1 Esdras 4

1 Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,

2 O sirs, do not men excel in strength, that bear rule over the sea and land, and all things in them?

3 But yet is the king stronger: and he is their lord, and has dominion over them; and in whatever he commands them they obey him.

4 If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: and if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and overcome mountains, walls, and towers.

5 They kill 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.

6 Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbandry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute to the king.

7 And he isbut one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare;

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

9 if he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant.

10 So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lies down, he eats and drinks, and takes his rest:

11 and these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they himin anything.

12 O sirs, how should not the king be strongest, seeing that in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his peace.

13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak.

14 O sirs, is not the king great, and men are many, and wine is strong? who is it then that rules them, or has the lordship over them? are they not women?

15 Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land.

16 Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine comes.

17 These also make garments for men; these bring glory to men; and without women can’t men be.

18 Yes, and if men have gathered together gold and silver and any other goodly thing,and see a woman which is comely in favor and beauty,

19 they let all those things go, and gape after her, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have all more desire to her than to gold or silver, or any goodly thing whatever.

20 A man leaves his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaves to his wife.

21 And with his wife he ends his days, and remembers neither father, nor mother, nor country.

22 By this also you⌃ must know that women have dominion over you: do you⌃ not labor and toil, and give and bring all to women?

23 Yes, a man takes his sword, and goes forth to make outroads, and to rob and to steal, and to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;

24 and looks upon a lion, and walks in the darkness; and when he has stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he brings it to his love.

25 Wherefore a man loves his wife better than father or mother.

26 Yes, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become bondmen for their sakes.

27 Many also have perished, have stumbled, and sinned, for women.

28 And now do you⌃ not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him?

29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king’s concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Barticus, sitting at the right hand of the king,

30 and taking the crown from the king’s head, and setting it upon her own head; yes, she struck the king with her left hand:

31 and therewithal 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, he was fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again.

32 O sirs, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?

33 Then the king and the nobles looked one upon another: so he began to speak concerning truth.

34 O sirs, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he encircles the heavens round about, and fetches his course again to his own place in one day.

35 Is he not great that makes these things? therefore great is truth, and stronger than all things.

36 All the earth calls upon truth, and the heaven blesses her: all works shake and tremble, but withher is no unrighteous thing.

37 Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all the children of men are unrighteous, and unrighteous are all such their works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish.

38 But truth remains, and is strong forever; she lives and conquers forevermore.

39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she does the things that are just,and refrainsfrom all unrighteous and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.

40 Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, and the kingdom, and the power, and the majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth.

41 And with that he held his tongue. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is truth, and strong above all things.

42 Then said the king to him, Ask what you will more than is appointed in writing, and we will give it you, inasmuch as you are found wisest; and you shall sit next me, and shall be called my cousin.

43 Then said he to the king, Remember your vow, which you did vow to build Jerusalem, in the day when you came to your kingdom,

44 and to send away all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them again there.

45 You did also vow to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judaea was made desolate by the Chaldeans.

46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of you, and this is the princely liberality that shall proceed from you: I pray therefore that you make good the vow, the performance whereof you have vowed to the King of heaven with your own mouth.

47 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him to all the treasurers and governors and captains and satraps, that they should safely bring on their way both him, and all those that should go up with him to build Jerusalem.

48 He wrote letters also to all the governors that were in Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and to them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus to Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him.

49 Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that should go out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no governor, no satrap, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors;

50 and that all the country which they occupied should be free to them without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held:

51 and that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built;

52 and other ten talents yearly, for burnt offerings to be presented upon the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen:

53 and that all they that should come from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that came.

54 He wrote alsoto give themtheir charges, and the priests’ vestments wherein they minister;

55 and for the Levites he wrote that their charges should be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up.

56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city lands and wages.

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 to Jerusalem.

58 Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,

59 and said, From you comes victory, from you comes wisdom, and your is the glory, and I am your servant.

60 Blessed are you, who have given me wisdom: and to you I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.

61 And so he took the letters, and went out, and came to Babylon, and told it all his brethren.

62 And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and liberty

63 to go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and they feasted with instruments of music and gladness seven days.

1 Esdras 5

1 After this were the chiefs of fathers’ houses chosen to go up according to their tribes, with their wives and sons and daughters, with their menservants and maidservants, and their cattle.

2 And Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had brought them back to Jerusalemsafely, and with musical instruments, tabrets and flutes.

3 And all their brethren played, and he made them go up together with them.

4 And these are the names of the men which went up, according to their families among their tribes, after their several divisions.

5 The priests, the sons of Phinees, the sons of Aaron: Jesus the son of Josedek, the son of Saraias, and Joakim the son of Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the house of David, of the lineage of Phares, of the tribe of Judah;

6 who spoke wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month.

7 And these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where they lived as strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon.

8 And they returned to Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry, every man to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus, Nehemias,andZaraias, Resaias,Eneneus, Mardocheus, Beelsarus,Aspharsus,Reelias, Roimus,andBaana, their leaders.

