# Bible (Early Wycliffe)/III. Eſdre
## Capitulum I.

And Joſias made paſch in Jeruſalem to þe Lord, and he offride paſch þe fourtenþe dai of þe moone of þe firſte moniþ, ordeinende preſtis bi whilis of daȝis, cloþid in ſtolis, in þe temple of þe Lord. And he ſeide to þe Leuitus, þe holi ſeruauns of Irael, þat þei ſhulden halewe þem ſelf to þe Lord, in ſetting of þe holi arke of þe Lord in þe hous, þat king Salamon, þe ſone of Dauid, bilde; It ſhal not be to ȝou to taken it vp on ſhuldris; and now ſerueþ to oure Lord, and doþ þe cure of þat folc of Irael, of parti aftir tounis, and þer linagis, aftir þe writing of Dauid, king of Irael, and aftir þe grete wrſhipeful doing of Salamon, his ſone, alle in þe temple, and aftir ȝoure litil fader partie of princehod of hem, þat ſtonden in þe ſiȝte of þe breþern of þe ſonus of Irael. Offriþ paſch, and makeþ redi ſacrifiſes to ȝoure breþern; and doþ aftir þe heſte of þe Lord, þat is ȝiue to Moiſes. And Joſias ȝaf in to þe folc þat is founde, ſhep, of lombis, and of kidis, and of ſhe got, þretti þouſend; calues þre þouſend. Þeſe þingus of þe kingus þingus ben ȝiuen aftir beheſte to þe puple, and to preſtis, in to paſch; ſhep in noumbre two þouſend, and caluis an hundrid. And Jechonias, and Semeias, and Naþanael, broþer, and Azabias, and Oziel, and Coraba, in to paſch, ſhep, fiue þouſend; caluis, fiue hundrid. And whan þeſe þingis weren do nobli, þe preſtis and Leuitus ſtoden, hauende þerue loues bi linagys. And aftir þe parties of þe princehod of fadris in þe ſiȝte of þe puple þei offriden to þe Lord, aftir þoo þingus þat in þe boc of Moiſes ben writen. And þei roſteden paſch wiþ fijr, as it behouede; and oſtus þei ſoden in ſeþing veſſelis and pottis, wiþ weel willing. And þei broȝten to alle þat weren of þe folc; and aftir þeſe þingus þei maden redi to hemſelf and to preſtis. Þe preſtus forſoþe offriden talewis, vnto þe hour was endid; and Leuitus maden redi to hemſelf, and to þer breþeren, and to þe ſonys of Aron. And þe ſacrifieris offriden doȝtris, after ordre, and after þe heſte of Dauid; and Azaf, and Zacharias, and Jeddinus, þat was of þe king; and þe uſſheris bi alle þe ȝatis, ſo þat noon ouerpaſſide his. Forſoþe þe breþern of hem greþeden to hem. And þoo þingis, þat perteneden to þe ſacrifiſe of þe Lord, ben ended. In þat dai þei dide paſch, and offriden oſtis vp on þe ſacrifiſe of þe Lord, after þe heſte of king Joſie. And þe ſonus of Irael, þat ben founde, diden in þat time paſch, and þe feſte dai of þerue loues bi ſeuene daȝes. And þere is not ſolempniſid ſuch a paſch in Irael, fro þe times of Samuel, þe profete. And alle þe kingus of Irael haleweden not ſuch a paſch, as dide Joſias, and þe preſtus, and Leuitis, and Jewis, and al Irael, þat ben founden in þe commemoracioun at Jeruſalem. Þe eiȝetenþe ȝer, regnende Joſias, is halewid paſch. And þe werkis of Joſie ben made riȝte in þe ſiȝte of his Lord, in ful herte dredende; and þoo þingus forſoþe þat abouten hym ben writen, in þe raþere times of hem þat ſinneden, who ſo euere weren vnreligious aȝen þe Lord, befor alle folc, and þat ſoȝten not þe woordis of þe Lord vp on Irael. And aftir al þis deede of Joſie, Farao, king of Egipt, ſteȝede vp, comende to caſten awei in Carcamys vpon Eufraten; and Joſias wente in to meeting to hym. And þe king of Egipt ſente to Joſiam, ſeiende, What is to me and to þee, king of Jude? I am not ſent of þe Lord, vpon Eufraten forſoþe is mi bataile; heeȝende go doun. And Joſias is not turned aȝeen vp on þe char, but enforcide to ouercomyn hym, not takende heede to þe woord of þe profete, of þe mouþ of þe Lord; but he ſette to hym bataile in þe feld of Mecedan; and princis deſcendeden to king Joſiam. And þe king ſeide to his childer, Moueþ me awei fro þe bataile; forſoþe I am gretli maad ſijk. And anoon his childre moueden hym awei fro þe ſheltrun. And he ſteȝede vp vpon his ſecunde char; and comende to Jeruſalem, diede, and is biried in þe fader ſepulcre. And in al Jude þei weileden Joſie, and þei þat befor ſeten wiþ wiues, weilede hym vnto þis dai; and þis is ȝiue to be don euermor in to al þe kinrede of Irael. Þeſe þingus forſoþe ben beforn writen in þe boc of ſtories of kingus of Juda, and in to alle ieſtis, þe deede of Joſie, þe glorie of hym, and his vnderſtonding in þe lawe of God; for euenli ben don of hym, and þoo þingus þat ben not writen in þe boc of kingus of Irael and of Juda. And þei þat weren of þe kinrede, takende Jechoniam, þe ſone of Joſie, ſetten king for Joſie, his fadir, whan he was of þre and þretti ȝer. And he regnede vp on Irael þre moneþis; and þe king of Egipt putte hym awei, þat he regne not in Jeruſalem. And he pilde þe folc of an hundrid talentus of ſiluer, and a talent of gold. And þe king of Egipt ſette Joachym, his broþer, king of Jude and of Jeruſalem; and he bond þe maiſter iugis of Joachim; Saracel, his broþer, takende, he broȝte aȝeen to Egipt. Joachim was of fiue and twenti ȝer, whan he regnede in þe lond of Juda and of Jeruſalem; and he dide euel in þe ſiȝte of þe Lord. Aftir þis forſoþe Nabugodonoſor, king of Babiloine, ſteȝede vp, and bindende hym in a ſtrong bond, broȝte in to Babiloine; and þe holi veſſelis of God Nabugodonoſor toc and broȝte, and ſacride in his temple in Babiloine. Forſoþe of his vnclenneſſe and vnreligioſite it is writen in þe boc of þe times of kingus. And Joachim, his ſone, regnede for hym; whan forſoþe he was ordeined, he was of eiȝte ȝer. Forſoþe he regnede þre moneþis and ten daȝes in Jeruſalem; and dide euel in þe ſiȝte of þe Lord. And aftir a ȝer Nabugodonoſor ſendende broȝte hym ouer in to Babiloine, togidere wiþ þe ſacride veſſelis of þe Lord. And he ſette Sedechiam king of Juda and of Jeruſalem, whan he was of oon and twenti ȝer. Forſoþe he regnede elleuen ȝer; and dide euel in þe ſiȝte of þe Lord, and was not adrad of þe woordis þat ben ſeid of Jeremie, þe profete, of þe mouþ of þe Lord; and adiurid of king Nabugodonoſor, forſworn wente awei, and his hardned nol, and wiþ his herte treſpaſide þe lawful þingus of þe Lord God of Irael. And þe dukis of þe puple of þe Lord manie þingus wickeli beeren, and vnpitouſli diden ouer alle þe vnclenneſſis of Jentilis; and þei defouleden þe temple of þe Lord, þat was holi in Jeruſalem. And God of þer fadris ſente bi his aungil to aȝeen clepen hem, for þe whiche þing he ſparede to hem, and to þer tabernacle. Þei forſoþe ſcorneden in þer corneris, and þat dai þat þe Lord ſpac, þei weren bobbende his profetus. Þe whiche vnto wraþe is ſtirid vp on his folc, for þer irreligioſite. Comaundende and ſteȝende vp þe kingus of Caldeis, þei ſlowen þe ȝunge men of hem in ſwerd, in þe enuyroun of þe holi temple of hem; and þei ſpareden not to ȝung man, and to maiden, and to old man, and to ful waxen man; but and alle þei ben taken in to þe hondus of hem; and alle þe ſacride veſſelis of þe Lord, and þe kingis cofrys takende, þei broȝten in to Babiloine. And þei brenden vp þe hous of þe Lord, and diſtrieden þe wallis of Jeruſalem, and his touris brenden wiþ fijr. And þei waſteden alle þe wrſhipeful þingus, and to noȝt broȝten; and þe laft fro ſwerd þei broȝten in to Babiloine. And þei weren his þrallis, vnto þe time þat Perſis regneden, in þe fulfilling of þe woord of þe Lord, in þe mouþ of Jeremie; for to þe lond wolde do benigneli þer ſabatis, al þe time of þer forſaking he ſabatiſede, in þe apliyng of ſeuenti ȝer.

