Bible (Early Wycliffe)/I. Eſdre

Here begynneþ þe fyrſt book of Eſdre.

Capitulum I.

In þe firſte ȝer of Ciri, king of Perſis, þat þe woord of þe Lord of þe mouþ of Jeremye were fulfild, þe Lord rerede þe ſpirit of Ciri, king of Perſis, and ladde ouer þe vois in al his rewme alſo bi ſcripture, ſeiende, Þeſe þingus ſeiþ Cirus, king of Perſis, Alle þe reumes of þe erþe þe Lord God of heuene and of erþe haþ ȝiue to me, and he comaundede to me, þat I ſhulde bilde to hym an hous in Jeruſalem, þat is in Jude. Who is in ȝou of al þe puple of hym? be þe God of hym wiþ hym; ſteȝe he vp in to Jeruſalem, þat is in Jude, and bilde he vp an hous of þe Lord God of Irael; he is God, þat is in Jeruſalem. And alle þe oþere in alle placis, wher euere þei dwellen, helpe þei hym; þe men of his place, wiþ ſiluer, and gold, and ſubſtaunce, and beſtis, out take þat wilfulli þei offre to þe temple of God, þat is in Jeruſalem. And þe princis of þe fadris of Juda and of Beniamyn, and preſtis, and Leuitus, eche whos ſpirit God rerede, riſen, þat þei ſteȝen vp to bilden þe temple of þe Lord, þat was in Jeruſalem. And alle þat weren in þe enuyroun helpiden þe hondis of hem, in ſiluerene, and goldene veſſelis, in ſubſtaunce, in neceſſarie þing, in beſtis, out take þoo þingus þat þei hadden offrid wilfully. Forſoþe king Cirus broȝte forþ þe veſſelis of þe temple of þe Lord, þe whiche Nabugodonoſor hadde taken fro Jeruſalem, and hadde put hem in þe temple of his god. Forſoþe Cirus, king of Perſis, broȝte þem forþ bi þe hond of Mitridatis, ſone of Gazabar; and he noumbride hem to Zazabazar, prince of Jude. And þis is þe noumbre of hem; goldene violis, þretti; ſiluerenn violis, a þouſend; knyues, nyne and twenti; goldenn cuppis, þretti; ſiluerenn cuppis, two þouſend foure hundrid and ten; oþere veſſelis, a þouſend; alle þe veſſelis, goldene and ſiluerene, fiue þouſend and foure hundrid. Alle Zazebazar toc, wiþ hem þat ſteȝeden vp fro þe tranſmygracioun of Babiloyne, in to Jeruſalem.

Capitulum II.

