In the firste ȝer of Ciri, king of Persis, that the woord of the Lord of the mouth of Jeremye were fulfild, the Lord rerede the spirit of Ciri, king of Persis, and ladde ouer the vois in al his rewme also bi scripture, seiende, These thingus seith Cirus, king of Persis, Alle the reumes of the erthe the Lord God of heuene and of erthe hath ȝiue to me, and he comaundede to me, that I shulde bilde to hym an hous in Jerusalem, that is in Jude. Who is in ȝou of al the puple of hym? be the God of hym with hym; steȝe he vp in to Jerusalem, that is in Jude, and bilde he vp an hous of the Lord God of Irael; he is God, that is in Jerusalem. And alle the othere in alle placis, wher euere thei dwellen, helpe thei hym; the men of his place, with siluer, and gold, and substaunce, and bestis, out take that wilfulli thei offre to the temple of God, that is in Jerusalem. And the princis of the fadris of Juda and of Beniamyn, and prestis, and Leuitus, eche whos spirit God rerede, risen, that thei steȝen vp to bilden the temple of the Lord, that was in Jerusalem. And alle that weren in the enuyroun helpiden the hondis of hem, in siluerene, and goldene vesselis, in substaunce, in necessarie thing, in bestis, out take thoo thingus that thei hadden offrid wilfully. Forsothe king Cirus broȝte forth the vesselis of the temple of the Lord, the whiche Nabugodonosor hadde taken fro Jerusalem, and hadde put hem in the temple of his god. Forsothe Cirus, king of Persis, broȝte them forth bi the hond of Mitridatis, sone of Gazabar; and he noumbride hem to Zazabazar, prince of Jude. And this is the noumbre of hem; goldene violis, thretti; siluerenn violis, a thousend; knyues, nyne and twenti; goldenn cuppis, thretti; siluerenn cuppis, two thousend foure hundrid and ten; othere vesselis, a thousend; alle the vesselis, goldene and siluerene, fiue thousend and foure hundrid. Alle Zazebazar toc, with hem that steȝeden vp fro the transmygracioun of Babiloyne, in to Jerusalem.
These forsothe ben the men, sonus of the prouynce, that steȝeden vp fro the caitifte, that Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloyne, hadde taken ouer in to Babiloine; and thei ben turned aȝeen in to Jerusalem and Jude, eche in to his cite, the whiche camen with Zorobabel; Jesua, Neemya, Saraia, Rahelaia, Mordochaa, Belsan, Mesfar, Begnai, Reum, Baana. The noumbre of the men of the puple of Irael; sones of Fares, two thousend an hundrid and two and seuenti; the sonus of Arethi, seuene hundrid fiue and seuenti; the sonus of Sefesia, thre hundrid and two and seuenti; the sonus of Aria, seuene hundrid and fiue and seuenti; the sonus of Fee and of Moab, sones of Josue and of Joab, two thousend nyne hundrid and twelue; the sones of Elam, a thousend two hundrid and foure and fifti; the sonus of Sechua, nyne hundrid and fiue and fourty; the sonis of Zaahai, seuene hundrid and sixti; the sonus of Baany, sixe hundrid and two and fourti; sonus of Bebai, sixe hundrid and thre and twenti; sonus of Asgad, a thousend two hundrid and two and twenti; sonus of Adonycam, sixe hundrid and sixe and sixti; sonus of Beguai, two thousend and sixe and fifti; sonus of Adin, foure hundrid and foure and fifti; sonys of Aser, that weren of Ezechie, nynti and eiȝte; sonus of Besai, thre hundrid and thre and twenti; sonus of Jora, an hundrid and twelue; sonus of Ason, two hundrid and thre and twenti; sonus of Jebar, nynti and fiue; sonus of Bethlem, an hundrid and thre and twenti; the men of Necofa, sixe and fifti; the men of Anatot, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; sonus of Asmoneth, two and fourti; sonus of Cariathiarym, Cefiara, and Berhoc, seuene hundrid and thre and fourti; sonus of Arama and of Gaba, sixe hundrid and oon and twenti; men of Machinas, an hundrid and two and twenti; men of Bethel and of Gai, two hundrid and thre and twenti; sonus of Nebo, two and fifti; sonys of Megbis, an hundrid and sixe and fifti; the sonus of the tother Elam, a thousend two hundrid and foure and fifti; the sonus of Arym, thre hundrid and twenti; the sonus of Ladadin and of Ono, seuen hundrid and fiue and twenti; sonus of Jericho, thre hundrid and fiue and fourti; sonus of Sanaa, thre thousend sixe hundrid and thretti; prestus, sonus of Idaia, in the hous of Jesue, nyne hundrid seuenti and thre; sonus of Emmeor, a thousend and two and fifti; sonus of Fesur, a thousend two hundrid and seuene and fourti; sonus of Arym, a thousend and seuentene; Leuitus, the sonus of Jesue and of Cedinyel, sonus of Odonia, seuenti and foure; chauntoures, sonus of Asaf, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; the sonus of the porteris, sones of Sellum, the sonus of Ather, sonus of Thelmon, the sonus of Accub, the sonus of Aritha, the sonus of Sobar, the sonus of Sobai, alle, an hundrid and eiȝte and thretti; sodeknys, sonus of Ozai, the sonus of Azufa, the sonus of Thebaoth, the sonus of Ceros, the sonus of Cisaa, the sonus of Fadon, the sonus of Jebona, the sonus of Agoba, the sonus of Accub, the sonus of Accab, the sonus of Selmai, the sonus of Annan, the sonus of Gaddei, the sonus of Gaer, the sonus of Rahaia, the sonus of Jasin, the sonus of Nethoda, the sonus of Gasem, the sonus of