9 The number of them of the nation, and their leaders: the sons ofPhoros, two thousand a hundred seventy and two: the sons ofSaphat, four hundred seventy and two:

10 the sons ofAres, seven hundred fifty and six:

11 the sons ofPhaath Moab, of the sons of Jesus and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve:

12 the sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four: the sons ofZathui, nine hundred forty and five: the sons ofChorbe, seven hundred and five: the sons of Bani, six hundred forty and eight:

13 the sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three: the sons ofAstad,a thousand three hundred twenty and two:

14 the sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and seven: the sons ofBagoi, two thousand sixty and six: the sons ofAdinu, four hundred fifty and four:

15 the sons ofAter, of Ezekias, ninety and two: the sons of Kilan and Azetas, three score and seven: the sons ofAzaru, four hundred thirty and two:

16 the sons ofAnnis, a hundred and one: the sons of Arom: the sons ofBassai, three hundred twenty and three: the sons of Arsiphurith, a hundred and twelve:

17 the sons of Baiterus, three thousand and five: the sons ofBethlomon, a hundred twenty and three:

18 they of Netophas, fifty and five: they of Anathoth, a hundred fifty and eight: they ofBethasmoth, forty and two:

19 they oforKariathiarius, twenty and five: they of Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred forty and three:

20 the Chadiasai and Ammidioi, four hundred twenty and two: they ofKirama andGabbe, six hundred twenty and one:

21 they ofMacalon, a hundred twenty and two: they ofBetolion, fifty and two: the sons ofNiphis, a hundred fifty and six:

22 the sons ofCalamolalus andOnus, seven hundred twenty and five: the sons ofJerechu,three hundred forty and five:

23 the sons ofSanaas, three thousand three hundred andthirty.

24 The priests: the sons ofJeddu, the son of Jesus, among the sons of Sanasib,nine hundred seventy and two: the sons ofEmmeruth,a thousand fifty and two:

25 the sons ofPhassurus, a thousand two hundred forty and seven: the sons ofCharme,a thousand and seventeen.

26 The Levites: the sons of Jesus, and Kadmiel, and Bannas, and Sudias, seventy and four.

27 The holy singers: the sons of Asaph, a hundredtwenty and eight.

28 The porters: the sons ofSalum, the sons ofAtar, the sons of Tolman, the sons ofDacubi, the sons ofAteta, the sons ofSabi, in all a hundred thirty and nine.

29 The temple servants: the sons ofEsau, the sons ofAsipha, the sons of Tabaoth, the sons ofKeras, the sons ofSua, the sons ofPhaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons ofAggaba.

30 the sons ofAcud, the sons of Uta, the sons of Ketab, the sons ofAccaba, the sons ofSubai, the sons ofAnan, the sons ofCathua, the sons ofGeddur,

31 the sons ofJairus, the sons ofDaisan, the sons ofNoeba, the sons of Chaseba, the sons ofGazera, the sons ofOzias, the sons ofPhinoe, the sons of Asara, the sons ofBasthai, the sons ofAsana, the sons ofMaani, the sons ofNaphisi, the sons ofAcub, the sons ofAchipha, the sons ofAsur, the sons of Pharakim, the sons ofBasaloth,

32 the sons ofMeedda, the sons of Cutha, the sons ofCharea, the sons ofBarchus, the sons ofSerar, the sons ofThomei, the sons ofNasi, the sons of Atipha.

33 The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons ofAssaphioth, the sons ofPharida, the sons ofJeeli, the sons ofLozon, the sons ofIsdael, the sons ofSaphuthi,

34 the sons ofAgia, the sons ofPhacareth, the sons of Sabie, the sons of Sarothie, the sons ofMasias, the sons of Gas, the sons of Addus, the sons of Subas, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons of Saphat, the sons of Allon.

35 All the temple-servants, and the sons of the servants of Solomon, were three hundred seventy and two.

36 These came up fromThermeleth, andThelersas,Charaathalan leading them, and Allar;

37 and they could not show their families, nor their stock, how they were of Israel: the sons ofDalan the son ofBan, the sons ofNekodan, six hundred fifty and two.

38 And of the priests, they that usurped the office of the priesthood and were not found: the sons ofObdia, the sons ofAkkos, the sons of Jaddus, who married Augia one of the daughters ofZorzelleus, and was called after his name.

39 And when the description of the kindred of these men was sought in the register, and was not found, they were removed from executing the office of the priesthood:

40 for to them said Nehemias and Attharias, that they should not be partakers of the holy things, till there arose up a high priest wearingUrim and Thummim.

41 So all they of Israel, from twelve years oldand upward,beside menservants and women servants, werein numberforty and two thousand three hundred and sixty.

42 Their menservants and handmaids were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: the minstrels and singers, two hundred forty and five:

43 four hundred thirty and five camels, seventhousand thirty and six horses, two hundred forty and five mules, five thousand five hundred twenty and five beasts of burden.

44 And certain of the chief men of their families, when they came to the temple of God that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in its own place according to their ability,

45 and to give into the holy treasury of the works a thousand pounds of gold, five thousand of silver, and a hundred priestly vestments.

46 And the priests and the Levites and they that were of the people lived in Jerusalem and the country; the holy singers also and the porters and all Israel in their villages.

47 But when the seventh month was at hand, and when the children of Israel were every man in his own place, they came all together with one consent into the broad place before the first porch which is toward the east.

48 Then stood up Jesus the son of Josedek, and his brethren the priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and made ready the altar of the God of Israel,

49 to offer burned sacrifices upon it, according as it is expressly commanded in the book of Moses the man of God.

50 And certain were gathered to them out of the other nations of the land, and they erected the altar upon its own place, because all the nations of the land were at enmity with them, and oppressed them; and they offered sacrifices according to the time, and burnt offerings to the Lord both morning and evening.

51 Also they held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the law, andofferedsacrifices daily, as was meet:

52 and after that, the continual oblations, and the sacrifices of the Sabbaths, and of the new moons, and of all the consecrated feasts.

53 And all they that had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God from the new moon of theseventh month, although the temple of God was not yet built.

54 And they gave money to the masons and carpenters; and meat and drink,

55 and cars to them of Sidon and Tyre, that they should bring cedar trees from Libanus,andconvey them in floats to the haven of Joppa, according to the commandment which was written for them by Cyrus king of the Persians.

