the river called Theras; and there we pitched our tents three days, and 42 I surveyed them. But when I had

found there none of the priests and 43 Levites, then sent I unto Eleazar, and 44 Iduel, and 2 Maasmas, and Elnathan,

and Samaias, and 5 Joribus, Nathan, Ennatan, Zacharias, and Mosollamus, principal men and men of under45 standing. And I bade them that they

should go unto 6 Loddeus the captain, who was in the place of the trea46 sury and commanded them that they should speak unto Loddeus, and to his brethren, and to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests' office in 47 the house of our Lord. And by the

mighty hand of our Lord they brought unto us men of understanding of the sons of Mooli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, 10 Asebebias, and his sons, and his brethren, who were eighteen, 48 and 11 Asebias, and Annuus, and Osa

ias his brother, of the sons of Chanuneus, and their sons were twenty 49 men; and of the temple-servants whom

David and the principal men had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple-servants, the catalogue of all their names 50 was shewed. 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 adversa52 ries. For we had said unto the king, that the power of our Lord would be with them that seek him, to support 53 them in all ways. And again we besought our Lord as touching these things, and found him favourable 54 unto us. Then I separated twelve

men of the chiefs of the priests, 12 Eserebias, and Assamias, and ten men 55 of their brethren with them: and I weighed them the silver, and the gold, and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, which the king, and his counsellors, and the nobles, and all 56 Israel, had given. And when I had weighed it, I delivered unto them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels of a hundred talents, 57 and a hundred talents of gold, and twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, 58 glittering like gold. And I said unto them, Both ye are holy unto the Lord,

13 and the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver are a vow unto the Lord, the Lord of our fathers. 59 Watch ye, and keep them till ye 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 60 Lord. 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 from assault by the way, from every enemy, and so we 62 came to Jerusalem. 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 unto 14 Marmoth the priest the 63 son of 15 Urias. And with him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were Josabdus the son of Jesus and 16 Moeth the son of Sabannus, the Levites all was delivered them by 64 number and weight. And all the weight of them was written up the 65 same hour. Moreover they that were come out of the captivity offered sacrifices unto 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 67 them a sacrifice to the Lord. And they delivered the king's commandments unto the king's stewards, and to the governors of Colesyria and Phoenicia; and they honoured the people and the temple of the Lord. 68 Now when these things were done,

the principal men came unto me, and 69 said, The nation of Israel, and the princes, and the priests and the Levites, have not put away from them the strange people of the land, 17 nor the uncleannesses of the Gentiles, to wit, of the Canaanites, Hittites, Pherezites, Jebusites, and the Moabites, 70 Egyptians, and Edomites. 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 71 been partakers of this iniquity. And as soon as I had heard these things, I rent my clothes, and my holy garment, and plucked the hair from off my head and beard, and sat me down 72 sad and full of heaviness. So all they that were moved at the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, assembled unto me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heavi

73 ness until the evening sacrifice. Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and my holy garment rent, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my 74 hands unto the Lord, I said, O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded before 75 thy face; for our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our errors have 76 reached up unto heaven, ever since the time of our fathers; and we are in 77 great sin, even unto this day. And for our sins and our fathers' we with our brethren and our kings and our priests were given up unto the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, unto this 78 day. And now in some measure hath mercy been shewed unto us from thee, O Lord, that there should be left us a root and a name in the place of thy 79 sanctuary; and to discover unto us a light in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food in the time of our 80 servitude. Yea, 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 81 us food, and glorified the temple of our

Lord, and raised up the desolate Sion, to give us a sure abiding in Jewry and 82 Jerusalem. And now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we have transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying, 83 That the land which ye enter into to possess as a heritage, is a land polluted with the pollutions of the strangers of the land, and they have filled 84 it with their uncleanness. Therefore now shall ye not join your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take 85 their daughters unto your sons.

Nei

ther shall ye seek to have peace with them for ever, that ye may be strong, and eat the good things of the land, and that ye may leave it for an inheritance unto your children for evermore. 86 And all that is befallen is done unto us for our wicked works and great sins: for thou, O Lord, didst make our sins 87 light, and didst give unto us such a root: but we have turned back again to transgress thy law, in mingling ourselves with the uncleanness of 88 the heathen of the land. Thou wast

not angry with us to destroy us, till thou hadst left us neither root, seed, 89 nor name. O Lord of Israel, thou art

true for we are left a root this day. 90 Behold, now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer before thee by reason of these things.