Asa, the sonus of Fasea, the sonus of Besee, the sonus of Asennaa, the sonus of Numyn, the sonus of Nechusym, the sonus of Bechue, the sonus of Accufa, the sonus of Assur, the sonus of Besuth, the sonus of Maida, the sonus of Arsa, the sonus of Berchos, the sonus of Cizara, the sonus of Thema, the sonus of Nazia, the sonus of Acufa, the sonus of the seruauns of Salamon, the sonus of Sothelthei, the sonus of Sofereth, the sonus of Feruda, the sonus of Jala, the sonus of Derchon, the sonus of Jedel, the sonus of Safatha, the sonus of Athil, the sonus of Fesorethei, that weren of Azebam, the sonus of Ammy; alle the sodeknys, and the sonus of the seruauns of Salamon, thre hundrid and nynti and two. And these that steȝeden vp fro Thelmela, and Thelersa, Cherub, and Don, and Mer, and thei myȝten not shewe the hous of ther faders and ther sed, whether of Irael thei weren; the sonus of Delaia, the sonus of Tobia, the sonus of Nechoda, sixe hundrid and two and fifti; and of the sonus of prestus, the sonus of Obia, the sonus of Accos, the sonus of Bersellai, that toc a wif of the doȝtris of Bersellai Galaditis, and he is clepid bi the name of hem; these soȝten the scripture of ther genelogie, and founden not, and thei ben cast awei fro presthod. And Athersatha seide to them, that thei shulde not eten of the holi of halewis, to the time that ther shulde risen a taȝt prest and perfit. Al the multitude as o man, two and fourti thousend thre hundrid and sixti, out take the seruauntis of hem and hand maidenes, that weren seuen thousend thre hundrid seuene and thretti; and in hem singeres and singeressis, two hundrid. The hors of hem, sixe hundrid and sixe and thretti; the mulis of hem, foure hundrid and fiue and fourti; the camailis of hem, foure hundrid and fiue and thretti; the assis of hem, sixe thousend seuene hundrid and twenti. And of the princis of the fadris, whan thei shulden gon in to the temple of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem, wilfulli thei offriden in to the hous of God, to it to be maad out in his place; after ther strengthis thei ȝeuen the costis of the werk, of gold, shillingis fourti thousend and a thousend; of siluer, besauntus fiue thousent; and prestus clothis an hundrid. Thanne dwelten the prestus and the Leuitus of the puple, and the singeres, and porteris, and sodeknys in ther cites, and al Israel in their cytees.
And now was comen the seuenthe monyth, and the sonus of Irael weren in ther cites. Thanne is gedered the puple as oon in to Jerusalem. And ther ros Josue, the sone of Josedech, and the brethern of hym, prestus, and Sorobabel, the sone of Salatiel, and the brethern of hym, and thei bilden vp an auter of God of Irael, that thei offre in it brent sacrifises, as it is writen in the lawe off Moises, man of God. Forsothe thei setten an auter vpon his feet, the puplis of londis ferende hem by enuyroun, and thei offriden vpon it brent sacrifise to the Lord erli and at euen. And thei maden the solempnete of tabernaclis, as it is writen, and brent sacrifise alle daȝes bi order, after the comaundid werc of the dai in his dai; and after this, contynuel brent sacrifise, bothe in calendis and in alle solempnetes of the Lord that weren halewid, and in alle thingis in the whiche ȝifte was freli offrid to God. The firste dai of the seuenthe monyth thei begunne to offre brent sacrifise to the Lord; forsothe the temple of God was not ȝit founded. And thei ȝeue money to heweris of stonus, and to leieris, and mete, and drink, and oile, to Sidones and Tires, that thei shulde bringen ceder trees fro Liban to the se of Joppen, after that Cirus, the king of Persis, had comaundid to them. The secunde forsothe ȝer of the comyng of hem to the temple of God in to Jerusalem, the secunde monyth, begunne Sorababel, the sone of Salatiel, and Josue, the sone of Josedech, and othere of the brethern of hem, prestus and Leuitus, and alle that weren comen fro the caitifte in to Jerusalem; and thei ordeineden Leuitus, fro twenti ȝer and aboue, that thei shulden heeȝen the werk of the Lord; and Josue stod, and his sonus and his brethern, Cediniel and his sonus, and the sonus of Juda, as o man, that thei shulden stonden in vpon hem that diden werk in the temple of God; the sones of Benadab, sonus of hem and brethern of hem, Leuitus. Thanne groundid of the masonus the temple of the Lord, prestus stoden in ther arai with trumpis, and Leuitus, sonus of Asaf, in cimbalis, that thei preise God bi the hond of Dauid, king of Irael. And thei sungen togidere in ympnes and knouleching to the Lord, For he is good, for in to withoute ende the merci of hym vpon Irael. Also al the puple criede out with a gret cry, in preisinge the Lord, for thi that the temple of the Lord was founded. Manie also of the prestis, and Leuitus, and the princis of fadris, and the eldere, that hadden seen the rathere temple, whan it was foundid, and this temple in the eȝen of hem, wepten with a gret vois, and manye criende out in gladnesse rereden vp a vois; ne any man myȝte knowen the vois of the cri of men gladende, and the vois of the weping of the puple; forsothe mengingli togidere the puple criede out with a gret cri, and the vois was herd aferr.