56 And in the second year after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and their brethren, and the priests the Levites, and all they that were come to Jerusalem out of the captivity:

57 and they laid the foundation of the temple of God on the new moon of the second month, in the second year after they were come to Jewry and Jerusalem.

58 And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the works of the Lord. Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and Kadmiel his brother, and the sons of Jesus, Emadabun, and the sons of Joda the son of Iliadun, and their sons and brethren, all the Levites, with one accord setters forward of the business, laboring to advance the works in the house of God. So the builders builded the temple of the Lord.

59 And the priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with their cymbals,

60 singing songs of thanksgiving, and praising the Lord, after the order of David king of Israel.

61 And they sang aloud, praising the Lord in songs of thanksgiving, because his goodness and his glory are forever in all Israel.

62 And all the people sounded trumpets, and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs of thanksgiving to the Lord for the rearing up of the house of the Lord.

63 Also of the priests the Levites, and of the heads of their families, the ancients who had seen the former house came to the building of this with lamentation and great weeping.

64 But many with trumpets and joyshoutedwith loud voice,

65 insomuch that the people heard not the trumpets for the weeping of the people: for the multitude sounded marvelously, so that it was heard afar off.

66 Wherefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets should mean.

67 And they perceived that they that were of the captivity did build the temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.

68 So they went to zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief men of the families, and said to them, we will build together with you.

69 For we likewise, as you⌃, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice to him from the days ofAsbasareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought us hither.

70 Then Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief men of the families of Israel said to them, It is notfor you to build the house to the Lord our God.

71 We ourselves alone will build to the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians has commanded us.

72 But the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Judaea, andholding them strait, hindered their building;

73 andby their secret plots, and popular persuasions and commotions, they hindered the finishing of the building all the time that King Cyrus lived: so they were hindered from building for the space of two years, until the reign of Darius.

1 Esdras 6

1 Nowin the second year of the reign of Darius, Aggaeus and Zacharius the son ofAddo, the prophets, prophesied to the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem; in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel,prophesied theyto them.

2 Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them,andhelping them.

3 At the same time came to themSisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, withSathrabuzanes and his companions, and said to them,

4 By whose appointment do you⌃ build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the builders that perform these things?

5 Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favor, because the Lord had visited the captivity;

6 and they were not hindered from building, until such time as communication was made to Darius concerning them, and his answer signified.

7 The copy of the letter which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, the rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius;

8 To king Darius, greeting: Let all things be known to our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judaea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem, we found in the city of Jerusalem the elders of the Jews that were of the captivity

9 building a house to the Lord, greatandnew, of hewn and costly stones, with timber laid in the walls.

10 And those works are done with great speed, and the work goes on prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence it is accomplished.

11 Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build you⌃ this house, and lay the foundations of these works?

12 Therefore, to the intent that we might give knowledge to you by writing who were the chief doers, we questioned them, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men.

13 So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

14 And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong, and was finished.

15 But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, and provoked him to wrath, he gave them over into the hands of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, king of the Chaldeans;

16 and they pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives to Babylon.

17 But in the first year that Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon, king Cyrus wrote to build up this house.

18 And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor had carried away out of the house at Jerusalem, and had set up in his own temple, those Cyrus the king brought forth again out of the temple in Babylonia, and they were delivered to Zorobabel and toSanabassarus the governor,

19 with commandment that he should carry awayall these vessels, and put them in the temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord should be built in its place.

20 Then Sanabassarus, being come here, laid the foundations of the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.

21 Now therefore, if it seem good, O king, let search be made among the royal archives of our lord the king that are in Babylon:

22 and if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem has been done with the consent of king Cyrus, and it seem good to our lord the king, let him signify to us thereof.

23 Then commanded King Darius to seek among the archives that were laid up at Babylon: and so at Ekbatana the palace, which is in the country of Media, there was found aroll wherin these things were recorded.

24 In the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded to build up the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, where they do sacrifice with continual fire:

25 whose height shall be sixty cubits, and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that country; and the expenses therof to be given out of the house of king Cyrus:

26 and that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both gold and silver, that Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at Jerusalem, and carried away to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where they were before.

27 And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judaea, and the elders of the Jews, to build that house of the Lord in its place.

28 And I also do command to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently to help those that be of the captivity of Judaea, till the house of the Lord be finished:

29 and that out of the tribute of Coelesyria and Phoenicia a portion be carefully given these men for the sacrifices of the Lord,that is,to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs;

30 and also corn, salt, wine and oil, and that continually every year without further question, according as the priests that be in Jerusalem shall signify to be daily spent:

31 that drink offerings may be made to the Most High God for the king and for his children, and that they may pray for their lives.

32 And that commandment be given that whoever shall transgress, yes, or neglect anythinghereinwritten, out of his ownhouseshall a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all his goods seized for the king.

33 The Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and nation, that shall stretch out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.

34 I Darius the king have ordained that according to these things it be done with diligence.

1 Esdras 8

1 And after these things, when Artaxerxes the king of the Persians reigned, came Ezdras the son of Azaraias, the son of Zechrias, the son of Helkias, the son of Salem,

2 the son of Sadduk, the son of Ahitob, the son of Amarias, the son of Ozias,the son of Memeroth, the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of Abisne, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the chief priest.

3 This Esdras went up from Babylon, as being a ready scribe in the law of Moses, that was given by the God of Israel.

4 And the king did him honor: for he found grace in hid sight in all his requests.

5 There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and Levites, and holy singers, and porters, andtemple servants, to Jerusalem,

6 in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month, this was the king’s seventh year; for they went from Babylon on the new moon of the first month, and came to Jerusalem, according to the prosperous journey which the Lord gave themfor his sake.