91 2 And as Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping, and lying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered unto him from Jerusalem a very great throng of men and women and children: for there was

Deut.

13.

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 93 land, and now is all Israel aloft. Let 3 Or, us make an oath unto the Lord herein, exalted that we will put away all our wives, xxviii. which we have taken of the strangers, 94 with their children, like as seemeth good unto thee, and to as many as do 95 obey the law of the Lord. Arise, and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter appertain, and we will be with 96 thee to do valiantly. So Esdras arose, and took an oath of the chief of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do after these things; and so they sware. 9 Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of x. 6, &c. 2 Jonas the son of Eliasib, and lodged there, and did eat no bread nor drink water, mourning for the great iniqui3 ties of the multitude. And there was made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be 4 gathered together at Jerusalem: and that whosoever 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 6 the month. And all the multitude sat together trembling in the broad place before the temple because of the pre7 sent foul weather. So Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the law and married strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of 8 Israel. And now make confession and give glory unto the Lord, the God of 9 our fathers, 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 thou 11 hast spoken, so will we do. But forasmuch as the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in 12 these things is spread far: therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the 13 time appointed, and with them the

rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord 14 from us for this matter. Then Jonathan the son of Azael and 5 Ezekias the son of Thocanus accordingly took the matter upon them: and Mosolla

4 Ezra

5 An

other reading is, Ezias.

mus and Levis and Sabbateus were 15 assessors to them. And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.

16 And Esdras the priest chose unto him principal men of their families, all by name: and on the new moon of the tenth month they were shut in 17 together to examine the matter. So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end by the new 18 moon of the first month. And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found; 19 of the sons of Jesus the son of Jose

dek, and his brethren; 1 Mathelas, and Eleazar, and 2 Joribus, and 3 Jo20 adanus. And they gave their hands

to put away their wives, and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their 21 error. And of the sons of Emmer;

Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Manes, and 1Sameus, and 5 Hiereel, and "Aza22 rias. And of the sons of 7 Phaisur;

Elionas, Massias, Ismael, and Nathan23 ael, and Ocidelus, and 9 Saloas. And

of the Levites; Jozabdus, and Semeis, and 10 Colius, who was called 11 Calitas, and 12 Patheus, and Judas, and 24 Jonas. Of the holy singers; 13 Eliasi25 bus, Bacchurus. Of the porters; Sal26 lumus, and 14 Tolbanes. Of Israel, of

the sons of 15 Phoros; 16 Hiermas, and 17 Ieddias, and Melchias, and 18 Maelus, and Eleazar, and 19 Asibias, and 27 Banneas. Of the sons of Ela; Mat

thanias, Zacharias, and 5 Jezrielus, and Oabdius, and Hieremoth, and 28 20 Aedias. And of the sons of 21 Za

moth; 22 Eliadas, 13 Eliasimus, 23 Othonias, Jarimoth, and 24 Sabathus, and 29 25 Zardeus. Of the sons of Bebai; Joannes, and Ananias, and 26 Jozabdus, 30 and 27 Ematheis. Of the sons of 28 Mani; 29 Olamus, 30 Mamuchus, 1 Jedeus, Jasubus, and 32 Jasaelus, and 31 Hieremoth. And of the sons of Addi;

21

Naathus, and Moossias, Laccunus, and Naidus, and Matthanias, and Ses32 thel, Balnuus, and Manasseas. And of the sons of Annas; Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, 33 and Simon Chosameus. And of the sons of Asom; 33 Maltanneus, and 34 Mattathias, and 24 Sabanneus, 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 Mamnitanemus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Someis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of Ezora; Sesis, Ezril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zam35 bri, Josephus. And of the sons of

Nooma; Mazitias, Zabadeas, Edos, 36 Juel, Banaias. All these had taken strange wives, and they put them 37 away with their children. And the

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

35 Neh.

38 35 And the whole multitude were gathered together with one accord into viii. 1. the broad place before the porch of 39 the temple toward the east: and they

said unto 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 unto the whole multitude both of men and women, and to all the priests, to hear the law on the new moon of 41 the seventh month. And he read in the broad place before the porch of the temple from morning unto midday, before both men and women; and 36 all the multitude gave heed unto 42 the law. And Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon the pulpit of wood, which was made for 43 that purpose. And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, 37 Ezekias, 1 Baalsa- 37 Hil44 mus, upon the right hand: and upon his left hand, 8 Phaldeus, Misael, Melchias, 39 Lothasubus, Nabarias, Zacha45 rias. Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude, and sat honourably in the first place before 46 all. And when he opened the law,