Forsothe the enemys of Jude and of Beniamyn herden, for thee sonus of caitifte shulden bilden vp the temple to the Lord God of Irael; and, neȝhende to Sorobabel, and to the princis of fadris, seiden to hem, Bilde wee vp with ȝou, for so as ȝee, wee sechen ȝour God; lo! wee offren slain sacrifises fro the daȝes of Assoroddon, king of Assur, that broȝte vs hider. And Sorobabel seide to them, and Josue, and the tothere princis of the fadris of Irael, It is not to vs and to ȝou, that wee bilde vp an hous to oure God; but wee vsself alone shul bilden vp to the Lord oure God, as to vs Cirus, king of Persis, comaundede. It is do forsothe, that the puple of the lond shulde lette the hondis of the puple of Jude, and disturben them in bilding. Forsothe thei hadden hirid aȝen hem counseileris, that thei shulden destroȝe the conseil of hem, alle the daȝes of Ciri, king of Persis, and vnto the regne of Daryi, king of Persis, two ȝeer thei ben lettid. In the regne forsothe of Assueri, he is Artaxerses, in the begynning of his regne, thei writen accusacioun aȝen the dwelleris of Jude and of Jerusalem; and in the daȝis of Artaxerses, Besellam Mitridates wrot, and Thabel, and the tothere that weren in the counseil of hem, to Artaxerses, king of Persis. Forsothe the epistil of accusacioun is writen Cire maner, and it was rad in Cire speche. Reum, Bethlem, and Sansai, scribe, writen oon epistil fro Jerusalem to Artaxerse the king on this maner; Reum, Bethlem, and Sansai, scribe, and the tothere counseilourys of hem, Dinaei, Farsarei, Therfalei, Arfasei, Arthuei, Babiloynys, Susannathaneis, Daceis, Elamytis, and the tothere of the Jentilis, whom translatide the grete and glorious Assennafar, and made them to dwellen in the cites of Samarie, and in othere regiouns beȝunde the flod, in pes. This is the saumpler of the epistil, that thei senten to hym. To Artaxersi, king, thi seruauns, men that ben beȝunde the flod, greting sein. Be it knowen to the king, for Jewis that steȝeden vp fro thee to vs, camen in to Jerusalem, cite rebel and werst, the whiche thei bilden vp, makende vp the stonene wallis of it, and makende wowisy. Now thanne be it knowe to the king, for if that cite were bild vp, and the wallis of it enstorid, tribute, and pedage, and ȝeris rentus thei shul not ȝiue, and vnto the king this blame shal come. Wee thanne mynde hauende of the salt, that in the paleis wee eeten, and for the harmys of the king to seen vnleeful wee holden, therfore wee han sent and told to the king; that thou enserche in the bokis of the stories of thi fadris, and thou shalt finde write in armaries, and knowen, for that cite is a rebel cite, and noȝende to kingus and to prouincis, and batailis ben sterid vp in it of old daȝes; for what thing and that cite is destroȝid. Wee tellen to the king, for if that cite were bild vp, and his wallis enstorid, thou shalt not han possessioun beȝunde the flod. The king sente woord to Reum, Bethlem, and to Sansay, scribe, and to the tothere that weren in the counseil of hem, dwelleris of Samarie, and to the tothere beȝunde the flod, Greetinge, seiende, and pes. The acusacioun, that ȝee senten to vs, openli is rad befor me; and of me it is comaundid, and thei ensercheden, and founden, for that cite of olde daȝes aȝen kingus rebellith, and descenciouns and batailis ben rerid vp in it; for and most stronge kingis weren in Jerusalem, the whiche and lordshipeden to al the regioun that is beȝunde the flod; tribute also, and pedage, and rentis, thei token. Now thanne hereth the sentence, that ȝee forfende thoo men, and that cite be not bild vp, to the time if perauenture of me it were comaundid. Seeth, lest necgligentli this be fulfild, and litilmelum growe euel aȝen kingys. And so the saumple of the maundement of Artaxerses, king, is rad befor Reum, Bethlem, and Sansai, scribe, and the counseileris of hem; and thei wenten hastif in to Jerusalem to the Jewis, and thei forfendeden them in power and strengthe. Thanne is laft of the werc of the hous of God in Jerusalem, and it was not maad vnto the secunde ȝer of the regne of Darii, king of Persis.