7 For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of the Lord,buttaught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.

8 Now the commission, which was written from Artaxerxes the king, came to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, whereof this that follows is a copy;

9 King Artaxerxes to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting:

10 Having determined to deal graciously, I have given order, that such of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites,and of those within our realm, as are willing and desirous, should go with you to Jerusalem.

11 As many therefore as have a mindthereto,let them depart with you, as it has seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counselors;

12 that they may look to the affairs of Judaea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which is in the law of the Lord,

13 and carry the gifts to the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends have vowed; and that all the gold and silver that can be found in the country of Babylonia for the Lord in Jerusalem,

14 with that also which is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their God that is at Jerusalem, be collected: even the gold and silver for bullocks, rams, and lambs, and things thereto appertaining;

15 to the end that they may offer sacrifices to the Lord upon the altar of the Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem.

16 And whatever you and your brethren are minded to do with gold and silver, that perform, according to the will of your God.

17 And the holy vessels of the Lord, which are given you for the use of the temple of your God, which is in Jerusalem:

18 and whatever thing else you shall remember for the use of the temple of your God, you shall give it out of the king’s treasury.

19 And I king Artaxerxes have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and Phoenicia, that whatever Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Most High God shall send for, they should give it him with all diligence,

20 to the sum of a hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to a hundredmeasures, and a hundred firkins of wine, andsalt in abundance.

21 Let all things be performed after the law of God diligently to the most high God, that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.

22 I command you also, that no tax, nor any other imposition, be laid upon any of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or porters, or temple servants, or any that have employment in this temple, and that no man have authority to impose anything upon them.

23 And you, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God ordain judges and justices, that they may judge in all Syria and Phoenicia all those that know the law of your God; and those that know it not you shall teach.

24 And whoever shall transgress the law of your God, and of the king, shall be punished diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of money, or byimprisonment.

25 Then said Esdras the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord, the God of my fathers, who has put these things into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in Jerusalem:

26 and has honored me in the sight of the king, and his counselors, and all his friends and nobles.

27 Therefore was I encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and gathered together out of Israel men to go up with me.

28 And these are the chief according to their families and the several divisions thereof, that went up with me from Babylon in the reign of king Artaxerxes:

29 of the sons of Phinees, Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael: of the sons of David,Attusthe son of Sechenias:

30 of the sons of Phoros, Zacharais; and with him were counted a hundred and fifty men:

31 of the sons of Phaath Moab, Eliaonias the son ofZaraias, and with him two hundred men:

32 of the sons of Zathoes, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with himthree hundred men: of the sons ofAdin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men:

33 of the sons of Elam, Jesias son ofAthaliah.Gotholias, and with him seventy men:

34 of the sons of Saphatias,Zebadiah.Zaraias son of Michael, and with him threescore and ten men:

35 of the sons of Joab,Obadiah.Abadias son ofJehiel.Jezelus, and with him two hundred and twelve men:

36 of the sons of Banias, Salimoth son of Josaphias, and with him a hundred and threescore men:

37 of the sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight men:

38 of the sons ofAzgad.Astath, Joannes son ofHakkatanAkatan, and with him a hundred and ten men:

39 of the sons of Adonikam, the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalat, Jeuel, andShemaiah.Samaias, and with them seventy men:

40 of the sons ofBigvai.Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.

41 And I gathered them together to the river called Theras; and there we pitched our tents three days, and I surveyed them.

42 But when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,

43 then sent I to Eleazar, andArielIduel, and Maasmas,

44 and Elnathan, and Samaias, andJaribJoribus, Nathan, Ennatan, Zacharias, and Mosollamus, principal men and men of understanding.

45 And I bade them that they should go toIddoLoddeus the captain, who was in the place ofCasiphia,the treasury:

46 and commanded them that they should speak to Loddeus, and to his brethren, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests’ office in the house of our Lord.

47 And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought to usmen of understanding of the sons ofMooli the son of Levi, the son of Israel,Asebebias, and his sons, and his brethren, who were eighteen,

48 andAsebias, and Annuus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Chanuneus, and their sons were twenty men;

49 and of the temple-servants whom David and the principal men had appointed for the servants of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple-servants, the catalogue of all their names was showed.

50 And there I vowed a fast for the young men before our Lord, to desire of him a prosperous journey both for us and for our children and cattle that were with us:

51 for I was ashamed to ask of the king footmen, and horsemen, and conduct for safeguard against our adversaries.

52 For we had said to the king, that the power of our Lord would be with them that seek him, to support them in all ways.

53 And again we implored our lord as touching these things, and found him favourableto us.

54 Then I separated twelve men of the chiefs of the priests,Eserebias, and Assamias, and ten men of their brethren with them:

55 and I weighed them the silver, and the gold, and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, which the king, and his counselors, and the nobles, and all Israel, had given.

56 And when I had weighed it, I delivered to them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of gold,

57 and twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, glittering like gold.

58 And I said to them, Both you⌃ are holy to the Lord,and the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver are a vow to the Lord, the Lord of our fathers.

59 Watch you⌃, and keep them till you⌃ deliver them to the chiefs of the priests and Levites, and to the principal men of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of our Lord.

60 So the priests and the Levites, who received the silver and the gold and the vessels which were in Jerusalem, brought them into the temple of the Lord.

61 And from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first month, until we came to Jerusalem, by the mighty hand of our Lord which was upon us: and the Lord delivered us fromassault bythe way, from every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem.

62 And when we had been there three days, the silver and gold was weighed and delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day toMarmoth the priest the son ofUrias.

63 And with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were Josabdus the son of Jesus andMoeth the son of Sabannus, the Levites: allwas delivered themby number and weight.