## Capitulum II

Regnende Ciro, king of Perſis, in þe fulfilling of þe woord of þe Lord, in þe mouþ of Jeremie, þe Lord rerede þe ſpirit of Ciri, king of Perſis; and prechide in al his reume togidere bi ſcripture, ſeiende, Þeſe þingus ſeiþ Cirus, king of Perſis, Me haþ ordeined king to þe world of erþis þe Lord of Irael, þe heeȝe Lord; and he ſignefiede to me to bilde to hym an hous in Jeruſalem, þat is in Juda. If ani man is of ȝoure kinrede, his Lord ſteȝe vp wiþ hym in to Jeruſalem. Hou fele euere þanne aboute placis dwellen, helpe þei hym þat ben in þat place, in gold and ſiluer, in ȝiftis, wiþ hors, and beſtis, and wiþ oþere þingus, þat aftir vouwis ben leid vp in to þe hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem. And þe ſtondende princis of linagis of tounus of Jude, of þe linage of Beniamyn, and preſtis and Leuitis, whom þe Lord ſtiride to ſteȝen vp, and to bilden vp þe hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem; and þoo, þat weren in þe enuyroun of hem, ſhulden helpe in alle ſiluer and gold of it, and in beſtis, and in manie vouwis; manie, of whom þe wit is ſtirid. And king Cirus broȝte forþ þe ſacride veſſelis of þe Lord, þat Nabugodonoſor tranſlatide fro Jeruſalem, and ſacride hem in his maumet. And bringende forþ hem Cirus, king of Perſis, toc to Mitridate, þat was vp on þe treſoris of hym. Bi hym forſoþe þei ben taken to Salmanaſar, gouernour of Jude. Of þeſe forſoþe þis þe noumbre; ſiluer ſacrid veſſelis of likouris, two þouſend and foure hundrid; ſiluerene drinking veſſelis, þretti; goldene violis, þretti; alſo ſiluerene, two þouſend and foure hundrid; and oþere veſſelis, a þouſend. Alle forſoþe goldene veſſelis and ſiluerene, four þouſend foure hundrid and eiȝte and ſixti. And þei ben deliuerd out to Salmanaſar, togidere wiþ hem, þat of þe caytifte of Babiloine weren comen in to Jeruſalem. Forſoþe in þe times of Artaxerſes, king of Perſis, writen to hym, of þeſe þat dwelten in Jude and in Jeruſalem, Balſamus, and Mitridatus, and Sabellius, and Ratinius, Balteneus, Samelius, ſcribe, and oþere dwellende in Samarie, and in oþere placis, þe vnderſet lettre to king Artaxerſi. Lord, þi childer, Ratinus, and Sabelius, ſcribe, and oþere domyſmen of þi cort, of þingus þat fallen in to Coelem Siriem, and Fenicem. And now be it knowen to þe lord þe king, for Jewis, þat ſteȝeden vp fro ȝou to vs, comende in to Jeruſalem, cite aȝeen flowen to, and werſt, bilden up þe ouenus of it, and ſetten þe wallis, and reren þe temple. Þat if þis cite and wallis weren ful endid, þei ſhul not ſuffre to ȝelde tributis, but alſo þei ſhuln aȝen ſtonde to kingus. And for þat þat is don aboute þe temple, to han riȝtli wee han demyd to not deſpiſen þat ſame þing, but to maken knowen to þe lord þe king, þat if it ſhal ſeme, O! þee king, be it ſoȝt in þe bokis of þi fadris; and þou ſhalt finde in þe remembrauncis writen of hem, and þou ſhalt knowen, for þat cite was aȝeen floun, and kingis and cites ſmitende togidere, and Jewis aȝeen fleende, and makende batailis in it fro euermor; for what cauſe þis cite is deſert. Now þanne knowen we maken, lord king, for if þis cite were bild vp, and of þis þe wallis weren rerid, comyng doun ſhal not be to þee in to Coelem Ciriem and Fenicem. Þanne þe king wrot aȝee to Ratinum, þat wrot þe fallende þingus, and to Bellumym, and to Sabellio, ſcribe, and to oþire ordeined, and dwelleris in Cirie and Fenyce, þoo þingus þat ben ſett vnder. I ha rad þe lettre, þat þou ſentiſt to me. Þanne I comaundide to be ſoȝt; and it is founde, for þat cite is fro alwei wiþſtondende to kingus, and þe men aȝeen fugitif, and batailis in it makende; and moſt ſtronge kingus han ben in Jeruſalem lordſhipende, and tributus aſkende of Cele Cirie and Fenice. Now þanne I comaundede to forfende þoo men to bilden vp þe cite, and to puruein, leſt ani þing more þis þing be maad; but go þei not forþ in to more, ſiþen þei ben of malice, ſo þat to kingis greeues ben born in. Þanne þeſe þingus reherſid, þat of king Artaxerſe weren writen, Raþinus, and Sabellius, ſcribe, and þat wiþ hem weren ordeined, ioynende, heeȝendeli camen in to Jeruſalem, wiþ horſe men, and puple, and cumpanie; and begunnen to forfenden þe bilders. And þei voideden fro þe bilding of þe temple in Jeruſalem, vnto þe ſecunde ȝer of þe regne of Darie, king of Perſis.

## Capitulum III

King Darie made a gret ſoper to alle his ſeruauns, and to alle þe maiſter iugis of Meedis and of Perſis, and to alle þat wereden purper, and to gouernoures, and to counſeileris, and to prefectis vnder hym, fro Ynde vnto Eþiope, to an hundrid and ſeuene and twenti prouincis. And whan þey hadden eten and drunken, and fulfild, turneden aȝeen, þanne king Darie ſteȝede vp in his litil bed place, and ſleep, and is wakid. Þanne þoo þre ȝunge men, keperis of þe body, þat kepten þe bodi of þe king, ſeiden þe toþir to þe toþer, Seie wee eche of vs a woord, þat befor paſſe; and whos euere woord ſeme wiſere of þe toþer, king Darie ſhal ȝiue to hym grete ȝiftus, and to be couered wiþ purper, and to drinken in gold, and vpon gold to ſlepen, and a goldene char, wiþ bridel, and a bys mytre, and a beȝe aboute þe necke; and in þe ſecunde place he ſhal ſitte fro Darie, for his wiſdam; and þe coſin of Darie he ſhal be clepid. Þanne eche writende his woord, ſeleden, and putten vnder þe pilwe of king Darie; and ſeiden, Whan þe king hadde riſe, þei ſhul ȝiue to hym þer þingus writen, and what euere þing þe king ſhal demen of þre, and þe maiſter iugis of Perſis, for þe woord of hym is wiſere, to hym ſhal be ȝiue þe victorie, as it is write. Oon wrot, Strong is win. Þe toþer wrot, Strengere is þe king. Þe þridde wrot, Strengere ben wymmen; ouer alle þingus forſoþe ouercomeþ treuþe. And whan þe king hadde riſen, þei token þer writen þingis, and ȝeuen to hym, and he radde. And ſendende he clepide alle þe maiſter iugis of Perſis, and of Meedis, and þe cloþed in purper, and þe reuleris of prouincis, and prefectis; and þei ſeten in conſeil, and ben rad write befor þem. And he ſeide, Clepeþ þe ȝunge men, and þei ſhul ſhewe þer woordis. And þei ben clepid, and camen in. And he ſeide to hem, Shewiþ to vs of þeſe þingus þat ben writen. And þe raþere, þat hadde ſeid of þe ſtrengþe of win, began, and ſeide, Men! hou miche win is paſſende ſtrong; to alle men þat drinken it it berþ doun þe mynde; alſo of king and of faderles child it makeþ þe minde vein; alſo of ſeruaunt and of freman, of pore and of riche; and alle minde it turneþ in to ſikyrneſſe, and in to gladneſſe; and it remembreþ not of any ſorewe and dette; and alle þe entrailis it makiþ oneſt; and it remembriþ not king, ne maiſter iuge; and alle þingis bi talent it makeþ to ſpeke; and þei remembre not, whan þei han drunke, frendſhipe ne broþerhed, and after not miche þei taken ſwerdis; and whan of win þei drownyn, and rijſen, þei han no mynde þat þei diden. O men! wheþer win is not paſſendeli ſtrong, þat þus conſtreineþ to do? And þis ſeid, he held his pes.