Forsothe ther profecieden Aggeus, profete, and Zacharias, profete, the sone of Addo, propheciende to the Jewis that weren in Jude and Jerusalem, in the name of God of Irael. Thanne risen Sorobabel, the sone of Salatiel, and Josue, the sone of Josedech, and thei begunnen to bilden vp the temple of God in Jerusalem; and with hem profetis, helpende hem. In that forsothe time cam to hem Thathannai, that was duk beȝunde the flod, and Starbusannai, and the counseiloures of hem; and thus thei seiden to hem, Who ȝaf to ȝou counseil, that this hous ȝee shulden bilden vp, and these wallis enstoren? To the whiche wee answerden to hem, whiche weren the namys of men, autouris of that bilding. The eȝe forsothe of the God of hem is don vpon the olde men of Jewis, and thei myȝte not forfenden hem; and it pleside that the thing were told to Darie, and thanne thei shulden don aseeth aȝen that acusing. The saumpler of the epistil, that sente Thathannai, duk of the regioun beȝunde the flod, and Starbusannai, and the counseileris of hym, Arfarsacei, that weren beȝunde the flod, to Darie, the king. The woord that thei senten to hym thus was writen; To Darie, the king, alle pes. Be it knowen to the king, wee to han go to Jude prouynce, to the hous of the grete God, that is bild vp with ston vnpolisht, and trees ben sett in the wowis, and that werc diligentli is maad up, and waxeth in the hondis of hem. Wee axeden thanne thoo olde men, and thus we seiden to them, Who ȝaf to ȝou power that this hous ȝee shulden bilden, and the wallis enstoren? But and the names of hem we han soȝt of hem, that wee telle to thee; and we han write the namus of the men that ben princis in hem. Forsothe such woord thei answerden to vs, seiende, We ben the seruauns of God of heuene and of erthe; and we bilden vp the temple that was maad out befor these ȝeris manye, and the whiche the grete king of Irael hadde bild, and maad out. Forsothe aftir that to wrathe oure fadris hadden terred the God of heuene, he toc hem in the hond of Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloyne, Caldeis; and this hous he destroȝede, and the puple of it he translatide in to Babiloine. Forsothe the firste ȝer of Ciri, king of Babiloine, Cirus, king of Babiloyne, purposide a maundement, that the hous of God shulde be maad vp. For and the vesselis of the temple of God, goldene and siluerene, that Nabugodonosor hadde take fro the temple, that was in Jerusalem, and hadde born hem awei in to the temple of Babiloyne, king Cirus broȝte forth fro the temple of Babyloyne, and ben ȝiue to Zazabazar bi name, whom and he ordeynede prince. And he seide to hym, These vesselis tac, and go, and put hem in the temple, that is in Jerusalem; and the hous of God be bild vp in his place. And so thanne thilke Zazabazar cam, and sette the groundis of the temple of God in Jerusalem; and fro that time vnto now it is bild, and ȝit is not fulfild. Now thanne if it seme to the king good, enserche he in the librarie of the king, that is in Babiloyne, whether forsothe of king Cire it be comaunded, that the hous of God shulde be bilde vp in Jerusalem; and the wil of the king vpon this thing sende he to vs.
Thanne king Darie comaunded, and thei enserchiden in the tresorie of the bokis, that weren leid vp in Babiloine. And there is founde in Egbadonys, that is a castel in Medene prouynce, o volume, and such a sentence was writen in it. The firste ȝer of Ciri king, Cirus the king demede, that the hous of God, that is in Jerusalem, shulde be bild vp in the place where thei offren ostus, and that thei putte groundis vnderberende the heiȝte of sixti cubitus, and the breede of sixti cubitus, and thre ordris of vnpolisht stonis, and so ordris of newe trees. Costis forsothe of the hous of the king shulden ben ȝiue. But and the vesselis, goldene and siluerene of the temple of God, that Nabugodonosor hadde take of the temple of Jerusalem, and broȝt hem in to Babiloine, be thei ȝolden, and born aȝeen in to the temple of Jerusalem, and in to ther place, the whiche and ben put in the temple of God. Now thanne Thathannai, duke of the regioun that is beȝunde the flod, and Scarbusannai, and ȝoure counseileris, Arfasacei, that ben beȝunde the flod, aferr goth awei fro them; and leteth to be maad that temple of God of the duke of Jewis, and of the elders of hem; and that hous of God bilde thei in his place. But and of me it is comaundid, that it behoueth to be maad of thoo prestus of Jewis, that the hous of God be bild vp, that is, that of the kingis cofre, that is, of tributis, that ben ȝiue of the regioun beȝunde the flod, besili costys be ȝiue to thoo men, lest be lettid the werk. That if nede were, and caluis, and lombis, and kidis in to brent sacrifise to the God of heuene; whete, salt, and win, and oile, aftir the custum of prestus that ben in Jerusalem, be ther ȝiue to them bi alle daȝis, lest ther be in any thing pleynyng. And offre thei offringus to the God of heuene; and preȝe thei for the lif of the king and of his sonus. Of me thanne is sett a decree, that eche man that this comaundement chaungith, be don awei the tree of the hous of hym, and be he rerid vp, and tobrosid in it; the hous forsothe of hym be forfetid. God forsothe, that maketh to dwellen his name there, scatere alle reumys and puple, that strecchith out ther hond, that thei withstonde and scatere that hous of God, that is in Jerusalem. I Darie haue ordeined a decre, the whiche bisili I wile to be fulfild. Therfore Thathannai, duk of the regioun beȝonde the flod, and Scarbusannay, and the conseileris of hym, after that king Darie hadde comaunded so diligentli, folewiden out. The eldere forsothe of Jewis bilden vp, and hadden prosperite, after the profecie of Aggei, the profete, and of Zacarie, sone of Addo; and thei bilden, and maden, the God of Irael comaundende, and comaundende Ciro, and