98

they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God Most High, the 47 God of hosts, Almighty. And all the

36 Another reading is, they gave all

heed.

kiah. 38 Pedaiah, 39 Ha

shum.

diah.

people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, 48 and worshipped the Lord. Also Jesus, Annus, Sarabias, Iadinus, Jacubus, Sabateus, 40 Auteas, Maiannas, 40 Hoand Calitas, Azarias, and Jozabdus, and Ananias, Phalias, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, 41 and read to the multitude the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it. 49 Then said Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, 50 even to all, This day is holy unto the

Lord; (now they all wept when they 51 heard the law :) go then, and eat the

fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing; 52 for the day is holy unto the Lord: and

be not sorrowful; for the Lord will 53 bring you to honour. So the Levites

published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy; be not sor54 rowful. Then went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give portions to them that had nothing, and to make great 55 cheer; because they 42 understood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.

41 Some authorities omit and read... Lord.

42 Or, were by

inspired

having heard of me yet believe me; they to whom I have shewed no signs shall do that which I have command36 ed. They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their former estate to 37 remembrance. I take to witness the grace of the people that shall come, whose little ones rejoice with gladness and though they see me not with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they shall believe the thing that I say. 38 And now, O father, behold with glory; and see the people that come 39 from the east: unto whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, 40 Joel, Abdias, and Jonas, Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggæus, Zachary, and Malachy, which is called also the angel of the Lord.

2 Thus saith the Lord, I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by my servants the prophets; whom they would not hear, but set my counsels at 2 nought. The mother that bare them saith unto them, Go your way, O my children; for I am a widow and for3 saken. I brought you up with gladness, and with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for ye have sinned before the Lord God, and done that 4 which is evil before me. But what shall I now do unto you? for I am a widow and forsaken: go your way, O my children, and ask mercy of the 5 Lord. As for me, O father, I call upon thee for a witness over the mother of these children, because they would not 6 keep my covenant, that thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that there may be no offspring 7 of them. Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be blotted out of the earth: for they have despised my 1 covenant. 8 Woe unto thee, Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous with thee! thou wicked nation, remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrah; 9 whose land lieth in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also will I do unto them that have not hearkened

1

unto me, saith the Lord Almighty. 10 Thus saith the Lord unto Esdras,

Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I 11 would have given unto Israel. Their

glory also will I take unto me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles, 12 which I had prepared for them. They

shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall 13 neither labour, nor be weary. 2 Ask, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom is already 14 prepared for you: watch. Take hea

ven and earth to witness, take them to witness; for I have given up the

evil, and created the good: for I live, saith the Lord.

15 Mother, embrace thy children; I will bring them out with gladness like a dove; stablish their feet; for I have 16 chosen thee, saith the Lord. And those that be dead will I raise up again from their places, and bring them out of the tombs: for I have

3 Or,

17 known my name in them. Fear not, recognise thou mother of the children: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord. 18 For thy help will I send my servants

Esaias and Jeremy, after whose counsel I have sanctified and prepared for thee twelve trees laden with divers 19 fruits, and as many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will 20 fill thy children with joy. Do right to the widow, judge the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe 21 the naked, heal the broken and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn, defend the maimed, and let the blind man come unto the sight of my glory. 22 Keep the old and young within thy 23 walls. Wheresoever thou findest the dead, set a sign upon them and commit them to the grave, and I will give thee the first place in my resur24 rection. Abide still, O my people, and take thy rest, for thy quietness shall 25 come. Nourish thy children, O thou

good nurse, and stablish their feet. 26 As for the servants whom I have given

thee, there shall not one of them perish; for I will require them from 27 among thy number. Be not careful overmuch for when the day of tribulation and anguish cometh, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry and have abundance. 28 The nations shall envy thee, but they

shall be able to do nothing against 29 thee, saith the Lord. My hands shall

cover thee, so that thy children see 30 not hell. Be joyful, O thou mother,

with thy children; for I will deliver 31 thee, saith the Lord. Remember thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the secret places of the earth, and shew mercy unto them: for I am merciful, saith the Lord Al32 mighty. Embrace thy children until I come, and proclaim mercy unto them for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.

33 I Esdras received a charge from the

Lord upon the mount Horeb, that I should go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they would none of me, and rejected the commandment 34 of the Lord. And therefore I say unto you, O ye nations, that hear and understand, look for your shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in 35 the end of the world. Be ready to

4 Lat.

Gehenna,