64 And all the weight of them was written up the same hour.

65 Moreover they that were come out of the captivity offered sacrifices to the Lord, the God of Israel, even twelve bullocks for all Israel, fourscore and sixteen rams,

66 threescore and twelve lambs, goats for a peace offering, twelve; all of them a sacrifice to the Lord.

67 And they delivered the king’s commandments to the king’s stewards, and to the governors of Coelesyria and Phoenicia; and they honored the people and the temple of the Lord.

68 Now when these things were done, the principal men came to me, and said,

69 The nation of Israel, and the princes, and the priests and the Levites, have not put awayfrom themthe strange people of the land,nor the uncleannesses of the Gentiles,to wit,of the Canaanites, Hittites, Pherezites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.

70 For both they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy seed is mixed with the strange people of the land; and from the beginning of this matter the rulers and the nobles have been partakers of this iniquity.

71 And as soon as I had heard these things, I tore my clothes, and my holy garment, and plucked the hair from off my head and beard, and sat me down sad and full of heaviness.

72 So all they that were moved at the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, assembled to me, while I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.

73 Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and my holy garment tore, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands to the Lord,

74 I said, O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded before your face;

75 for our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our errors have reached up to heaven,

76 ever since the time of our fathers; and we are in great sin, even to this day.

77 And for our sins and our fathers’ we with our brethren and our kings and our priests were given up to the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, to this day.

78 And now in some measure has mercy been showed to us from you, O Lord, that there should be left us a root and a name in the place of your sanctuary;

79 and to discover to us a light in the house of the Lord our God,andto give us food in the time of our servitude.

80 Yes, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken of our Lord; but he made us gracious before the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food,

81 and glorified the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Sion, to give us a sure dwelling in Jewry and Jerusalem.

82 And now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? For we have transgressed your commandments, which you gave by the hand of your servants the prophets, saying,

83 That the land, which you⌃ enter into to possess as a heritage, is a land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness.

84 Therefore now shall you⌃ not join your daughters to their sons, neither shall you⌃ take their daughters to your sons.

85 Neither shall you⌃ seek to have peace with them for ever, that you⌃ may be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that you⌃ may leave it for an inheritance to your children for evermore.

86 And all that is befallen is done to us for our wicked works and great sins: for you, O Lord, did make our sins light,

87 and did give to us such a root:butwe have turned back again to transgress your law, in mingling ourselves with the uncleanness of the heathen of the land.

88 You was not angry with us to destroy us, till you had left us neither root, seed, nor name.

89 O Lord of Israel, you are true: for we are left a root this day.

90 Behold, now are we before you in our iniquities, for we can’t stand any longer before you by reason of these things.

91 And as Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered to him from Jerusalem a very great throng of men and women and children: for there was great weeping among the multitude.

92 Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel, called out, and said, O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of the heathen of the land, and now is all Israelaloft.

93 Let us make an oath to the Lord herein, that we will put away all our wives, whichwe have takenof the strangers, with their children,

94 like as seems good to you, and to as many as do obey the Law of the Lord.

95 Arise, and put in execution: for to you does this matter appertain, and we will be with you to do valiantly.

96 So Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do after these things; andsothey sware.

1 Esdras 9

1 Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Jonas the son of Eliasib,

2 and lodged there, and did eat no bread nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.

3 And there was made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:

4 and that whoever met not there within two or three days, according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from the multitude of them that were of the captivity.

5 And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem: this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.

6 And all the multitude sat together trembling in the broad place before the temple because of the present foul weather.

7 So Esdras arose up and said to them, you⌃ have transgressed the law and married strange wives,therebyto increase the sins of Israel.

8 And now make confession and give glory to the Lord, the God of our fathers,

9 and do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.

10 Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as you have spoken, so will we do.

11 But forasmuch as the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we can’t stand without, and this is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:

12 therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,

13 and with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.

14 ThenJonathan the son of Azael andEzekias the son of Thocanus accordingly took the matter upon them: and Mosollamus and Levis and Sabbateus were assessors to them.

15 And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.

16 And Esdras the priest chose to him principal men of their families, all by name: and on the new moon of the tenth month they were shut in together to examine the matter.

17 So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.

18 And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found;

19 of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedek, and his brethren;Mathelas, and Eleazar, andJoribus, andJoadanus.

20 And they gave their hands to put away their wives, andto offerrams to make reconcilement for their error.

21 And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, andManes, andSameus, andHiereel, andAzarias.

22 And of the sons ofPhaisur; Elionas, Massias, Ismael, and Nathanael, andOcidelus, andSaloas.

23 And of the Levites; Jozabdus, and Semeis, andColius, who was calledCalitas, andPatheus, and Judas, and Jonas.

24 Of the holy singers;Eliasibus, Bacchurus.

25 Of the porters: Sallumus, andTolbanes.

26 Of Israel, of the sons ofPhoros;Hiermas, andIeddias, and Melchias, andMaelus, and Eleazar, andAsibas, and Banneas.

27 Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, andJezrielus, and Oabdius, and Hieremoth, andAedias.

28 And of the sons ofZamoth;Eliadas,Eliasimus,Othonias, Jarimoth, andSabathus, andZardeus.

29 Of the sons of Bebai; Joannes, and Ananias, andJozabdus, andEmatheis.

30 Of the sons ofMani;Olamus,Mamuchus,Jedeus, Jasubas, andJasaelus, and Hieremoth.

31 And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moossias, Laccunus, and Naidus, and Matthanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.

32 And of the sons of Annas; Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.

33 And of the sons of Asom;Maltanneus, andMattathias, andSabanneus, Eliphalat, and Manasses, and Semei.

34 And of the sons of Baani; Jeremias, Momdis, Ismaerus, Juel, Mamdai, and Pedias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitamenus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Someis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of Ezora; Sesis, Ezril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambri, Josephus.