Theſe forſoþe ben þe men, ſonus of þe prouynce, þat ſteȝeden vp fro þe caitifte, þat Nabugodonoſor, king of Babiloyne, hadde taken ouer in to Babiloine; and þei ben turned aȝeen in to Jeruſalem and Jude, eche in to his cite, þe whiche camen wiþ Zorobabel; Jeſua, Neemya, Saraia, Rahelaia, Mordochaa, Belſan, Mesfar, Begnai, Reum, Baana. Þe noumbre of þe men of þe puple of Irael; ſones of Fares, two þouſend an hundrid and two and ſeuenti; þe ſonus of Areþi, ſeuene hundrid fiue and ſeuenti; þe ſonus of Sefeſia, þre hundrid and two and ſeuenti; þe ſonus of Aria, ſeuene hundrid and fiue and ſeuenti; þe ſonus of Fee and of Moab, ſones of Joſue and of Joab, two þouſend nyne hundrid and twelue; þe ſones of Elam, a þouſend two hundrid and foure and fifti; þe ſonus of Sechua, nyne hundrid and fiue and fourty; þe ſonis of Zaahai, ſeuene hundrid and ſixti; þe ſonus of Baany, ſixe hundrid and two and fourti; ſonus of Bebai, ſixe hundrid and þre and twenti; ſonus of Aſgad, a þouſend two hundrid and two and twenti; ſonus of Adonycam, ſixe hundrid and ſixe and ſixti; ſonus of Beguai, two þouſend and ſixe and fifti; ſonus of Adin, foure hundrid and foure and fifti; ſonys of Aſer, þat weren of Ezechie, nynti and eiȝte; ſonus of Beſai, þre hundrid and þre and twenti; ſonus of Jora, an hundrid and twelue; ſonus of Aſon, two hundrid and þre and twenti; ſonus of Jebar, nynti and fiue; ſonus of Beþlem, an hundrid and þre and twenti; þe men of Necofa, ſixe and fifti; þe men of Anatot, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; ſonus of Aſmoneþ, two and fourti; ſonus of Cariaþiarym, Cefiara, and Berhoc, ſeuene hundrid and þre 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 Beþel and of Gai, two hundrid and þre and twenti; ſonus of Nebo, two and fifti; ſonys of Megbis, an hundrid and ſixe and fifti; þe ſonus of þe toþer Elam, a þouſend two hundrid and foure and fifti; þe ſonus of Arym, þre hundrid and twenti; þe ſonus of Ladadin and of Ono, ſeuen hundrid and fiue and twenti; ſonus of Jericho, þre hundrid and fiue and fourti; ſonus of Sanaa, þre þouſend ſixe hundrid and þretti; preſtus, ſonus of Idaia, in þe hous of Jeſue, nyne hundrid ſeuenti and þre; ſonus of Emmeor, a þouſend and two and fifti; ſonus of Feſur, a þouſend two hundrid and ſeuene and fourti; ſonus of Arym, a þouſend and ſeuentene; Leuitus, þe ſonus of Jeſue and of Cedinyel, ſonus of Odonia, ſeuenti and foure; chauntoures, ſonus of Aſaf, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; þe ſonus of þe porteris, ſones of Sellum, þe ſonus of Aþer, ſonus of Thelmon, þe ſonus of Accub, þe ſonus of Ariþa, þe ſonus of Sobar, þe ſonus of Sobai, alle, an hundrid and eiȝte and þretti; ſodeknys, ſonus of Ozai, þe ſonus of Azufa, þe ſonus of Thebaoþ, þe ſonus of Ceros, þe ſonus of Ciſaa, þe ſonus of Fadon, þe ſonus of Jebona, þe ſonus of Agoba, þe ſonus of Accub, þe ſonus of Accab, þe ſonus of Selmai, þe ſonus of Annan, þe ſonus of Gaddei, þe ſonus of Gaer, þe ſonus of Rahaia, þe ſonus of Jaſin, þe ſonus of Neþoda, þe ſonus of Gaſem, þe ſonus of Aſa, þe ſonus of Faſea, þe ſonus of Beſee, þe ſonus of Aſennaa, þe ſonus of Numyn, þe ſonus of Nechuſym, þe ſonus of Bechue, þe ſonus of Accufa, þe ſonus of Aſſur, þe ſonus of Beſuþ, þe ſonus of Maida, þe ſonus of Arſa, þe ſonus of Berchos, þe ſonus of Cizara, þe ſonus of Thema, þe ſonus of Nazia, þe ſonus of Acufa, þe ſonus of þe ſeruauns of Salamon, þe ſonus of Soþelþei, þe ſonus of Sofereþ, þe ſonus of Feruda, þe ſonus of Jala, þe ſonus of Derchon, þe ſonus of Jedel, þe ſonus of Safaþa, þe ſonus of Aþil, þe ſonus of Feſoreþei, þat weren of Azebam, þe ſonus of Ammy; alle þe ſodeknys, and þe ſonus of þe ſeruauns of Salamon, þre hundrid and nynti and two. And þeſe þat ſteȝeden vp fro Thelmela, and Thelerſa, Cherub, and Don, and Mer, and þei myȝten not ſhewe þe hous of þer faders and þer ſed, wheþer of Irael þei weren; þe ſonus of Delaia, þe ſonus of Tobia, þe ſonus of Nechoda, ſixe hundrid and two and fifti; and of þe ſonus of preſtus, þe ſonus of Obia, þe ſonus of Accos, þe ſonus of Berſellai, þat toc a wif of þe doȝtris of Berſellai Galaditis, and he is clepid bi þe name of hem; þeſe ſoȝten þe ſcripture of þer genelogie, and founden not, and þei ben caſt awei fro preſþod. And Aþerſaþa ſeide to þem, þat þei ſhulde not eten of þe holi of halewis, to þe time þat þer ſhulde riſen a taȝt preſt and perfit. Al þe multitude as o man, two and fourti þouſend þre hundrid and ſixti, out take þe ſeruauntis of hem and hand maidenes, þat weren ſeuen þouſend þre hundrid ſeuene and þretti; and in hem ſingeres and ſingereſſis, two hundrid. Þe hors of hem, ſixe hundrid and ſixe and þretti; þe mulis of hem, foure hundrid and fiue and fourti; þe camailis of hem, foure hundrid and fiue and þretti; þe aſſis of hem, ſixe þouſend ſeuene hundrid and twenti. And of þe princis of þe fadris, whan þei ſhulden gon in to þe temple of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem, wilfulli þei offriden in to þe hous of God, to it to be maad out in his place; after þer ſtrengþis þei ȝeuen þe coſtis of þe werk, of gold, ſhillingis fourti þouſend and a þouſend; of ſiluer, beſauntus fiue þouſent; and preſtus cloþis an hundrid. Þanne dwelten þe preſtus and þe Leuitus of þe puple, and þe ſingeres, and porteris, and ſodeknys in þer cites, and al Iſrael in þeir cytees.