## Capitulum IIII

And þe folewere began to ſein, þat ſeiþ of þe ſtrengþe of king, O men! wheþer men ben not paſſendely ſtrong, þat erþe and ſe holden, and alle þingus þat in hem ben? Þe king forſoþe ouer alle þingus paſſiþ, and haþ lordſhipe of hem, and alle þing, what euere he ſhal ſei to þem, þei don. And if he ſende hem to fiȝteres, þei gon, and deſtroȝen hillis, and wallis, and touris; þei ben ſlain, and ſlen, and þe woord of þe king þei paſſe not; for if þei ouercomen, þei bringe to þe king alle þingus, whateuere þingus þei han ſpoilid euermor, and alle oþere þingus. And hou fele euere bern not kniȝþod, ne fiȝten, but eren þe lond, eftſone whan þei weren repende, þei bringe tributus to þe king. And he oon alone; and if he ſeie to ſlen, þei ſlen; and if he ſeie to forȝiuen, þei forȝiuen; and if he ſeie to ſmyten, þei ſmite; if he ſeie to outlawen, þei outlawen; if he ſeie to bilden, þei bilden; if he ſeie to fallen of, þei fallen of; if he ſeie to plaunten, þei plaunten; and alle folc and vertues hym obeſhen; and ouer þeſe þingus he ſhal ſitte, and drinke, and ſlepen. Þeſe forſoþe in enuyroun kepen hym, and moun not go eche, and do þer werkis, but and in woord men ben obeſhende to hym. What maner wiſe þe king paſſeþ not befor, þat þus is loſid? And he heeld his pes. Þe þridde, þat hadde ſeid of wymmen, and of treuþe; þis is Sorobabel; began to ſpeke, Men! not gret þe king, and manie men, ne win paſſeþ beforn; who is þanne þat haþ lordſhipe of hem? Wheþer not wymmen geete king, and al þe puple, þat lordſhipe to þe ſe, and to þe erþe, and of hem ben born? And þei broȝten forþ hem þat plaunteden vines, of þe whiche win is maad. And þei maken þe ſtolis of alle men, and þei don glorie to men, and men moun not ben ſeuered fro wymmen. If þei gedere togidere gold and ſeluer, and alle fair þing, and ſeen a womman in good abite, and in good fairneſſe, alle þeſe þingis forſakende, in to hir þei taken heede, and þe mouþ opened, beholden, and hir drawen to more þan gold or ſiluer, or any precious þing. A man hys fader ſhal forſaken, þat nurſhide hym, and his regioun, and to a womman ioyneþ togidere, and wiþ a womman leueþ þe lif, and nouþer fader remembreþ, ne moder, ne regioun. And þerfore it behoueþ vs to knowen, for wymmen han lordſhipe of vs. Wheþer ſorewe ȝee not? And a man take his ſwerd, and goþ in þe weie to do þeftis, and manſlaȝteris, and to ſeilen ouer þe ſe and flodis; and a leoun he ſeeþ, and in dercneſſe he goþ in; and whan he haþ don þefte, and gilis, and raueines, he bringeþ to his leef. And eft a man looueþ his wif mor þan fader or modir; and manie woode men ben maade for þer wiues, and þrallis ben made for hem; and manie perſhiden, and ben ſtranglid, and ſynneden for wymmen. And now leeueþ to me; for gret is þe king in his power, for alle regiouns ben aferd to touchen hym. I ſaȝ ner þe latere Apemen, þe doȝter of wndirful man Beſacis, þe ſecundarie wif of þe king, ſittende biſide þe king at þe riȝt ſide; and takende awei þe diademe fro his hed, and puttende on to hirſelf, and wiþ þe hondis ſhe ſmot þe king of þe lift hond. And ouer þeſe þingus, þe mouþ opened, he beheeld hir, and if ſhe loowe to hym, he looȝ, and if ſhe were wroþ to hym, he gloſiþ, to þe time þat he be recounſilid in to grace. O men! whi ben not wymmen ſtrengere? Gret is þe erþe, and heeȝ is heuene, þat þeſe þingus don. And þanne þe king and þe purprid men beheelden eiþer in to oþer; and he began to ſpeken of treuþe. O men! wheþer ſtronge ben not wymmen? Gret is þe erþe, and heȝ is heuene, and ſwift is þe cours of þe ſunne; it is turned in þe cumpas of heuene, and eft it renneþ aȝeen in to þe ſame place o dai. Wheþer not a gret doere is he, þat makeþ þeſe þingus? and treuþe gret, and ſtrengere beforn alle þingis? Al erþe treuþe inwardli clepeþ, heuene alſo it bleſſeþ, and alle werkus ben moued and dreden it; and þer is not wiþ it any þing wicked. Wicked king, wicked wymmen, and wicked alle þe ſonis of men, and wicked alle þe werkis of hem, and þer is not in hem treuþe, and in þer wickedneſſis þei ſhuln perſhen; and treuþe dwelliþ, and waxeþ in to wiþ oute ende, and liueþ, and weldeþ, in to worldis of worldis. And to taken perſones and differencis is not anent it; but þoo þingis þat ben riȝtwis it doþ, to alle vnriȝtwiſe and euele men; and alle men ben maad benigne in his werkis. And þer is not in his dom wickedneſſe, but ſtrengþe, and reume, and power, and mageſte of alle duringis aboue time. Bleſſid be þe God of treuþe! And he lafte in ſpeking. And alle puplis crieden, and ſeiden, Gret is treuþe, and beforn paſſeþ. Þanne þe king ſeiþ to hym, Aſke, if any þing þou wilt more ouer, þan þer ben writen, and I ſhal ȝiue to þee, aftir þat þou art founde wiſere; and next to me þou ſhalt ſitte, and my coſin þou ſhalt be clepid. Þanne he ſeiþ to þe king, Be þou myndeful of þe vou, þat þou vouwidiſt, to bilde Jeruſalem, in þe dai þat þou toke þe reume; and alle þe veſſelis, þat ben taken of Jeruſalem, to ſenden aȝeen, þe whiche Cirus ſeuerede, whan he ſloȝ Babiloine, and wolde ſenden aȝeen þoo þingus þider. And þou woldiſt bilden vp þe temple, þat Idumeis brenden vp, for Jude is put out of termes fro Caldeis. And now þis is þat I aſke, lord, and þat I bidde; þis is maieſte þat of þee I aſke, þat þou do þe vou, þat þou vouwediſt to þe king of heuene, of þi mouþ. Þanne Darie, þe king, riſende kiſte hym, and wrot epiſtolis to alle þe diſpenſatouris, and prefectis, and purprid men, þat þei ſhulden leden hym forþ, and hem þat wiþ hym weren, alle ſteȝende vp to bilde Jeruſalem. And to alle þe prefectis þat weren in Cirie, and Fenice, and Liban, he wrot epiſtolis, þat þei ſhulden drawe cedre trees fro Liban in to Jeruſalem, þat þei bilde vp wiþ hem þe cite. And he wrot to alle þe Jewis, þat ſteȝeden vp fro þe reume in Jude, for fredam, alle myȝti man, and maiſter iuge, and prefect, to not comen ouer to þe ȝatus of hem, and eche regioun, þat þei hadden weldid, to be free fro hem; and Idumeis laften þe caſtelis, þat þei weldeden of þe Jewis, and in to þe making of þe temple to ȝiue bi ȝeris twenti talentis, vnto þe time þat it be ful bildid; and to offren oſtis eche dai vp on þe place of ſacrid þingus, as þei han heſte; oþere ten talentus to offren bi alle ȝeris; and to alle men, þat gon forþ fro Babiloine, to make cite, as fredam were, boþe to hem, and to þe ſonus of hem, and to alle þe preſtis þat gon beforn. Forſoþe he wrot and þe quantite; and þe ſacrid ſtole he comaundede to be ȝiue, in þe whiche þei ſhulden ſerue; and to þe Leuitis he wrot to ȝiue wagis, vnto þe dai þat þe hous ſhulde be fulli endid, and Jeruſalem maad out; and to alle men kepende þe cite he wrot, to ȝiue to hem lotis and wagis. And he lafte alle þe veſſelis, þat Cirus hadde ſeuered fro Babiloine; and alle þingis, whateuere Cirus ſeide, alſo he comaundede to be don, and to be ſent to Jeruſalem. And whan þat ȝunge man hadde go forþ, rerende þe face in to Jeruſalem, he bleſſide þe king of heuene, and ſeide, Of þee is victorie, and of þee is wiſdam, and clerneſſe, and I am þy ſeruaunt. Bleſſid þou art, for þou haſt ȝiue to me wiſdam, and I knouleche to þee, Lord of oure fadris. And he toc þe epiſtolis, and wente forþ in to Babiloine; and cam, and tolde to alle his breþern þat weren in Babiloine. And þei bleſſeden þe God of þer fadris, þat ȝaf to hem forȝiueneſſe and refreſhing, þat þei ſteȝen vp, and bilde Jeruſalem, and þe temple, where is his name nemnyd in it; and þei ioȝeden ful out wiþ muſikis and gladneſſys ſeuene daȝes.