Darie, and Artaxerse, kingus of Persis; and thei fulfilden this hous of God vnto the thridde dai of the monyth of Adar, that is the sixte ȝer of the regne of king Darie. Forsothe the sonus of Irael, prestus and Leuitus, and the tothere of the sonus of transmygracioun, maden the dedicacioun of the hous of God in ioȝe; and offriden, in the dedicacioun of the hous of God, caluys an hundrid, wetheris two hundrid, lambys foure hundrid, get buckis for the synne of al the puple twelue, after the noumbre of the linagis of Irael. And thei ordeyneden prestus in ther ordris, and Leuitus in ther whilis, vp on the werkis of God in Jerusalem, as it is write in the boc of Moises. Forsothe the sonus of transmygracioun maden pasch, the fourtenthe dai of the firste monyth. Forsothe the prestus and Leuitus as oon weren purified, alle clene to offren pasch to alle the sonus of transmygracioun, and to their brethern prestus, and to themself. And the sonus of Irael, that weren turned aȝeen of the transmygracioun, eeten, and alle that hadden seuered hemself fro al defouling of Jentilis of the lond to them, that thei seche the Lord God of Irael. And thei maden the solempnete of therue louys seuen daȝes in gladnesse; for the Lord hadde gladid hem, and conuertid the herte of king Assur to hem, that he helpe the hondis of hem in the werk of the hous of the Lord God of Irael.
Aftir these woordis forsothe, in the regne of Artaxerses, king of Persis, Esdras, the sone of Saraie, sone of Azarie, sone of Elchie, sone of Sellum, sone of Sadoch, sone of Achitob, sone of Amarie, sone of Azarie, sone of Maraioth, sone of Saraie, sone of Osi, sone of Bocci, sone of Abisue, sone of Finees, sone of Eleasar, sone of Aron, prest fro the begynnyng; this Esdras steȝede vp fro Babiloine, and he a swift scribe in the lawe of Moises, the whiche the Lord God of Irael ȝaf; and the king ȝaf to hym, after the goode hond of the Lord his God vpon hym, al his asking. And ther steȝeden vp of the sonus of Irael, and of the sonus of prestus, and of the sonus of Leuitus, and of the singeres, and of the porteris, and of the sodeknys, in Jerusalem the seuenthe ȝer of Artaxerses, king. And thei camen in to Jerusalem the fifte monyth; this is the seuenthe ȝer of the king. For in the firste dai of the firste monyth thei begunnen to steȝen vp fro Babiloine, and in the firste dai of the fifte monyth he cam in to Jerusalem, after the goode hond of his God vpon hym. Esdras forsothe greithede his herte, that he enserche the lawe of the Lord, and do, and teche in Irael maundement and dom. This is forsothe the saumpler of the epistil of the maundement, that king Artaxerses ȝaf to Esdre, preest, wis scribe in woordis and in maundemens of the Lord, and his cerimoines in Irael. Artaxerses, king of kingus, to Esdre, the prest, most wis scribe of the lawe of God of heuene, greting. Of me is a decre, that to whomsoeuer it plese in my rewme of the puple of Irael, and of his prestus, and of the Leuitus, to gon in to Jerusalem, go he with thee. Forsothe fro the face of the king and of the seuene counseileris of hym thou art sent, that thou visite Jude and Jerusalem in the lawe of thi God, that is in thi hond; and that thou bere siluer and gold, that the king and his counseileris wilfulli offriden to the God of Irael, whos tabernacle is in Jerusalem. And al the siluer and gold, what euere thou findist in al the prouince of Babiloine, and the puple wile offren, and of the prestus that wilfulli offriden to the hous of ther God, that is in Jerusalem, freli to taken; and bisili bie of that monei calues, wetheris, lombis, and sacrifises, and the offring of likouris of hem; and offre them vpon the auter of the temple of ȝour God, that is in Jerusalem. But and if any thing to thee, and to thi brethern plese, of the remnaunt of siluer and of gold that ȝee do, after the wil of ȝoure God doth; also the vesselis that ben ȝiue in the seruise of the hous of thi God, tac in the siȝte of God in to Jerusalem. But and othere thingus the whiche nede were in the hous of thi God, hou miche euere is nede, that thou spende, thou shalt ȝiue of the tresor of the king and of the comun bagge, and of me. I, Artaxerses, king, haue ordeined, and demed to alle the keperis of the comun cofre, that ben beȝonde the flod, that what euer aske of ȝou Esdras, prest, scribe of the lawe of God of heuene, withoute tariyng ȝiue ȝee, vnto an hundrid talentus of siluir, and vnto an hundrid batus of win, and vnto an hundrid choris of whete, and vnto an hundrid batus of oile, salt forsothe withoute mesure. Al that to the rit of God of heuene perteneth, be it ȝiue bisili in the hous of God of heuene, lest perauenture he be wroth aȝen the reume of the king and of his sonus. To ȝou also we maken knowen of alle the prestus, and Leuitus, singeres, porteris, sodeknys, and mynystris of the hous of this God, and pedage and tribute and ȝeris frutus haue ȝee no power of putting vpon hem. Thou forsothe, Esdra, after the wisdam of thi God, that is in thin hond, ordeine thou domysmen and gouernoures, that thei deme to al the puple, that is beȝonde the flod, to hem, that is, that knewen the lawe of thi God, and the lawe of the king; but and vnwise men techeth freely. And eche that doth not the lawe of thi God, and the lawe of the king bisili, dom shal ben of hym, or in to deth, or in to outlawe, or in to condempnacioun of his substaunce, or certis in to prisoun. And Esdras, scribe, seide, Blessid the Lord God of oure fadris, that ȝaf this in the herte of the king, that he shulde glorifie the hous of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem, and in me hath in bowid his merci befor the king, and his counseileris, and alle the myȝti princis of the king And I, coumfortid bi the hond of the Lord, of my God, that was in me, I gaderede of the sonus of Irael princis, that steȝeden vp with me.