Capitulum III.

And now was comen þe ſeuenþe monyþ, and þe ſonus of Irael weren in þer cites. Þanne is gedered þe puple as oon in to Jeruſalem. And þer ros Joſue, þe ſone of Joſedech, and þe breþern of hym, preſtus, and Sorobabel, þe ſone of Salatiel, and þe breþern of hym, and þei bilden vp an auter of God of Irael, þat þei offre in it brent ſacrifiſes, as it is writen in þe lawe off Moiſes, man of God. Forſoþe þei ſetten an auter vpon his feet, þe puplis of londis ferende hem by enuyroun, and þei offriden vpon it brent ſacrifiſe to þe Lord erli and at euen. And þei maden þe ſolempnete of tabernaclis, as it is writen, and brent ſacrifiſe alle daȝes bi order, after þe comaundid werc of þe dai in his dai; and after þis, contynuel brent ſacrifiſe, boþe in calendis and in alle ſolempnetes of þe Lord þat weren halewid, and in alle þingis in þe whiche ȝifte was freli offrid to God. Þe firſte dai of þe ſeuenþe monyþ þei begunne to offre brent ſacrifiſe to þe Lord; forſoþe þe temple of God was not ȝit founded. And þei ȝeue money to heweris of ſtonus, and to leieris, and mete, and drink, and oile, to Sidones and Tires, þat þei ſhulde bringen ceder trees fro Liban to þe ſe of Joppen, after þat Cirus, þe king of Perſis, had comaundid to þem. Þe ſecunde forſoþe ȝer of þe comyng of hem to þe temple of God in to Jeruſalem, þe ſecunde monyþ, begunne Sorababel, þe ſone of Salatiel, and Joſue, þe ſone of Joſedech, and oþere of þe breþern of hem, preſtus and Leuitus, and alle þat weren comen fro þe caitifte in to Jeruſalem; and þei ordeineden Leuitus, fro twenti ȝer and aboue, þat þei ſhulden heeȝen þe werk of þe Lord; and Joſue ſtod, and his ſonus and his breþern, Cediniel and his ſonus, and þe ſonus of Juda, as o man, þat þei ſhulden ſtonden in vpon hem þat diden werk in þe temple of God; þe ſones of Benadab, ſonus of hem and breþern of hem, Leuitus. Þanne groundid of þe maſonus þe temple of þe Lord, preſtus ſtoden in þer arai wiþ trumpis, and Leuitus, ſonus of Aſaf, in cimbalis, þat þei preiſe God bi þe hond of Dauid, king of Irael. And þei ſungen togidere in ympnes and knouleching to þe Lord, For he is good, for in to wiþoute ende þe merci of hym vpon Irael. Alſo al þe puple criede out wiþ a gret cry, in preiſinge þe Lord, for þi þat þe temple of þe Lord was founded. Manie alſo of þe preſtis, and Leuitus, and þe princis of fadris, and þe eldere, þat hadden ſeen þe raþere temple, whan it was foundid, and þis temple in þe eȝen of hem, wepten wiþ a gret vois, and manye criende out in gladneſſe rereden vp a vois; ne any man myȝte knowen þe vois of þe cri of men gladende, and þe vois of þe weping of þe puple; forſoþe mengingli togidere þe puple criede out wiþ a gret cri, and þe vois was herd aferr.