## Capitulum V

Aftir þeſe þingus forſoþe ben choſen, þat þei ſteȝen vp, þe princis of tounus, bi houſis, bi þer linagis, and þe wiues of hem, and ſones and doȝtris of hem, and ſeruauns and hand wymmen of hem, and beſtis of hem. And king Darie ſente togidere wiþ hem a þouſend horſe men, to þe time þat þei broȝten hem in to Jeruſalem, wiþ pes, and wiþ muſikis, and timbres, and trumpis; and alle þe breþern weren pleiende. And he made hem to ſteȝen vp togidere wiþ hem. And þeſe ben þe namis of þe men þat ſteȝeden vp, bi þeir tounus, in to linagis, and in to part of þe princehod of hem. Preſtus; þe ſonus of Finees, þe ſonus of Aron, Jeſus, þe ſone of Joſedech, Jachim, þe ſone of Sorobabel, ſone of Solatiel, of þe hous of Dauid, of þe progenie of Fares, of þe linage forſoþe of Juda, þat ſpac vnder Darie, king of Perſis, merueilous doende woordis, in þe ſecunde ȝer of his regne, in Aprill, þe firſte moneþ. Forſoþe þeſe ben, þat of Juda ſteȝeden vp fro þe caitifte of tranſmigracioun, whom Nabugodonoſor, king of Babiloine, tranſlatide into Babiloine; and is turned aȝeen in to Jeruſalem, and in to alle þe cites of Jude, eche in to his cite, þat camen wiþ Sorobabel and Jeſu; Neemias, Ariores, Elimeo, Emanio, Mardocheo, Beelſuro, Meþſatoþor, Olioro, Eboma, oon of þe princis of hem. And þe noumbre fro þe Jentilis of hem, fro þe prouoſtis of hem; þe ſonus of Fares, two þouſend an hundrid and ſeuenti and two; þe ſonus of Ares, þre þouſend fifti and ſeuene; þe ſonus of Femo, an hundrid and two and fourti; in þe ſonus of Jeſe and Joabes, a þouſend þre hundrid and two; þe ſonus of Denny, two þouſend foure hundrid and ſeuenti; þe ſones of Choraba, two hundrid and fiue; þe ſonus of Banycha, an hundrid and ſixti and eiȝte; þe ſonus of Bebeþ, foure hundrid and þre; þe ſonus of Archad, foure hundrid and ſeuene and twenti; þe ſonus of Hau, ſeuene and þretti; þe ſonus of Sozaar, two þouſend ſixti and ſeuene; þe ſonus of Adymy, foure hundrid and oon and ſixti; þe ſonus of Azeroectis, an hundrid and eiȝte; þe ſonus of Ziazo and Zelas, an hundrid and ſeuene; þe ſonus of Azoroch, foure hundrid and nyne and þretty; þe ſonus of Jebdarbone, an hundrid and two and þretti; þe ſonus of Ananie, an hundrid and þretti; þe ſonus of Arſom; þe ſonus of Marſar, foure hundrid and two and twenti; þe ſonus of Saberus, ninti and fiue; þe ſonus of Sofelomon, an hundrid and þre and twenti; þe ſonus of Nepobai, fiue and fifti; þe ſonus of Echanatus, an hundrid and eiȝte and fifti; þe ſonus of Ebeaþamus, an hundrid and two and þretti; þe ſonus of Octatarpatros, þe whiche Enechades and Modie, foure hundrid and two and twenti; þe whiche of Gramas and Gabia, an hundrid and oon and twenti; þe whiche of Beſellon and of Agie, fiue and ſixti; þe whiche of Baſcharo, an hundrid and two and twenti; þe whiche of Beþonobes, fiue and fifti; þe ſones of Lyptis, an hundred and fyue and fifty; þe ſonus of Jabomy, þre hundrid and ſeuene and fifti; þe ſonus of Sichem, þre hundrid and ſeuenti; þe ſonus of Sanadon and Chomus, þre hundrid and ſeuenti and eiȝte; þe ſonus of Ericus, two þouſend an hundrid and fiue and fifti; þe ſonus of Anaas, þre hundrid and ſeuenti. Preſtis; þe ſonus of Jeddus, þe ſonus of Enitem, þe ſonus of Eliazib, þre hundrid and two and ſeuenti; þe ſonus of Emmechus, two hundrid and two and fifti; þe ſonus of Saſurij, þre hundrid and ſeuene and fifti; þe ſonus of Caree, two hundrid and ſeuene and twenti. Leuitis; þe ſonus of Jeſu, in Caduel, and Banus, and Serebias, and Edias, foure and ſeuenti; al þe noumbre fro þe two and twenti ȝer, þretti þouſend foure hundrid and two and ſixti; ſones, and doȝtris, and wiues, al þe noumbring, ſixti þouſend two hundrid and two and fourti. Sonus of preſtis, þat ſungen in þe temple; þe ſonus of Aſaf, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti. Uſſheris forſoþe; þe ſonus of Eſuem, þe ſonus of Aþer, þe ſonus of Amon, þe ſonus of Accuba Copa, þe ſonus of Tobi, alle an hundrid and nyne and þretti. Preſtis, ſeruende in þe temple; ſonus of Sel, þe ſonus of Gaſipa, þe ſonus of Tabloþ, þe ſonus of Carie, þe ſonus of Su, þe ſonus of Fellu, þe ſonus of Labana, þe ſonus of Acmaþa, þe ſones of Accub, þe ſonus of Vta, þe ſonus of Ceta, þe ſonus of Agab, þe ſonus of Obai, þe ſonus of Anan, þe ſonus of Caima, þe ſonus of Juddu, þe ſonus of An, þe ſonus of Radin, þe ſonus of Deſamyn, þe ſonus of Nechoba, þe ſonus of Saſeba, þe ſonus of Gaze, þe ſonus of Oſin, þe ſonus of Finoe, þe ſonus of Atren, þe ſonus of Baſeem, þe ſonus of Aziana, þe ſonus of Manai, þe ſonus of Nafiſim, þe ſones of Accufu, þe ſonus of Agiſta, þe ſonus of Aria Faucin, þe ſonus of Faſalon, þe ſonus of Meedda, þe ſonus of Fuſia, þe ſonus of Careþ, þe ſonus of Barchus, þe ſonus of Caree, þe ſonus of Thoeſi, þe ſonus of Naſiþ, þe ſonys of Agiſti, þe ſonus of Pedon. Salmon, þe ſonus of hym, þe ſonus of Aſoffoþ, þe ſonus of Farida, þe ſonus of Theli, þe ſonus of Dedon, þe ſonus of Gaddahel, þe ſonus of Cefegi, þe ſonus of Aggia, þe ſonus of Facareþ, þe ſonus of Sabaþan, þe ſonus of Saranoþ, þe ſonus of Malcie, þe ſones of Amee, þe ſonus of Safuy, þe ſonus of Addus, þe ſonus of Suba, þe ſonus of Eyra, þe ſonus of Rabatis, þe ſonus of Faſofaþ, þe ſonus of Malmon. Alle in holi ſeruende; and þe childer of Salomon, foure hundrid foure ſcore and two. Þeſe ben þe ſonus, þat ſteȝeden vp Aþeemel and Therſas; þe princis of hem, Carmellam and Careþ; and þei myȝten not tellen out þer cites, and progenies, what maner þei ben; and of Irael, þe ſonus of Dalarij, þe ſonus of Tubam, þe ſonus of Nechodaici. And of þe preſtis, þat vſeden preſþod, and ben not founde; þe ſonus of Obia, þe ſonus of Achiſos, þe ſonus of Addin, þat toc Vnim wif, of þe doȝtris of Fargelen, and ben clepid bi þe name of hir; and of þeſe is ſoȝt þe write genelogie of kinrede, and it is not founden, and þei ben forfendid to vſe preſþod. And Neemie ſeide to hem, and Aſcaras, þat þei take not part of þe holi þingus, to þe time þat þer riſe a taȝt biſſhop, in to ſhewing and treuþe. Al forſoþe Irael was twelue þouſend, out take ſeruauns and hand wymmen, two and fourti þouſend þre hundrid and ſixti. Þe ſeruauns of hem and hand wymmen, ſeuene þouſend þree hundrid and ſeuene and þretti; ſingeres and ſingereſſis, two hundrid and fiue and ſixti; camailis, foure hundrid and fiue and þretti; hors, ſeuen þouſend ſixe and þretti; mulis, two hundrid þouſend and fiue and fourti; beſtis vnder ȝoc, fiue þouſend and fiue and twenti. And of þoo prouoſtis bi tounus, whil þei ſhulden come in to þe temple of God, þat was in Jeruſalem, to ben auouwid to rere þe temple in his place, after þer vertue; and to be ȝiue in to þe temple þe holi treſorie of werkis, eleue þouſend beſauns, and preſtis ſtolis an hundrid. And þer dwelten preſtus, and Leuitus, and þat weren of þe folc in Jeruſalem, and in þe regioun; and þe holi ſingeres, vſſheris, and al Irael, in þer regiouns. In ſtondende forſoþe þe ſeuenþe moneþ, and whan þe ſonus of Irael weren eche in his owne þingus, þei camen togidere of oon acord in to þe porche, þat was befor þe eſt ȝate. And ſtondende Jeſus, þe ſone of Joſedech, and his breþer, preſtis, and Sorobabel, þe ſone of Salatiel, and of þis þe breþer, maden redi an auter, þat þei offre vpon it brent ſacrifiſes, aftir þoo þingus þat in þe boc of Moiſes, man of God, ben writen. And þer camen to hem of oþere naciouns of þe lond, and rereden þe holi treſorie in his place, alle þe folc of þe lond; and þei offriden oſtis, and morutide brent ſacrifiſes to þe Lord. And þei diden þe feſte of tabernaclis, and a ſolempne dai, as it is write in þe lawe, and ſacrifiſes eche dai, as it behouede. And aftir þeſe þingus þe ordeined offringus, and oſtus of ſabatis, and of newe mones, and of alle halewid ſolempne daȝes. And hou fele euere vouweden to þe Lord, fro þe newe mone of þe ſeuenþe moneþ, token oſtis to offre to God; and þe temple of þe Lord ȝit was not bild vp. And þei ȝeue monee to maſonus, and to wriȝtus, and drink and metus wiþ ioȝe. And þei ȝeue carris to Sidonyes and to Tires, þat þei ſhulden carien ouer to hem fro Liban wode cedre bemus, and maken a naue in to Joppe hauene, aftir þe decre þat was write to þem fro Ciro, king of Perſis. And in þe ſecunde ȝer þei comende in to þe temple of God, in to Jeruſalem, þe ſecunde moneþ began Sorobabel, þe ſone of Salatiel, and Jeſus, þe ſone of Joſedech, and þe breþern of hem, and preſtis, and Leuitus, and alle þat camen fro þe caitifte in to Jeruſalem; and foundeden þe temple of God, in þe newe mone of þe ſecunde moneþ of þe ſecunde ȝer, whan þei hadde comen in to Jude and Jeruſalem; and ſetten Leuitus fro twenti ȝer vpon þe werkis of þe Lord. And Jeſus ſtod, his ſone, and breþern, alle Leuitus togidere caſtende, and foleweris out of þe lawe, and doende werkis in þe hous of þe Lord. And þer ſtoden preſtys, hauende ſtolis, wiþ trumpis, and Leuitus, þe ſonus of Aſaf, hauende cymbalis, togidere preiſende þe Lord, and bleſſende, aftir Dauid, king of Irael. And þei ſungen a ſong to þe Lord, for his ſwetneſſe and wrſhipe in to worldis vp on al Irael. And al þe puple wiþ trumpe ſungen, and crieden wiþ gret vois, preiſende togidere þe Lord, in þe rering of þe hous of þe Lord. And þer camen of preſtus, and of Leuitus, and of preſidentus aftir þe tounus, to þe elders þat hadden ſeen þe raþere hous, and at þe bilding vp of þis, wiþ cri, and wiþ gret weiling; and manye wiþ trumpis, and gret ioȝe, ſo þat þe puple herde not þe trumpis, for þe weiling of þe puple. Forſoþe a cumpanye was ſingende wrſhipefulli in trumpe, ſo þat afer it was herd. And þe enemis herden þe linagis of Juda and of Beniamyn, and camen to wite, what was þe vois of þe trumpes. And þei knewen, for þei þat weren of þe caitifte bilden þe temple to þe Lord God of Irael. And comende neeȝ to Sorobabel, and to Jeſu, and to þe prouoſtis of tounus, ſeiden to hem, Wee ſhul bilde togidere wiþ ȝou. Lic maner forſoþe wee han herd of oure Lord, and we togidere han go fro þe daȝes of Aſbaſareþ, king of Aſſiries, þat wente ouer hennus. And ſeide to hem Sorobabel, and Jeſue, and þe princis of þe tounus of Irael, It is not to vs and to ȝou to bilden vp þe hous of oure God; we forſoþe alone ſhul bilden þe hous of oure God, aftir þoo þingus, þat Cirus, king of Perſis, comaundede. Þe Jentilis forſoþe of þe lond leuende to þem þat ben in Jude, and rerende vp þe werk of þe bilding, and aſpies and puple bringende forþ, forfendeden hem to bilden vp; and letteden þe men, hauntende þe goingus to, þat þe bilding ſhulde not ben endid al þe time of þe lif of king Ciri; and þei drowen along þe making vp bi two ȝer, vn to þe regne of Darie.