These thanne ben the princis of meines, and this the genelogie of hem, that steȝeden vp with me in the reume of Artaxerses, king, fro Babiloine. Of the sonus of Finees, Jerson; of the sonus of Ithamar, Danyel; of the sonus of Dauid, Archus; of the sonus of Sechemye and of the sonus of Faros, Zacharias, and with hym ben noumbrid an hundrid and fifti men; of the sonus of Fethmoab and of Eleoenai, sone of Zacharie, and with hym two hundrid men; of the sonus of Sechemye, sone of Jesechiel, and with hym thre hundrid men; of the sonus of Addaenebeth, sone of Jonathan, and with hym fifti men; of the sonys of Elam, Isaias, the sone of Italie, and with hym seuenti men; of the sonus of Safacie, Zebedias, the sone of Mychael, and with hym eiȝteti men; of the sonus of Joab, Obedia, the sone of Jehiel, and with hym two hundrid and eiȝtetene men; of the sonus of Salomyth, the sone of Josfie, and with hym an hundrid and sixti men; of the sonus of Belbai, Zacharias, the sone of Bebai, and with hym twenti and eiȝte men; of the sonus of Esiad, Johannan, the sone of Esethan, and with hym an hundrid and ten men; of the sonus of Odonycham, that last weren, and these the namus of hem, Elifilech, and Heiel, and Samaias, and with hem sixti men; of the sonus of Beguy, Vthai, and Saccur, and with hem seuenti men. I gederede hem forsothe to the flod, that renneth to Hanna; and wee dwelten there thre daȝis. And I soȝte in the puple, and in the prestus of the sonus of Leuy, and I fond not there. And so I sente Elizer, and Arihel, and Semeiam, and Elnathan, and Jaubeth, and an other Elnathan, and Nathan, and Zacharie, and Mesollam, princis; and Joarib, and Elnathan, wise men; and I sente hem to Heldo, the whiche is the firste in the place off Casfee, and I putte in the mouth of hem woordis, that thei shulden speken to Eldo, and to the brethern of hym, sodeknys, in the place of Casfee, that thei shulden bringe to vs mynystris of the hous of oure God. And thei broȝten to vs, bi the goode hond of oure God vpon vs, a most wis man of the sonus of Mooli, sone of Leui, sone of Irael; and Sarabiam, and the sonus of hym, twenti, and the brethern of hym, eiȝtetene; and Azabie, and with hym, Isaie, of the sonys of Merari, the brethern of hym, and the sonys of hym, twenti; and of the sodeknys, that Dauid hadde ȝiue and princis to the seruise of Leuitys, sodeknys two hundrid and twenti; alle these bi ther namys weren clepid. And I prechide there fasting beside the flod of Hanna, that we shulden ben trauailid in penaunce befor the Lord oure God, and asken of hym a riȝt weie to vs, and to oure sonus, and to al oure substaunce. Forsothe I was ashamyd to asken the king helpe, and horse men, that myȝten defenden vs fro the enemy in the weie, for wee hadden seid to the king, The hond of oure God is vpon alle that sechen hym in goodnesse; and the empire of hym, and the strengthe of hym, and wodnesse vpon alle that forsaken hym. Wee fasteden forsothe, and preȝeden oure God for this, and it cam to vs welsumli. And I seuerede of the princis of prestis twelue, Sarabiam, Sazabiam, and with hem of the brethern of hem, ten; and I peisede to hem the siluer and gold, and the sacride vesselis of the hous of oure God, the whiche the king hadde offrid, and the counseileris of hym, and the princis of hym, and al Irael, of hem that weren founden. And I peisede in the hondis of hem of siluer talentis sixe hundrid and fifti, and siluerene vesselys an hundrid; of gold an hundrid talentus, and goldene chalicis twenti, the whiche hadden a thousend shillingus; and two faire vesselis of best shinende bras as gold. And I seide to hem, Ȝee halewis of the Lord, and the holy vesselis, and siluer and gold, that wilfulli is offrid to the Lord God of oure fadris, waketh, and kepith, to the time that ȝee peisen vp befor the princis of prestus, and of Leuitus, and dukis of meines of Irael in Jerusalem, in to the tresor of the hous of God. Forsothe the prestus and Leuitus token the peis of siluer, and of gold, and of vesselis, that thei bringe in to Jerusalem, in to the hous of ther God. Thanne we moueden forth fro the flod of Hanna, the twelfthe dai of the firste monyth, that we go in to Jerusalem; and the hond of