Capitulum IIII.

Forſoþe þe enemys of Jude and of Beniamyn herden, for þee ſonus of caitifte ſhulden bilden vp þe temple to þe Lord God of Irael; and, neȝhende to Sorobabel, and to þe princis of fadris, ſeiden to hem, Bilde wee vp wiþ ȝou, for ſo as ȝee, wee ſechen ȝour God; lo! wee offren ſlain ſacrifiſes fro þe daȝes of Aſſoroddon, king of Aſſur, þat broȝte vs hider. And Sorobabel ſeide to þem, and Joſue, and þe toþere princis of þe fadris of Irael, It is not to vs and to ȝou, þat wee bilde vp an hous to oure God; but wee vſſelf alone ſhul bilden vp to þe Lord oure God, as to vs Cirus, king of Perſis, comaundede. It is do forſoþe, þat þe puple of þe lond ſhulde lette þe hondis of þe puple of Jude, and diſturben þem in bilding. Forſoþe þei hadden hirid aȝen hem counſeileris, þat þei ſhulden deſtroȝe þe conſeil of hem, alle þe daȝes of Ciri, king of Perſis, and vnto þe regne of Daryi, king of Perſis, two ȝeer þei ben lettid. In þe regne forſoþe of Aſſueri, he is Artaxerſes, in þe begynning of his regne, þei writen accuſacioun aȝen þe dwelleris of Jude and of Jeruſalem; and in þe daȝis of Artaxerſes, Beſellam Mitridates wrot, and Thabel, and þe toþere þat weren in þe counſeil of hem, to Artaxerſes, king of Perſis. Forſoþe þe epiſtil of accuſacioun is writen Cire maner, and it was rad in Cire ſpeche. Reum, Beþlem, and Sanſai, ſcribe, writen oon epiſtil fro Jeruſalem to Artaxerſe þe king on þis maner; Reum, Beþlem, and Sanſai, ſcribe, and þe toþere counſeilourys of hem, Dinaei, Farſarei, Therfalei, Arfaſei, Arþuei, Babiloynys, Suſannaþaneis, Daceis, Elamytis, and þe toþere of þe Jentilis, whom tranſlatide þe grete and glorious Aſſennafar, and made þem to dwellen in þe cites of Samarie, and in oþere regiouns beȝunde þe flod, in pes. Þis is þe ſaumpler of þe epiſtil, þat þei ſenten to hym. To Artaxerſi, king, þi ſeruauns, men þat ben beȝunde þe flod, greting ſein. Be it knowen to þe king, for Jewis þat ſteȝeden vp fro þee to vs, camen in to Jeruſalem, cite rebel and werſt, þe whiche þei bilden vp, makende vp þe ſtonene wallis of it, and makende wowiſy. Now þanne be it knowe to þe king, for if þat cite were bild vp, and þe wallis of it enſtorid, tribute, and pedage, and ȝeris rentus þei ſhul not ȝiue, and vnto þe king þis blame ſhal come. Wee þanne mynde hauende of þe ſalt, þat in þe paleis wee eeten, and for þe harmys of þe king to ſeen vnleeful wee holden, þerfore wee han ſent and told to þe king; þat þou enſerche in þe bokis of þe ſtories of þi fadris, and þou ſhalt finde write in armaries, and knowen, for þat cite is a rebel cite, and noȝende to kingus and to prouincis, and batailis ben ſterid vp in it of old daȝes; for what þing and þat cite is deſtroȝid. Wee tellen to þe king, for if þat cite were bild vp, and his wallis enſtorid, þou ſhalt not han poſſeſſioun beȝunde þe flod. Þe king ſente woord to Reum, Beþlem, and to Sanſay, ſcribe, and to þe toþere þat weren in þe counſeil of hem, dwelleris of Samarie, and to þe toþere beȝunde þe flod, Greetinge, ſeiende, and pes. Þe acuſacioun, þat ȝee ſenten to vs, openli is rad befor me; and of me it is comaundid, and þei enſercheden, and founden, for þat cite of olde daȝes aȝen kingus rebelliþ, and deſcenciouns and batailis ben rerid vp in it; for and moſt ſtronge kingis weren in Jeruſalem, þe whiche and lordſhipeden to al þe regioun þat is beȝunde þe flod; tribute alſo, and pedage, and rentis, þei token. Now þanne hereþ þe ſentence, þat ȝee forfende þoo men, and þat cite be not bild vp, to þe time if perauenture of me it were comaundid. Seeþ, leſt necgligentli þis be fulfild, and litilmelum growe euel aȝen kingys. And ſo þe ſaumple of þe maundement of Artaxerſes, king, is rad befor Reum, Beþlem, and Sanſai, ſcribe, and þe counſeileris of hem; and þei wenten haſtif in to Jeruſalem to þe Jewis, and þei forfendeden þem in power and ſtrengþe. Þanne is laft of þe werc of þe hous of God in Jeruſalem, and it was not maad vnto þe ſecunde ȝer of þe regne of Darii, king of Perſis.