## Capitulum VI

In þe ſecunde forſoþe ȝer of þe regne of Darie profeciede Agge, and Sacharie, þe ſone of Addin, profete, anent Jude and in Jeruſalem, in þe name of þe Lord God of Irael, vpon hem. Þane ſtondende Sorobabel, þe ſone of Salatiel, and Jeſus, þe ſone of Jeſedech, begunnen to bilden vp þe hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem; whan þer weren neeȝ to hem profetis of þe Lord, and holpen hem. In þat time cam to hem Ciſennes, þe vnder litil king of Cirie and of Fenices, and Satraboſones, and þer felawis. And þei ſeiden to hem, Who comaundende to ȝou, þis hous ȝe bilden, and þis rof, and oþere manie þingus ȝee parformen? and who ben þe bilders, þat þeſe þingus bilden vp? And þe viſiting don vp on hem þat weren of þe caitifte, hadden grace of þe Lord þe elders of Irael; and þei ben not lettid to bilden vp, to þe time þat it were ſignefied to Darie of alle þeſe þingus, and an anſwere were taken. Þe ſaumple of þe epiſtil, þat to Darie ſenten Ciſennes, vnder king of Cirie and of Fenyces, and Satroboſanes, and þer felawis, in Cirie and in Fenice reuleris. To king Darie, greeting. Alle þingus knowen be þei to þe lord þe king; for whan we camen in to þe regioun of Jude, and wenten in to Jeruſalem, wee founde men bildende a gret hous of God, and a temple of grete pooliſht ſtones, and of precious materes in wallis; and þoo werkis beſili to be maad, and to helpe, and to make welſum in þe hondis of hem, and in alle glorie, as moſt diligentli to be parformed. Þanne wee aſkeden þe eldere men, ſeiende, Who ſuffrende ȝee bilden to ȝou þis hous, and þeſe werkus founden? Þerfore forſoþe wee aſkeden hem, þat knowen wee myȝten make to þee þe men, and þe prouoſtis; and þe writing of þe namis of þe prouoſtus wee aſkeden hem. And þei anſwerden to vs, ſeiende, We ben þe ſeruauns of þe Lord, þat made heuene and erþe; and þis hous was bild beforn þeſe manie ȝeris of þe king of Irael, gret, and moſt ſtrong, and it is ful endid. And for oure fadris weren terrende and ſynneden in þe God of Irael, he toc hem in to þe hondus of Nabugodonoſor, king of Babiloine, king of Caldeis; and þis hous deſtroȝende brenden vp, and þe puple caitif broȝten in to Babiloyne. In þe firſte ȝer regnende Ciro, king of Babiloine, king Cirus wrot to bilden vp þis hous; and þoo holi goldene veſſelis and ſiluerene, þat Nabugodonoſor hadde born awei fro þe hous, þat is in Jeruſalem, and hadde ſacrid hem in his temple, eft king Cirus broȝte þem forþ fro þe temple þat was in Babiloyne, and ben take to Sorobabel, and to Salmanaſar, vndir litil king. And it is comaundid to hem, þat þei offren þeſe veſſelis, and lein vp in þe temple, þat was in Jeruſalem, and þat temple of God to bilden vp in þat place. Þanne Salmanaſar vnder leide þe foundemens of þe hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem; and fro þennus vn to now is bild vp, and toc no ful ending. Now þanne, if it is demed of þee, O king! be it parfitli ſoȝt in þe kingis libraries of king Ciri, þat ben in Babiloine; and if it were founden in þe counſeil of king Ciri, to ben begunne þe making of þe hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem, and it ſhal be ſhewid of þe lord oure king, wrijte he of þeſe þingus to vs. Þanne king Darie comaundede to ben inwardli ſoȝt in þe librarijs; and þer is founde in Egbatenis, burȝtoun, þat is in þe myddel regioun, o place, in þe whiche weren writen þeſe þingus. Þe firſte ȝer regnende Ciro king, Cirus comaundede þe hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem, to bilden vp, where þei brenden wiþ contynuel fijr; whos heiȝte is maad of ten cubitis, and breede of fourti cubitus, ſquarid wiþ þre poliſht ſtonus, and wiþ ſoleer tree of þe ſame regioun, and wiþ oon newe ſoleer; and coſtus to be ȝiuen of þe hous of king Cirus; and þe holi veſſelis of þe hous of þe Lord, boþ goldene and ſiluerene, þat Nabugodonoſor bar awei, þat þei be put þider in to þe hous, þat is in Jeruſalem, where þei weren put. And he comaundede beſineſſe to don Ciſennem, vnder litil king of Cirie and Fenice, and Satrabuſanam, and his felawis, and þei þat weren in Cirie and in Fenice ordeineden reuleris, þat þei abſtene þem fro þe ſame place. And I alſo comaundede al to maken vp, and forþ lookide, þat þei helpe þem þat ben of þe caitifte of Jewis, to þe time þat þe temple of þe hous of þe Lord be ful endid; and of þe trauaile of þe tributus of Cirie Choeles and Fenices diligentli a quantite to be ȝiue to þeſe men, to þe ſacrifiſe of þe Lord, to Sorobabel, prefect, to bolis, and weþeris, and lambis; alſo forſoþe and whete, and ſalt, and win, and oile, beſili bi alle ȝeris, as þe preſtus, þat ben in Jeruſalem, ordeineden to be fulfild eche dai, wiþ oute any delai; þat þer ben offrid offringus of likourus to þe heiȝeſte God, for þe king, and his childer, and preȝe for þe lif of hem. And be it denounſid, þat whoſo euere ouer paſſen any þing of þeſe þingus þat ben writen, or deſpiſen, be þer taken a tree of þer own proper, and be þei hangid, and þe goodis of hem to þe king be eſchetid. Þerfore and þe Lord, whos name is inwardli clepid þere, outlawe eche king and folc, þat ſtrecchen out þer hond to forfenden, or to euele treten þat hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem. I, king Darie, haue maad a decre, to be don as moſt diligentli aftir þeſe þingis.