35 And of the sons of Nooma; Mazitias, Zabadeas, Edos, Juel, Banaias.

36 All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children.

37 And the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, lived in Jerusalem, and in the country, on the new moon of the seventh month, and the children of Israel in their habitations.

38 And the whole multitude were gathered together with one accord into the broad place before the porch of the temple toward the east:

39 and they said to Esdras the priest and reader, Bring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord, the God of Israel.

40 So Esdras the chief priest brought the law to the whole multitude both of men and women, and to all the priests, to hear the law on the new moon of the seventh month.

41 And he read in the broad place before the porch of the temple from morning to mid-day, before both men and women; andall the multitude gave heed to the law.

42 And Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon the pulpit of wood, which was madefor that purpose.

43 And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias,Ezekias, Baalsamus, upon the right hand:

44 and upon his left hand,Phaldeus, Misael, Melchias,Lothasubus, Nabarias, Zacharias.

45 Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude, and sat honorably in the first place before all.

46 And when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.

47 And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.

48 Also Jesus, Annus, Sarabias, Iadinus, Jacubus, Sabateus,Auteas, Maiannas, and Calitas, Azarias, and Jozabdus, and Ananias, Phalias, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord,and read to the multitude the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it.

49 Then said Attharates to Esdras the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all,

50 This day is holy to the Lord; (now they all wept when they heard the law:)

51 go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing;

52 for the day is holy to the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to honor.

53 So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy; be not sorrowful.

54 Then they went their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give portions to them that had nothing, and to make great cheer;

55 because theyunderstood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.

3 Maccabees 4

1 Wherever this decree was received, the people kept up a revelry of joy and shouting; as if their long-pent-up, hardened hatred, were now to show itself openly.

2 The Jews suffered great throes of sorrow, and wept much; while their hearts, all things around being lamentable, were set on fire as they bewailed the sudden destruction which was decreed against them.

3 What home, or city, or place at all inhabited, or what streets were there, which their condition did not fill with wailing and lamentation?

4 They were sent out unanimously by the generals in the several cities, with such stern and pitiless feeling, that the exceptional nature of the infliction moved even some of their enemies. These, influenced by sentiments of common humanity, and reflecting upon the uncertain issue of life, shed tears at this their miserable expulsion.

5 A multitude of aged hoary-haired old men, were driven along with halting bending feet, urged onward by the impulse of a violent, shameless force to quick speed.

6 Girls who had entered the bridal chamber quite lately, to enjoy the partnership of marriage, exchanged pleasure for misery; and with dust scattered upon their myrrh-anointed heads, were hurried along unveiled; and, in the midst of outlandish insults, set up with one accord a lamentable cry in lieu of the marriage hymn.

7 Bound, and exposed to public gaze, they were hurried violently on board ship.

8 The husbands of these, in the prime of their youthful vigour, instead of crowns wore halters round their necks; instead of feasting and youthful jollity, spent the rest of their nuptial days in wailings, and saw only the grave at hand.

9 They were dragged along by unyielding chains, like wild beasts: of these, some had their necks thrust into the benches of the rowers; while the feet of others were enclosed in hard fetters.

10 The planks of the deck above them barred out the light, and shut out the day on every side, so that they might be treated like traitors during the whole voyage.

11 They were conveyed accordingly in this vessel, and at the end of it arrived at Schedia. The king had ordered them to be cast into the vast hippodrome, which was built in front of the city. This place was well adapted by its situation to expose them to the gaze of all comers into the city, and of those who went from the city into the country. Thus they could hold no communication with his forces; nay, were deemed unworthy of any civilized accommodation.

12 When this was done, the king, hearing that their brethren in the city often went out and lamented the melancholy distress of these victims,

13 was full of rage, and commanded that they should be carefully subjected to the same (and not one whit milder) treatment.

14 The whole nation was now to be registered. Every individual was to be specified by name; not for that hard servitude of labor which we have a little before mentioned, but that he might expose them to the before-mentioned tortures; and finally, in the short space of a day, might extirpate them by his cruelties.

15 The registering of these men was carried on cruelly, zealously, assiduously, from the rising of the sun to its going down, and was not brought to an end in forty days.

16 The king was filled with great and constant joy, and celebrated banquets before the temple idols. His erring heart, far from the truth, and his profane mouth, gave glory to idols, deaf and incapable of speaking or aiding, and uttered unworthy speech against the Greatest God.

17 At the end of the above-mentioned interval of time, the registrars brought word to the king that the multitude of the Jews was too great for registration,

18 inasmuch as there were many still left in the land, of whom some were in inhabited houses, and others were scattered about in various places; so that all the commanders in Egypt were insufficient for the work.

19 The king threatened them, and charged them with taking bribes, in order to contrive the escape of the Jews: but was clearly convinced of the truth of what had been said.

20 They said, and proved, that paper and pens had failed them for the carrying out of their purpose.

21 Now this was an active interference of the unconquerable Providence which assisted the Jews from heaven.

4 Maccabees 1

1 As I am going to demonstrate a most philosophical proposition, namely, that religious reasoning is absolute master of the passions, I would willingly advise you to give the utmost heed to philosophy.

2 For reason is necessary to every one as a step to science: and more especially does it embrace the praise of prudence, the highest virtue.

3 If, then, reasoning appears to hold the mastery over the passions which stand in the way of temperance, such as gluttony and lust,

4 it surely also and manifestly has the rule over the affections which are contrary to justice, such as malice; and of those which are hindrances to manliness, as wrath, and pain, and fear.