Capitulum V.

Forſoþe þer profecieden Aggeus, profete, and Zacharias, profete, þe ſone of Addo, propheciende to þe Jewis þat weren in Jude and Jeruſalem, in þe name of God of Irael. Þanne riſen Sorobabel, þe ſone of Salatiel, and Joſue, þe ſone of Joſedech, and þei begunnen to bilden vp þe temple of God in Jeruſalem; and wiþ hem profetis, helpende hem. In þat forſoþe time cam to hem Thaþannai, þat was duk beȝunde þe flod, and Starbuſannai, and þe counſeiloures of hem; and þus þei ſeiden to hem, Who ȝaf to ȝou counſeil, þat þis hous ȝee ſhulden bilden vp, and þeſe wallis enſtoren? To þe whiche wee anſwerden to hem, whiche weren þe namys of men, autouris of þat bilding. Þe eȝe forſoþe of þe God of hem is don vpon þe olde men of Jewis, and þei myȝte not forfenden hem; and it pleſide þat þe þing were told to Darie, and þanne þei ſhulden don aſeeþ aȝen þat acuſing. Þe ſaumpler of þe epiſtil, þat ſente Thaþannai, duk of þe regioun beȝunde þe flod, and Starbuſannai, and þe counſeileris of hym, Arfarſacei, þat weren beȝunde þe flod, to Darie, þe king. Þe woord þat þei ſenten to hym þus was writen; To Darie, þe king, alle pes. Be it knowen to þe king, wee to han go to Jude prouynce, to þe hous of þe grete God, þat is bild vp wiþ ſton vnpoliſht, and trees ben ſett in þe wowis, and þat werc diligentli is maad up, and waxeþ in þe hondis of hem. Wee axeden þanne þoo olde men, and þus we ſeiden to þem, Who ȝaf to ȝou power þat þis hous ȝee ſhulden bilden, and þe wallis enſtoren? But and þe names of hem we han ſoȝt of hem, þat wee telle to þee; and we han write þe namus of þe men þat ben princis in hem. Forſoþe ſuch woord þei anſwerden to vs, ſeiende, We ben þe ſeruauns of God of heuene and of erþe; and we bilden vp þe temple þat was maad out befor þeſe ȝeris manye, and þe whiche þe grete king of Irael hadde bild, and maad out. Forſoþe aftir þat to wraþe oure fadris hadden terred þe God of heuene, he toc hem in þe hond of Nabugodonoſor, king of Babiloyne, Caldeis; and þis hous he deſtroȝede, and þe puple of it he tranſlatide in to Babiloine. Forſoþe þe firſte ȝer of Ciri, king of Babiloine, Cirus, king of Babiloyne, purpoſide a maundement, þat þe hous of God ſhulde be maad vp. For and þe veſſelis of þe temple of God, goldene and ſiluerene, þat Nabugodonoſor hadde take fro þe temple, þat was in Jeruſalem, and hadde born hem awei in to þe temple of Babiloyne, king Cirus broȝte forþ fro þe temple of Babyloyne, and ben ȝiue to Zazabazar bi name, whom and he ordeynede prince. And he ſeide to hym, Þeſe veſſelis tac, and go, and put hem in þe temple, þat is in Jeruſalem; and þe hous of God be bild vp in his place. And ſo þanne þilke Zazabazar cam, and ſette þe groundis of þe temple of God in Jeruſalem; and fro þat time vnto now it is bild, and ȝit is not fulfild. Now þanne if it ſeme to þe king good, enſerche he in þe librarie of þe king, þat is in Babiloyne, wheþer forſoþe of king Cire it be comaunded, þat þe hous of God ſhulde be bilde vp in Jeruſalem; and þe wil of þe king vpon þis þing ſende he to vs.