## Capitulum VII

Thanne Ciſennes, vnder litil king of Choelem Cirie and Fenicem, and Satrabuſanes, and þe felawis, obeſheden to þeſe þingus, þat of king Darye weren demed, ſtoden in to þe holi werkis moſt diligentli, togidere werkende wiþ þe eldere men of Jewis, princis of Cirie. And þe ſacrid holi werkis ben made welſum, profeciende Agge and Sacarie, profetus. And alle þingus þei fulfilden, bi þe heſte of þe Lord God of Irael, and of þe counſeil of Ciri, and of Darie, and of Artaxerſe, king of Perſis. And oure hous is endyd, vnto þe þre and twentiþe dai of þe moneþ of March, þe ſixte ȝer of king Darie. And þe ſonus of Irael diden, and þe preſtis, and Leuitus, and oþere þat weren of þe caitifte, þat ben ſet to, after þoo þingus þat ben writen in þe boc of Moiſes. And þei offriden in to þe dedicacioun of þe temple of þe Lord, bolis, an hundrid; weþeris, two hundrid; lambis, foure hundrid; kidis for þe ſynnes of al Irael, twelue, after þe noumbre of þe linagis of Irael. And þe preſtus ſtoden, and Leuitus, clad þe ſtolis, bi þe linagis, vpon þe werc of þe Lord God of Irael, after þe boc of Moiſes; and vſſheris bi alle þe ȝatis. And þe ſonus of Irael diden, wiþ hem þat weren of þe caitifte, þat paſch, þe mone of þe firſte moneþ, fourtene, whan ben halewid þe preſtis and þe Leuitus. And alle þe ſonus of caitifte ben not togidere halewid, for alle þe Leuitus ben togidere halewid. And þei offriden paſch to alle þe ſonus of caitifte, and to þer breþern, preſtis, and to hemſelf. And þe ſonus of Irael eeten, þat weren in þe caitifte, alle þat hadden laft fro alle þe curſidneſſis of þe Jentilis of þe erþe, ſechende þe Lord; and þei haleweden þe feſte dai of þerue loues, ſeuene daȝes etende in þe ſiȝte of þe Lord; for he conuertide þe counſeil of þe king of Aſſiris in hem, to coumforte þe hondus of hem to þe werkis of þe Lord God of Irael.