oure God was vpon vs, and deliuerede vs fro the hond of the enemy and of the spiere in the weie. And wee camen to Jerusalem, and wee dwelten there thre daȝis. The ferthe forsothe dai peisid vp is the siluer and gold, and the vesselis, in the hous of oure God, bi the hond of Remmoth, sone of Vrie, prest; and with hym Eleazar, the sone of Fynees, and with hem Josaded, the sone of Josue, and Noadoia, the sone of Bennoi, Leuite, aftir the noumbre and weiȝte of alle thingus; and al the weiȝte is descriued in that time. But the sonus of transmygracioun, that weren come fro caitifte, offriden brent sacrifises to the Lord God of Irael, caluys twelue for al the puple of Irael, wetheris nynti and sixe, lambis seuenti and seuene, got buckis for synne twelue; alle in to brent sacrifise to the Lord. Thei ȝeuen forsothe maundemens of the king to the satrapis, that weren of the siȝte of the king, and to the dukis beȝonde the flod; and thei rereden vp a puple, and the hous of God.
Aftir forsothe that these thingis ben fulfild, neȝheden to me the princis, seiende, The puple of Irael is not seuered, and prestus, and Leuitus, fro the puplis of londis, and fro the abhomynaciouns of hem, of Cananei, that is, of Ethei, and of Feresei, and of Jebusei, and of Amonitus, and of Moabitus, and of Egipcienus, and of Amoriees. Forsothe thei token of the doȝtris of hem to hem, and to ther sonus, wiues, and thei mengden holi sed with the puplis of londis; the hond also of princis and of maistris was in this firste trespasing. And whan I hadde herd this woord, I cutte my mantil and cote, and pullide out the heris of myn hed and berd, and sat weilende. Forsothe ther camen to me alle that dradden the woord of God of Irael, for the trespasing of hem that weren come fro the caitifte; and I sat dreri vnto the euetid sacrifise. And in the euetid sacrifise I ros fro myn affliccioun, and the mantil cut and cote, I bowide my knes, and spradde out myn hondis to the Lord my God, and seide, Mi God, I am confoundid and ashamed to reren my face to thee, for oure wickenessis ben multiplied vpon oure hed, and oure giltis ben sprungen vnto heuene, fro the daȝis of oure fadris; but and wee vsself han synned greuousli vnto this dai, and in oure wickenessis we ben taken, wee, and oure kingus, and oure prestus, in the hondis of kingus of londis, and in to swerd, and in to caitifte, and in to rauein, and in to confusioun of chere, as and in this dai. And now as at litil and at a moment is don oure preȝere anent the Lord our God, that the remnauntus ben forȝiue to vs, and the pes of hym be ȝiuen in his holi place, and oure God liȝte oure eȝen, and ȝiue to vs a litil lif in oure seruise. For seruauns wee ben, and in oure seruise our God forsoc not vs; and he bowide in vpon vs mercy befor the king of Persis, that he ȝeue to vs lijf, and rere the hous of oure God, and make out the wildernessis of it, and ȝeue to vs hope in Juda and in Jerusalem. And now what shul wee sein, Lord oure God, after these thingus? For wee han forsake thin hestus, that thou hast comaundid in the hond of thi seruauns prophetis, seiende, The lond, to the whiche ȝee shul gon out, that ȝee welden it, is a lond vnclene, after the vnclenesse of puplis, and of othere londis, the whiche fulfilden it with the abhomynaciouns of hem, fro mouth vnto mouth in ther defouling. Now thanne ȝoure doȝtris ne ȝiue ȝe to the sonus of hem, and the doȝtris of hem taketh not to ȝour sonus; and seketh not pes of hem and prosperite of hem vnto euermor; that ȝee be coumfortid, and eten that ben goode thingus of the lond, and eiris ȝee haue ȝoure sonus vnto the world. And after alle thingus that camen vpon vs in oure werste werkis, and in oure grete gilte, for thou, oure God, deliueredist vs fro oure wickenesse, and ȝeue to vs helthe, as is to dai, that we be not turned, and make thin hestis in vein, ne bi matrimoyne we ben ioyned with the puplis of these abhomynaciouns. Whether thou art wroth to vs vnto the ending, lest thou leue to vs relikis and helthe? Lord God of Irael, riȝtwis thou art; for wee ben forsaken, the whiche shulden ben saaf as bi this dai, lo! befor thee we ben in oure gilte; forsothe it mai not ben stonden befor thee vpon this.