Capitulum VI.

Thanne king Darie comaunded, and þei enſerchiden in þe treſorie of þe bokis, þat weren leid vp in Babiloine. And þere is founde in Egbadonys, þat is a caſtel in Medene prouynce, o volume, and ſuch a ſentence was writen in it. Þe firſte ȝer of Ciri king, Cirus þe king demede, þat þe hous of God, þat is in Jeruſalem, ſhulde be bild vp in þe place where þei offren oſtus, and þat þei putte groundis vnderberende þe heiȝte of ſixti cubitus, and þe breede of ſixti cubitus, and þre ordris of vnpoliſht ſtonis, and ſo ordris of newe trees. Coſtis forſoþe of þe hous of þe king ſhulden ben ȝiue. But and þe veſſelis, goldene and ſiluerene of þe temple of God, þat Nabugodonoſor hadde take of þe temple of Jeruſalem, and broȝt hem in to Babiloine, be þei ȝolden, and born aȝeen in to þe temple of Jeruſalem, and in to þer place, þe whiche and ben put in þe temple of God. Now þanne Thaþannai, duke of þe regioun þat is beȝunde þe flod, and Scarbuſannai, and ȝoure counſeileris, Arfaſacei, þat ben beȝunde þe flod, aferr goþ awei fro þem; and leteþ to be maad þat temple of God of þe duke of Jewis, and of þe elders of hem; and þat hous of God bilde þei in his place. But and of me it is comaundid, þat it behoueþ to be maad of þoo preſtus of Jewis, þat þe hous of God be bild vp, þat is, þat of þe kingis cofre, þat is, of tributis, þat ben ȝiue of þe regioun beȝunde þe flod, beſili coſtys be ȝiue to þoo men, leſt be lettid þe werk. Þat if nede were, and caluis, and lombis, and kidis in to brent ſacrifiſe to þe God of heuene; whete, ſalt, and win, and oile, aftir þe cuſtum of preſtus þat ben in Jeruſalem, be þer ȝiue to þem bi alle daȝis, leſt þer be in any þing pleynyng. And offre þei offringus to þe God of heuene; and preȝe þei for þe lif of þe king and of his ſonus. Of me þanne is ſett a decree, þat eche man þat þis comaundement chaungiþ, be don awei þe tree of þe hous of hym, and be he rerid vp, and tobroſid in it; þe hous forſoþe of hym be forfetid. God forſoþe, þat makeþ to dwellen his name þere, ſcatere alle reumys and puple, þat ſtrecchiþ out þer hond, þat þei wiþſtonde and ſcatere þat hous of God, þat is in Jeruſalem. I Darie haue ordeined a decre, þe whiche biſili I wile to be fulfild. Þerfore Thaþannai, duk of þe regioun beȝonde þe flod, and Scarbuſannay, and þe conſeileris of hym, after þat king Darie hadde comaunded ſo diligentli, folewiden out. Þe eldere forſoþe of Jewis bilden vp, and hadden proſperite, after þe profecie of Aggei, þe profete, and of Zacarie, ſone of Addo; and þei bilden, and maden, þe God of Irael comaundende, and comaundende Ciro, and Darie, and Artaxerſe, kingus of Perſis; and þei fulfilden þis hous of God vnto þe þridde dai of þe monyþ of Adar, þat is þe ſixte ȝer of þe regne of king Darie. Forſoþe þe ſonus of Irael, preſtus and Leuitus, and þe toþere of þe ſonus of tranſmygracioun, maden þe dedicacioun of þe hous of God in ioȝe; and offriden, in þe dedicacioun of þe hous of God, caluys an hundrid, weþeris two hundrid, lambys foure hundrid, get buckis for þe ſynne of al þe puple twelue, after þe noumbre of þe linagis of Irael. And þei ordeyneden preſtus in þer ordris, and Leuitus in þer whilis, vp on þe werkis of God in Jeruſalem, as it is write in þe boc of Moiſes. Forſoþe þe ſonus of tranſmygracioun maden paſch, þe fourtenþe dai of þe firſte monyþ. Forſoþe þe preſtus and Leuitus as oon weren purified, alle clene to offren paſch to alle þe ſonus of tranſmygracioun, and to þeir breþern preſtus, and to þemſelf. And þe ſonus of Irael, þat weren turned aȝeen of þe tranſmygracioun, eeten, and alle þat hadden ſeuered hemſelf fro al defouling of Jentilis of þe lond to þem, þat þei ſeche þe Lord God of Irael. And þei maden þe ſolempnete of þerue louys ſeuen daȝes in gladneſſe; for þe Lord hadde gladid hem, and conuertid þe herte of king Aſſur to hem, þat he helpe þe hondis of hem in þe werk of þe hous of þe Lord God of Irael.