## Capitulum VIII

And after þis, regnende Artaxerſe, king of Perſis, wente to Eſdras, þe ſone of Azarie, ſone of Elchie, ſone of Salome, ſone of Sadduch, ſone of Achitob, ſone of Ameri, ſone of Azaei, ſone of Bocce, ſone of Abiſae, ſone of Finees, ſone of Eleaſar, ſone of Aron, firſte preeſt. Þis Eſdras ſteȝede vp fro Babiloine, whan he was ſcribe, and witti in þe lawe of Moiſes, þat is ȝiuen of þe Lord of Irael, to ſein and to do. And þe king ȝaf to hym glorie, þat he hadde founde grace in alle dignete, and deſijr, in þe ſiȝte of hym. And þer ſteȝeden vp togidere wiþ hym of þe ſonus of Irael, and preſtis, and Leuitus, and holi ſingeres of þe temple, and vſſheris, and ſeruauns of þe temple, in to Jeruſalem. Þe ſeuenþe ȝer regnende Artaxerſe, in þe fifte monyþ, þis is þe ſeuenþe ȝer of þe regne, goende out forſoþe fro Babiloine in þe newe mone of þe fifte moneþ, þei camen to Jeruſalem, after þe heſtus of hym, after þe ȝiuen proſperite of þe weie to hem of þat Lord. In þeſe þingys forſoþe Eſdras weldede gret diſcipline, leſt he paſſide biſide any þing of þoo þingis þat weren of þe lawe of þe Lord, and heſtus, and in techende al Irael alle riȝtweſneſſe and dom. Comende forſoþe neeȝ þei þat writen þe writen þingus of king Artaxerſes, token writen þat, þat cam fro king Artaxerſes to Eſdras, preſt, and redere of þe lawe of þe Lord, of whiche þinge þe exſaumple is leid vnder. King Artaxerſe to Eſdre, preſt, and redere of þe lawe of þe Lord, greeting. More benygne I demende alſo to benefetus, comandede to hem þat deſiren of þe folc of Jewis þer owne þingus wilfulli, and of þe preſtis, and Leuits, þat ben in my reume, to felaſhipen wiþ þee in to Jeruſalem. Þane if any couetten to go wiþ þee, come þei togidere, and go þei forþ, as it pleſeþ to me, and to my ſeuene frendis counſeileris; þat þei viſite þoo þingus, þat ben don after Jude and Jeruſalem, kepende þe lawe, as þou haſt in þe lawe of þe Lord; and bere þei ȝiftus to þe Lord of Irael, þe whiche I knewȝ, and þe frendis of Jeruſalem, and al þe gold and ſiluer, þat were founden in þe regioun of Babiloine, to þe Lord in Jeruſalem, wiþ þat þat is ȝiuen of þat folc in þe temple of þe Lord, of hem þat is in Jeruſalem; þat be gedered þis gold and ſiluer, and to bolis, and weþeris, and lambis, and kidis, and þat to þeſe ben couenable; þat þei offre oſtis to þe Lord, vp on þe auter of þe Lord of hem, þat is in Jeruſalem. And alle þingus what euere þou wilt wiþ þi breþern don, wiþ gold and ſiluer parforme, for þe wil, after þe heſte of þe Lord þi God. And þe ſacride holi veſſelis, þat ben ȝiue to þee, to þe werkis of þe hous of þe Lord þi God, þat is in Jeruſalem, and oþere þingus, what euere to þee wiln helpen to þe werkis of þe temple of þi God, þou ſhalt ȝiue of þe kingis treſorie, whan þou wilt wiþ þi breþern maken, wiþ gold and ſiluer; and parforme þou aftir þe wil of þi Lord. And I, king Artaxerſes, haue comaundid to þe keperis of þe treſories of Cirie and of Fenice, þat what euere þingus Eſdras, preſt, and redere of þe lawe of þe Lord, write fore, beſili be it ȝiue to hym, vnto an hundrid talentis of ſiluer, lic maner and of gold; and vnto an hundrid buſſhelis of whete, and an hundrid veſſelis of win, and oþere þingis, what euere abounden, wiþ oute taxing. Alle þingus after þe lawe of God be don to þe heiȝeſte God, leſt parauenture riſe vp wraþe in þe reume of þe king, and of þe ſone, and of þe ſones of hym. To ȝou forſoþe is ſeid, þat to alle þe preſtis, and Leuitus, and holi ſingeres, and ſeruauns of þe temple, and ſcribis of þis temple, no tribute, ne any oþer forfending be born to, ne haue any man power to aȝen caſten any þing to hem. Þou forſoþe, Eſdras, aftir þe wiſdam of God ordeine domeſmen and arbitrouris, in al Cirie and Fenice, and alle þat þe lawe of þi God knewen, teche; þat hou fele euere ouerpaſſe þe lawe, biſili be þei punſhid, or bi deþ, or bi torment, or alſo bi multing of monee, or bi ſeuering awei. And Eſdras, ſcribe, ſeide, Bleſſid be þe Lord God of oure fadris, þat ȝaf þis wil in to þe herte of þe king, to clarifien his hous, þat is in Jeruſalem; and me haþ wrſhipid in þe ſiȝte of þe king, and counſeileris, and his frendis, and of his purprid men. And I am maad ſtedefaſt in inwit, after þe helping of þe Lord oure God; and I gederede of Irael men, þat þei ſhulden ſteȝen vp togidere wiþ me. And þeſe ben þe prouoſtis, after þer kuntres, and porciounelis princehodis of hem, þat wiþ me ſteȝeden vp fro Babiloine, in þe reume of Artaxerſis. Of þe ſonus of Fares, Jerſomus; of þe ſonus of Ciameruþ, Amenus; of þe ſonus of Dauid, Accus, þe ſone of Cecelie; of þe ſonus of Fares, Zacharie, and wiþ hym ben turned aȝeen an hundrid men and fifti; of þe ſonus of Ductor, Moabilonys, Zaraei, and wiþ hym two hundrid men and fifti; of þe ſonus of Sacues, Jechonie, Ceþeeli, and wiþ hym two hundrid men and fifti; of þe ſones of Solomoſias, Goþolie, and wiþ hym ſeuenti men; of þe ſones of Sofocie, Zarias, Micheli, and wiþ hym foure ſcore men; of þe ſonus of Jobab, Dias, Jeſeli, and wiþ hym two hundrid men and twelue; of þe ſonus of Banie, Salimoþ, þe ſone of Joſafie, and wiþ hym an hundrid men and ſixti; of þe ſonus of Beer, Zacharias, Bebei, and wiþ hym two hundrid men and eiȝte; of þe ſones of Azachie, Channes, Acharie, and wiþ hym an hundrid men and ten; of þe ſonus of Adonicam, hem laſt, and þeſe ben þe namus of hem, Elifalam, þe ſone of Jebel, and Semeias, and wiþ hym ſeuenti men. And I gederede hem to þe flod, þat is ſeid Thia and Meþati; þere wee weren þre daȝis, and I knewȝ hem. And of þe ſonus of preſtis and of Leuitus I fond not þere. And I ſente to Eleaſar, and to Accebam, and Maſman, and Malolan, and Enaþan, and Samea, and Joribum, Naþan, Ennagan, Zacharie, and Moſollamym, hem leders and wiſe men. And I ſeide to hem, þat þei ſhulden come to Luddyum, þat was at þe place of þe treſorie. And I ſente to þem, þat þei ſhulden ſei to Luddium, and his breþern, and to hem þat weren in þe treſorie, þat þei ſhulden ſende to vs hem þat ſhulden vſe preſþod in þe hous of þe Lord oure God. And þei broȝten to vs, after þe ſtronge hond of þe Lord oure God, wiſe men of þe ſonus of Mooli, ſone of Leuy, ſone of Irael, Sebebian, and ſonus, and breþern, þat weren eiȝtetene; Aſbiam, and Amum, of þe ſonus of Cananei; and þe ſonus of hem, twenti men. And of hem þat in þe temple ſerueden, þe whiche Dauid ȝaf, and þei princis, to þe werking to þe Leuitus, to þe temple, of men ſeruende, two hundrid and twenti. Þe namys of alle ben ſignefied in ſcripturis. And I vouwede þere faſting to ȝunge men, in þe ſiȝte of þe Lord, þat I ſhulde ſechen of hym good weie to vs, and þat weren wiþ vs, of ſonus, and beſtus, for aſpies. Forſoþe I ſhamede to aſken of þe king foot men and horſe men, in felaſhipe of grace, of keping aȝen oure aduerſaries. Forſoþe we ſeiden to þe king, For þe vertue of þe Lord ſhal be wiþ hem, þat inwardli ſechen hym in alle efect. And eft we preȝeden þe Lord oure God, after þeſe þingis, whom and benigne we hadden; and hol wee ben maad to oure God. And I ſeuerede of þe prouoſtis of þe folc, and of þe preſtus of þe puple, twelue men, and Sedebian, and Affamian, and wiþ hem of þer breþern ten men. And I peiſede to hem ſiluer and gold, and preſtis veſſelis, of þe hous of þe Lord oure God, þe whiche þe king hadde ȝiuen, and his counſeileris, and princis, and al Irael. And whan I hadde peiſid, I toc talentus of ſiluer an hundrid and fifti, and ſiluerene veſſelis of an hundrid talentis, and of gold talentus an hundrid, and of goldene veſſelis ſeue ſcore, and braſene veſſelis of good metal ſhinende, twelue, ȝeldende þe licneſſe of gold. And I ſeide to hem, And ȝee ben holi to þe Lord, and þe veſſelis ben holi, and þe gold and þe ſeluer is of þe auou to þe Lord God of oure fadris. Wakeþ, and kepeþ, to þe time þat ȝee take of þe prouoſtis of þe puple, and of þe preſtis, and of þe Leuitis, and princis of þe cites of Irael, in Jeruſalem, in þe priue chaumbre of þe hous of oure God. And þeſe preſtis and Leuitus, þat token gold and ſiluer, and veſſelis, þat weren in Jeruſalem, broȝten in to þe temple of þe Lord. And we moueden forþ fro þe flod of Thia, þe twelfþe dai of þe firſte moneþ, for to we ȝiden in to Jeruſalem. And whan þe þridde dai was don, þe ferþe forſoþe dai þe peiſid gold and ſiluer is taken in þe hous of þe Lord oure God, to Marymoþ, þe ſone of Jori, preſt; and wiþ hym was Eleaſar, þe ſone of Finees; and þer weren wiþ hem Joſabdus, þe ſone of Jeſu, and Medias, and Banny, þe ſone of a Leuite; at noumbre and weiȝte alle þingus. And þe peis of hem is writen in þe ſame hour. Þoo forſoþe, þat camen fro þe caitifte, offriden ſacrifiſe of þe Lord of Irael, bolis, twelue for al Irael; weþeres, foure ſcore and ſixe; lambis, two and ſeuenti; get for ſynne twelue, and for helþe twelue kijn; alle in to þe ſacrifiſe of þe Lord. And þei eft radden þe heſtis of þe king to þe kingis diſpenſatouris, and to þe litle vnder kingus of Choele, and Cirie, and Fenice; and þei wrſhipeden þe folc and þe temple of þe Lord. And þeſe þingis ful endid, þei camen to me, ſeiende, Þe kinrede of Irael, and þe princis, and preſtys, and Leuitis, and aliene folkis, and naciouns of þe lond, han not ſeuered þer vnclenneſſes fro Cananeis, and Eþeis, and Fereſeis, and Jebuſeis, and Moabitis, and Egipcienes, and Idumeis; forſoþe þei ben ioyned to þe doȝtris of hem, and þei and þer ſonis; and þe holi ſed is mengd togidere to þe heþene folc of þe lond; and parceneres weren þe prouoſtus and maiſtir iugis of þis wickedneſſe, fro þe begynnyng of þat reume. And anon as I herde þeſe þingis, I cutte þe cloþis, and þe ſacrid cote, and to-terende þe heris of þe hed, and þe berd, I ſat ſorewende, and dreri. And þer camen to me as fele as euere weren þanne moued in þe woord of þe Lord God of Irael, me weilende vp on þis wickeneſſe; and I ſat ſoreweful vnto þe euentid ſacrifiſe. And riſende fro faſting, hauende þe cloþis cut, miche knelende, and ſtrecchende out þe hondis to þe Lord, I ſeide, Lord, I am confoundid, and I am adrad befor þi face. Forſoþe oure ſynnes ben multiplied vp on oure hedis, and oure wickedneſſis ben enhauncid vnto heuene; for fro þe time of oure fadris we ben in gret ſynne vn to þis day. And for oure ſynnes, and of oure fadris we ben taken, wiþ oure breþern, and wiþ oure preſtus, and kingus of þe lond, in to ſwerd, and caitifte, and in to prei, wiþ confuſion, vn to þe dai þat is now. And now hou myche is, þat falleþ to vs þe merci of þee, Lord God; lef to vs a roote and a name, in to þe place of þin halewing, to vnkoueren oure ȝiuere of liȝt in þe hous of þe Lord oure God, to ȝiue to vs mete in þe time of oure ſeruage. And whan wee ſeruen, wee ben not forſaken of þe Lord oure God; but he ſette vs in grace, puttende to vs kingus of Perſis to ȝiue mete, and to clarifien þe temple of þe Lord oure God, and to edefie þe deſertis of Sion, and to ȝiue to vs ſtableneſſe in Jude and Jeruſalem. And now what ſei wee, Lord, hauende þeſe þingus? We han ouyr paſſid þin heſtis, þe whiche þou ȝeue in to þe hondis of þi childer, profetus, ſeiende, For þe lond, in þe whiche ȝee wenten in, to welden his eritage, is a defoulid lond wiþ filþes of þe heþene men of þe lond, and þe vnclenneſſis of hem han fulfild it al in his vnclenneſſe. And now ȝoure doȝtris ȝee ſhul not ioyne to þer ſonus, and þer doȝtris ȝee ſhul not take to ȝoure ſonus; and ȝee ſhul not ſeche to han pes wiþ hem alle time, þat comende aboue ȝee ete þe beſte þingus of þe lond, and þe eritage ȝee delen to ȝoure ſonus, in to þe during aboue time. And þoo þingus þat fallen to vs, alle ben do for oure ſhrewde werkis, and oure grete ſynnes. And þou haſt ȝiue to vs ſuch a roote, and eft wee ben turned aȝeen to ouer paſſe þi laweful þingis, þat þe vnclenneſſis of þe heþene folc of þis lond weren mengd. Wheþer þou ſhalt not wraþen to vs, to leeſen vs, for to þe roote be forſaken, and oure ſed? Lord God of Irael, þou art ſoþfaſt; forſoþe þe roote is forſaken, vnto þe dai þat is now. Lo! now we ben in þi ſiȝte in oure wickeneſſis; forſoþe it is not ȝit to ſtonde befor þee in þeſe þingus. And whan honourende Eſdras knoulechede, wepende, falle doun to þe erþe befor þe temple, ben gedered beforn hym of Jeruſalem a ful gret cumpanye, men, and wemmen, and ȝunge men, and ȝunge wymmen; forſoþe þe weping was gret in þat multitude. And whan Jechonias, þe ſone of Jeeli, of þe ſonus of Irael, hadde cried, Eſdras ſeide, Wee han ſynned aȝen þe Lord, þat wee han ſett wiþ vs in to matrimoyne heþene wymmen, of þe Jentilis of þe lond. And now who ſo euere is ouer al Irael in þeſe þingus, be þer to vs an oþ of þe Lord, to putten awei alle oure wiues, þat of þe heþene ben, wiþ þer ſonus; as to þee is demed of þe more, aftir þe lawe of þe Lord. Riſende vp, ſheu out; to þee forſoþe abideþ þis nede, and wee ben wiþ þee; do manli. And riſende vp Eſdras, he made þe princis off preſtis, and þe Leuitus, and al Irael, to ſwere to don aftir þeſe alle þeſe þingis; and þei ſworen.