5 How, then, is it, perhaps some may say, that reasoning, if it rule the affections, is not also master of forgetfulness and ignorance? They attempt a ridiculous argument.

6 For reasoning does not rule over its own affections, but over such as are contrary to justice, and manliness and temperance, and prudence; and yet over these, so as to withstand, without destroying them.

7 I might prove to you, from many other considerations, that religious reasoning is sole master of the passions;

8 but I shall prove it with the greatest force from the fortitude of Eleazar, and seven brethren, and their mother, who suffered death in defence of virtue.

9 For all these, contemning pains even to death, by this contempt, demonstrated that reasoning has command over the passions.

10 For their virtues, then, it is right that I should commend those men who died with their mother at this time in behalf of rectitude; and for their honors, I may count them happy.

11 For they, winning admiration not only from men in general, but even from the persecutors, for their manliness and endurance, became the means of the destruction of the tyranny against their nation, having conquered the tyrant by their endurance, so that by them their country was purified.

12 But we may now at once enter upon the question, having commenced, as is our wont, with laying down the doctrine, and so proceed to the account of these persons, giving glory to the all wise God.

13 The question, therefore, is, whether reasoning be absolute master of the passions.

14 Let us determine, then, What is reasoning? and what passion? and how many forms of the passions? and whether reasoning bears sway over all of these?

15 Reasoning is, then, intellect accompanied by a life of rectitude, putting foremost the consideration of wisdom.

16 And wisdom is a knowledge of divine and human things, and of their causes.

17 And this is contained in the education of the law; by means of which we learn divine things reverently, and human things profitably.

18 And the forms of wisdom are prudence, and justice, and manliness, and temperance.

19 The leading one of these is prudence; by whose means, indeed, it is that reasoning bears rule over the passions.

20 Of the passions, pleasure and pain are the two most comprehensive; and they also by nature refer to the soul.

21 And there are many attendant affections surrounding pleasure and pain.

22 Before pleasure is lust; and after pleasure, joy.

23 And before pain is fear; and after pain is sorrow.

24 Wrath is an affection, common to pleasure and to pain, if any one will pay attention when it comes upon him.

25 And there exists in pleasure a malicious disposition, which is the most multiform of all the affections.

26 In the soul it is arrogance, and love of money, and vaingloriousness, and contention, and faithlessness, and the evil eye.

27 In the body it is greediness and gormandizing, and solitary gluttony.

28 As pleasure and pain are, therefore, two growth of the body and the soul, so there are many offshoots of these passions.

29 And reasoning, the universal husbandman, purging, and pruning these severally, and binding round, and watering, and transplanting, in every way improves the materials of the morals and affections.

30 For reasoning is the leader of the virtues, but it is the sole ruler of the passions. Observe then first, through the very things which stand in the way of temperance, that reasoning is absolute ruler of the passions.

31 Now temperance consists of a command over the lusts.

32 But of the lusts, some belong to the soul, others to the body: and over each of these classes the reasoning appears to bear sway.

33 For whence is it, otherwise, that when urged on to forbidden meats, we reject the gratification which would ensue from them? Is it not because reasoning is able to command the appetites? I believe so.

34 Hence it is, then, that when lusting after water-animals and birds, and four-footed beasts, and all kinds of food which are forbidden us by the law, we withhold ourselves through the mastery of reasoning.

35 For the affections of our appetites are resisted by the temperate understanding, and bent back again, and all the impulses of the body are reined in by reasoning.

4 Maccabees 2

1 And what wonder? if the lusts of the soul, after participation with what is beautiful, are frustrated,

2 on this ground, therefore, the temperate Joseph is praised in that by reasoning, he subdued, on reflection, the indulgence of sense.

3 For, although young, and ripe for sexual intercourse, he abrogated by reasoning the stimulus of his passions.

4 And it is not merely the stimulus of sensual indulgence, but that of every desire, that reasoning is able to master.

5 For instance, the law says, You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.

6 Now, then, since it is the law which has forbidden us to desire, I shall much the more easily persuade you, that reasoning is able to govern our lusts, just as it does the affections which are impediments to justice.

7 Since in what way is a solitary eater, and a glutton, and a drunkard reclaimed, unless it be clear that reasoning is lord of the passions?

8 A man, therefore, who regulates his course by the law, even if he be a lover of money, straightway puts force upon his own disposition; lending to the needy without interest, and cancelling the debt of the incoming Sabbath.

9 And should a man be parsimonious, he is ruled by the law acting through reasoning; so that he does not glean his harvest crops, nor vintage: and in reference to other points we may perceive that it is reasoning that conquers his passions.

10 For the law conquers even affection toward parents, not surrendering virtue on their account.

11 And it prevails over marriage love, condemning it when transgressing law.

12 And it lords it over the love of parents toward their children, for they punish them for vice; and it domineers over the intimacy of friends, reproving them when wicked.

13 And think it not a strange assertion that reasoning can in behalf of the law conquer even enmity.

14 It allows not to cut down the cultivated herbage of an enemy, but preserves it from the destroyers, and collects their fallen ruins.

15 And reason appears to be master of the more violent passions, as love of empire and empty boasting, and slander.

16 For the temperate understanding repels all these malignant passions, as it does wrath: for it masters even this.

17 Thus Moses, when angered against Dathan and Abiram, did nothing to them in wrath, but regulated his anger by reasoning.

18 For the temperate mind is able, as I said, to be superior to the passions, and to transfer some, and destroy others.

19 For why, else, does our most wise father Jacob blame Simeon and Levi for having irrationally slain the whole race of the Shechemites, saying, Cursed be their anger.