So thanne Esdre preȝende, and besechende God, and wepende, and liende befor the temple of God, ther is gedered to hym a ful myche cumpanye gret of men, and of wymmen, and childer; and the puple wepte with myche weping. And Sechenyas, the sone of Jaiel, of the sonus of Elam, answerde, and seide to Esdre, Wee han trespasid in oure God, and wee han weddid aliene wiues of the puplis of the lond. And now, for ther is penaunce in Irael vpon this, smyte wee couenaunt of pes with the Lord oure God, and throwe awei alle oure wiues, and hem that of hem ben born, after the wil of the Lord; and of hem that dreden the maundement of oure God, after the lawe be it don. Ris, thin it is to demen, and wee shul be with thee; tac coumfort, and do. Thanne Esdras ros, and adiurede the princis of prestus, and of Leuitus, and al Irael, that thei shulden do after this woord; and thei sworen. And Esdras ros befor the hous of God, and wente awei to the bed place of Johannan, sone of Eliasif, and he wente in thider; bred he eet not, and water he dranc not; forsothe he weilede the trespasing of hem, that fro the caitifte weren comen. And ther is sent a vois in Juda and Jerusalem, to alle the sonus of transmygracioun, that thei shulden be gedered in to Jerusalem; and alle that cometh not in thre daȝis, aftir the counseil of the princis and of the elders, al his substaunce shal be taken awei, and he shal be cast awei fro the cumpanye of transmygracioun. Thanne alle the men of Juda and of Beniamyn camyn togidre in Jerusalem thre daȝes; it is the nynthe monyth, in the twentithe dai of the monyth; and al the puple sat in the strete of the hous of God, tremblende for synne and reynes. And Esdras, the prest, ros, and seide to hem, Ȝee han trespasid, and wedded aliene wiues, that ȝee adden vp on the gilte of Irael. And now ȝiueth confessioun to the Lord God of oure fadris, and doth the plesaunce of hym, and beth seuered fro the puplis of the lond, and fro alien wiues. And al the multitude answerde, and seide with a gret vois, After thi woord to vs, so be it do. Nerthelatere for the puple is myche, and the time of rein, and we sustene not to stonde with oute forth, and it is not the werc of o dai, or of two; forsothe hidousli we han synned in this woord; be ther sett princis in al the multitude, and alle in oure cites, that han wedded aliene wiues, come thei in the time set, and with hem the elders, bi cite and cite, and the domesmen of it, to the time that the wrathe of oure God be turned awei fro vs vpon this synne. Thanne Jonathan, the sone of Azahel, and Jasia, the sone of Thechue, stoden vpon this; and Mosollam, and Sebethai, Leuitus, holpen hem. And so diden the sonus of transmygracoun. And Esdras, prest, and the men, princis of the meynes, wenten awei in to the housis of ther fadris, and alle bi ther namys; and thei seten in the firste dai of the tenthe monith, that thei enserche the thing. And alle the men that hadden weddid alien wiues ben endid, vn to the firste dai of the firste moneth. And ther ben founden of the sonus of prestus, that weddeden hethene wiues; of the sonus of Josue, the sones of Josedech, and the brethern of hym, Maasia, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Godolia. And thei ȝeuen ther hondis, that thei shulden casten awei ther wiues, and for ther gilte thei shulden offren a wether of the shep. And of the sonus of Semmer; Anam and Sebedia. And of the sonus of Seerim; Maazia, and Helia, and Semeia, and Jehiel, and Osias. And of the sonus of Fessur; Helioenai, Maazia, Hismael, Nathanael, and Josabeth, and Elasa. And of the sones of Leuitus; Josabeth, and Semei, and Eliaia; he is Calithafathaia; Juda, and Elieser. And of the singeris, Eliazub; and of the porteris, Sellum, and Thellem, and Vri. And of Irael, of the sonus of Faros; Remea, and Ezia, and Melchia, and Buanym, and Eliezer, and Melchia, and Banya. And of the sonus of Elam; Mathanya, and Zacharias, and Jehil, and Abdi, and Rimoth, and Helia. And of the sonus of Secua; Helieonai, Heliazub, Mathanya, and Jerymuth, and Saeth, and Aziza. And of the sonus of Bebai; Johannan, Ananya, Zabbai, Athalia. And of the sonys of Beny; Mosollam, and Melue, and Azaia, Jasub, and Saal, and Jamoth. And of the sonus of Faeth; Moab, Edua, and Calal, Banaias, and Massias, Mathanyas, Beseleel, and Bemym, and Manasse. And of the sonus of Erem; Elieer, Jesue, Melchias, Semeias, Symeon, Beniamyn, Maloth, Samarias. And of the sonus of Asom; Mathanai, Mathetha, Zabeth, Elifelech, Jermai, Manasse, Semei. And of the sonus of Bany; Maddi, Amram, and Huel, Baneas, and Badaias, Cheilian, Bianna, Marimuth, and Eliasif, Mathanyas, Mathanay, and Jasi, and Lany, and Bennan, and Semei, and Salmyes, and Nathan, and Daias, Mesuedebai, Susai, Sarai, Esriel, and Seloman, Semeria, Sellum, Amaria, Joseph. Of the sonus of Nebny; Aiel, Mathathias, Zabed, Zabina, Jebdu, and Joel, Banai. Alle these hadden taken hethene wiues, and ther weren of these wymmen, that hadden born sonys.
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