

They of Netophah, fifty and five: they of Anathoth, an

hundred fifty and eight: they of Bethsamos, forty and two:

1Esdr 5:19

They of Kiriathiarius, twenty and five: they of Caphira and

Beroth, seven hundred forty and three: they of Pira, seven

hundred:

1Esdr 5:20

They of Chadias and Ammidoi, four hundred twenty and two:

they of Cirama and Gabdes, six hundred twenty and one:

1Esdr 5:21

They of Macalon, an hundred twenty and two: they of Betolius,

fifty and two: the sons of Nephis, an hundred fifty and six:

1Esdr 5:22

The sons of Calamolalus and Onus, seven hundred twenty and

five: the sons of Jerechus, two hundred forty and five:

1Esdr 5:23

The sons of Annas, three thousand three hundred and thirty.

1Esdr 5:24

The priests: the sons of Jeddu, the son of Jesus