20 For if reasoning did not possess the power of subduing angry affections, he would not have spoken thus.

21 For at the time when God created man, He implanted within him his passions and moral nature.

22 And at that time He enthroned above all the holy leader mind, through the medium of the senses.

23 And He gave a law to this mind, by living according to which it will maintain a temperate, and just, and good, and manly reign.

24 How, then, a man may say, if reasoning be master of the passions, has it no control over forgetfulness and ignorance?

4 Maccabees 3

1 The argument is exceedingly ridiculous: for reasoning does not appear to bear sway over its own affections, but over those of the body,

2 in such a way as that any one of you may not be able to root out desire, but reasoning will enable you to avoid being enslaved to it.

3 One may not be able to root out anger from the soul, but it is possible to withstand anger.

4 Any one of you may not be able to eradicate malice, but reasoning has force to work with you to prevent you yielding to malice.

5 For reasoning is not an eradicator, but an antagonist of the passions.

6 And this may be more clearly comprehended from the thirst of king David.

7 For after David had been attacking the Philistines the whole day, he with the soldiers of his nation killed many of them;

8 then when evening came, sweating and very weary, he came to the royal tent, about which the entire host of our ancestors was encamped.

9 Now all the rest of them were at supper;

10 but the king, being very much thirsty, although he had numerous springs, could not by their means quench his thirst;

11 but a certain irrational longing for the water in the enemy’s camp grew stronger and fiercer upon him, and consumed him with languish.

12 Wherefore his bodyguards being troubled at this longing of the king, two valiant young soldiers, reverencing the desire of the king, put on their panoplies, and taking a pitcher, got over the ramparts of the enemies:

13 and unperceived by the guardians of the gate, they went throughout the whole camp of the enemy in quest.

14 And having boldly discovered the fountain, they filled out of it the draught for the king.

15 But he, though parched with thirst, reasoned that a draught reputed of equal value to blood, would be terribly dangerous to his soul.

16 Wherefore, setting up reasoning in opposition to his desire, he poured out the draught to God.

17 For the temperate mind has power to conquer the pressure of the passions, and to quench the fires of excitement,

18 and to wrestle down the pains of the body, however excessive; and, through the excellency of reasoning, to abominate all the assaults of the passions.

19 But the occasion now invites us to give an illustration of temperate reasoning from history.

20 For at a time when our fathers were in possession of undisturbed peace through obedience to the law, and were prosperous, so that Seleucus Nicanor, the king of Asia, both assigned them money for divine service, and accepted their form of government,

21 then certain persons, bringing in new things contrary to the general unanimity, in various ways fell into calamities.

4 Maccabees 4

1 For a certain man named Simon, who was in opposition to Onias, who once held the high priesthood for life, and was an honorable and good man, after that by slandering him in every way, he could not injure him with the people, went away as an exile, with the intention of betraying his country.

2 Whence coming to Apollonius, the military governor of Syria, and Phoenicia, and Cilicia, he said,

3 Having good will to the king’s affairs, I am come to inform you that infinite private wealth is laid up in the treasuries of Jerusalem which do not belong to the temple, but pertain to king Seleucus.

4 Apollonius, acquainting himself with the particulars of this, praised Simon for his care of the king’s interests, and going up to Seleucus informed him of the treasure;

5 and getting authority about it, and quickly advancing into our country with the accursed Simon and a very heavy force,

6 he said that he came with the commands of the king that he should take the private money of the treasure.

7 And the nation, indignant at this proclamation, and replying to the effect that it was extremely unfair that those who had committed deposits to the sacred treasury should be deprived of them, resisted as well as they could.

8 But Appolonius went away with threats into the temple.

9 And the priests, with the women and children, having supplicated God to throw his shield over the holy, despised place,

10 and Appolonius going up with his armed force to the seizure of the treasure, —there appeared from heaven angels riding on horseback, all radiant in armor, filling them with much fear and trembling.

11 And Apollonius fell half dead upon the court which is open to all nations, and extended his hands to heaven, and implored the Hebrews, with tears, to pray for him, and propitiate the heavenly host.

12 For he said that he had sinned, so as to be consequently worthy of death; and that if he were saved, he would celebrate to all men the blessedness of the holy place.

13 Onias the high priest, induced by these words, although for other reasons anxious that king Seleucus should not suppose that Apollonius was slain by human device and not by Divine punishment, prayed for him;

14 and he being thus unexpectedly saved, departed to manifest to the king what had happened to him.

15 But on the death of Seleucus the king, his son Antiochus Epiphanes succeeds to the kingdom: a man of haughty pride and terrible.

16 Who having deposed Onias from the high priesthood, appointed his brother Jason to be high priest:

17 who had made a covenant, if he would give him this authority, to pay yearly three thousand six hundred and sixty talents.

18 And he committed to him the high priesthood and rulership over the nation.

19 And he both changed the manner of living of the people, and perverted their civil customs into all lawlessness.

20 So that he not only erected a gymnasium on the very citadel of our country,but neglectedthe guardianship of the temple.

21 At which Divine vengeance being grieved, instigated Antiochus himself against them.

22 For being at war with Ptolemy in Egypt, he heard that on a report of his death being spread abroad, the inhabitants of Jerusalem had exceedingly rejoiced, and he quickly marched against them.

23 And having subdued them, he established a decree that if any of them lived according to the laws of his country he should die.

24 And when he could by no means destroy by his decrees the obedience to the law of the nation, but saw all his threats and punishments without effect,

25 for even women, because they continued to circumcise their children, were flung down a precipice along with them, knowing beforehand of the punishment.

26 When, therefore, his decrees were disregarded by the people, he himself compelled by means of tortures every one of this race, by tasting forbidden meats, to abjure the Jewish religion.