## Capitulum IX

And riſende vp Eſdras fro þe beforn porche of þe temple, wente in to þe celle of Jonaþe, ſone of Nazabi. And herberewid þere, he taſtede no bred, ne water dranc, vp on þe wickedneſſes of þe multitude. And þer is maad a preching in al Jude and in Jeruſalem, to alle þat weren of þe caitifte gedered in Jeruſalem, Whoſoeuere aȝeen comeþ not to þe ſecunde or þe þridde dai, aftir þe dom of þe eldere men ſittende, his facultees ſhul ben taken awei, and he alien demed fro þe multitude of caitifte. And alle ben gedered togidere, þat weren of þe linage of Juda and of Beniamyn, þre daȝes in Jeruſalem; þis is þe nynþe moneþ, þe twentiþe dai of þe monyþ. And al þe multitude ſat in þe flor of þe temple, tremblende for þe preſent winter. Eſdras riſende vp, ſeide to Irael, Ȝee wickedeli diden, ſettende ȝou in to matrimoine heþene wiues, þat ȝee adde to þe ſynnes of Irael. And now ȝiueþ ſhrifte, and gret doing to þe Lord God of oure fadris; and parformeþ his wil, and goþ awei fro þe heþene folc of þe lond, and fro heþene wiues. And al þe multitude criede, and ſeiden wiþ a gret vois, As þou haſt ſeid, wee ſhul do. But for þe multitude is gret, and þe time winter, and wee moun not vnholpen ſtonde, and þis werc is not to vs of o dai, ne of two; myche in þeſe þingus wee han ſynned; ſtonde þe prouoſtus of þe multitude, and alle þat wiþ vs dwellen, and hou fele euere han anent þem heþene wiues; and ſtonde þei neȝ in þe accept time of alle place, preſtis, and domes men, for to þei loſne þe wraþe of þe Lord, of þis nede. Jonaþas forſoþe, þe ſone of Ezeli, and Ozias, Theþan, token aftir þeſe þingus, and Boſoramus, and Leuys, and Saþeus togidere wroȝten wiþ hem. And þer ſtoden aftir alle þeſe þingus, alle þat weren of þe caitifte. And Eſdras, preſt, ches to hym men, grete princis, of þe fadris of hem, after þe names; and þei ſeten togidere, in þe newe mone of þe tenþe moneþ, to examyne þis nede. And it is determyned of þe men, þat hadden heþene wiues, vnto þe newe mones of þe firſte moneþ. And þere ben founden mengd among of þe preſtis, þat hadden heþene wiues; of þe ſonus of Jeſu, þe ſonus of Joſedech, and of his breþern, Maſeas, and Eleeſerus, and Joribus, and Joadeus. And þei leiden hondis, þat þei ſhulden putten awei þer wiues, and to ſacrifien, in to preieere for þer ignoraunce. And of þe ſonus of Semmery, Maſſeas, and Eſſes, and Geleþ, Azarias; and of þe ſones of Foſore, Leomaſias, Hiſmaeius, and Naþanias, Juſſio, Leddus, and Talſas. And of þe Leuitus, Joſabdus, and Semeis, and Cholitus, and Calitas, and Facceas, and Coluas, and Elionas. And of þe ſacrid ſyngeres, Eliazub, Zaccurus. And of þe vſſheris, Salumus, and Tholbanes. And of Irael, of þe ſonus of Forchoſi, and Remias, and Jeddias, and Melchias, and Michelus, and Eliaſarus, and Jemebias, and Bannas. And of þe ſonis of Jolamani, Anias, and Zacharias, Jerſelus, and Jobdius, and Erimoþ, and Elias. And of þe ſonus of Sachon, Eliadas, and Eliaſumus, and Oþias, and Jarimoþ and Zabdis, and Thebedias. And of þe ſones of Bede, Johannes, and Amanyas, and Zabdias, and Emetis. And of þe ſonis of Baum, Olamus, and Mallucus, and Jeddeus, and Jaſub, and Azabus, and Jerimoþ. And of þe ſonis of Addin, Naþus and Mooſias, and Caalemus, and Raanas, and Baſeas, Maþatias, and Beþſel, and Bonnus, and Manaſſes. And of þe ſonus of Miaie, Nenyas, and Afeas, and Melcheas, and Sameas, and Simon, Beniamyn, and Malchus, and Marias. Of þe ſonus of Azom, Cartaneus, Maþatias, and Bannus, and Elifalaþ, and Manaſſes, and Semeþ. And of þe ſonus of Banny, Jeremias, and Modias, and Abramus, and Johel, and Baneas, and Pelias, and Jonas, and Marymoþ, and Eliazub, and Maþaneus, and Eleaſis, and Oriſas, and Dielus, and Samedius, and Zambris, and Joſefus. And of þe ſonus of Nobei, Idelus, and Maþatias, and Zabadus, and Ceþeda, Seduni, and Jeſſei, Baneas. Alle þeſe ioineden to hem heþene wiues, and laften hem, wiþ þe ſones. And preſtis, and Leuitus, and þat weren of Irael, dwelten in Jeruſalem in oon hol regioun, þe newe mone of þe ſeuenþe moneþ; and þe ſonus of Irael weren in þer abidingus. And al þe multitude is gedered togidere in to þe flor, þat is fro þe eſt of þe ſacrid ȝate. And þei ſeiden to Eſdre, biſſhop and redere, þat he ſhulde bringe forþ þe lawe of Moiſes, þat is ȝiuen of þe Lord God of Irael. And Eſdras, biſſhop, broȝte forþ þe lawe to al þe multitude of hem, fro man vnto womman, and to alle þe preſtus, to heren þe lawe, in þe newe mone of þe ſeuenþe moneþ. And he radde in þe flor, þat is befor þe holi ȝate of þe temple, fro þe firſte liȝt vnto euen, befor men and wymmen; and alle þei ȝeuen wit to þe lawe. And Eſdras, preſt, and redere of þe lawe, ſtod vp on þe treene chaȝer, þat was forgid. And þere ſtoden to hym Maþatias, and Samus, and Ananyas, Azarias, Vrias, Ezechias, and Balſamus, at þe riȝt; and at þe lift, Faldeus, and Miſael, Malachias, Abuſtas, Sabus, Nabadias, and Zacharias. And Eſdras toc a boc beforn al þe multitude; forſoþe he ſat beforn in glorie, in þe ſiȝte of alle. And whan he hadde aſoilid þe lawe, alle ſtoden vp riȝt. And Eſdras bleſſide þe Lord God, al þer heiȝeſt God of Sabaoþ, al myȝti. And al þe puple anſwerde, Amen. And eft, þe hondis rerid vp, þei, fallende doun in to þe erþe, honoureden þe Lord. And Eſdras comaundede, þat þer ſhulden teche þe lawe, Jeſus, and Banaeus, and Sarabias, and Jadinus, and Accubus, and Sabaþeus, and Caliþes, and Azarias, and Joradus, and Ananias, and Filas, Leuite. Þe whiche taȝten þe lawe of þe Lord, and in þe multitude radden þe lawe of þe Lord; and eche putten beforn hem, þat vndirſtoden þe leſſoun. And Aþaraþes ſeide to Eſdre, þe biſſhop and redere, and to þe Leuitus þat taȝten þe multitude, ſeiende, Þis dai is holi to þe Lord. And alle wepten, whan þei hadden herd þe lawe. And Eſdras ſeide, Ȝee þanne, gon atwynne, eteþ alle moſt fatte þingys, and drinkeþ alle moſt ſweete, and ſendeþ ȝiftus to hem þat han not; forſoþe holi is þis dai of þe Lord; and wileþ not ben ſori, þe Lord forſoþe ſhal clarifien vs. And þe Leuitus denounceden in opene to alle men, ſeiende, Þis dai is holi; wileþ not ben ſori. And alle wenten awei, to eten, and to drinken, and to han plente of mete, and to ȝiue ȝiftus to hem þat han not, þat þei plenteuouſli eten. Gret doingli forſoþe þei ben enhauncid in þe woordis, wiþ þe whiche þei ben taȝt. And alle þei ben gedered in to Jeruſalem, to make ſolempne þe gladneſſe, after þe teſtament of þe Lord God of Irael.
Here endiþ þe þridde book of Eſdre, and now begynneþ þe prolog of þe book of Tobie.