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.