Capitulum VII.

Aftir þeſe woordis forſoþe, in þe regne of Artaxerſes, king of Perſis, Eſdras, þe 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 Maraioþ, ſone of Saraie, ſone of Oſi, ſone of Bocci, ſone of Abiſue, ſone of Finees, ſone of Eleaſar, ſone of Aron, preſt fro þe begynnyng; þis Eſdras ſteȝede vp fro Babiloine, and he a ſwift ſcribe in þe lawe of Moiſes, þe whiche þe Lord God of Irael ȝaf; and þe king ȝaf to hym, after þe goode hond of þe Lord his God vpon hym, al his aſking. And þer ſteȝeden vp of þe ſonus of Irael, and of þe ſonus of preſtus, and of þe ſonus of Leuitus, and of þe ſingeres, and of þe porteris, and of þe ſodeknys, in Jeruſalem þe ſeuenþe ȝer of Artaxerſes, king. And þei camen in to Jeruſalem þe fifte monyþ; þis is þe ſeuenþe ȝer of þe king. For in þe firſte dai of þe firſte monyþ þei begunnen to ſteȝen vp fro Babiloine, and in þe firſte dai of þe fifte monyþ he cam in to Jeruſalem, after þe goode hond of his God vpon hym. Eſdras forſoþe greiþede his herte, þat he enſerche þe lawe of þe Lord, and do, and teche in Irael maundement and dom. Þis is forſoþe þe ſaumpler of þe epiſtil of þe maundement, þat king Artaxerſes ȝaf to Eſdre, preeſt, wis ſcribe in woordis and in maundemens of þe Lord, and his cerimoines in Irael. Artaxerſes, king of kingus, to Eſdre, þe preſt, moſt wis ſcribe of þe lawe of God of heuene, greting. Of me is a decre, þat to whomſoeuer it pleſe in my rewme of þe puple of Irael, and of his preſtus, and of þe Leuitus, to gon in to Jeruſalem, go he wiþ þee. Forſoþe fro þe face of þe king and of þe ſeuene counſeileris of hym þou art ſent, þat þou viſite Jude and Jeruſalem in þe lawe of þi God, þat is in þi hond; and þat þou bere ſiluer and gold, þat þe king and his counſeileris wilfulli offriden to þe God of Irael, whos tabernacle is in Jeruſalem. And al þe ſiluer and gold, what euere þou findiſt in al þe prouince of Babiloine, and þe puple wile offren, and of þe preſtus þat wilfulli offriden to þe hous of þer God, þat is in Jeruſalem, freli to taken; and biſili bie of þat monei calues, weþeris, lombis, and ſacrifiſes, and þe offring of likouris of hem; and offre þem vpon þe auter of þe temple of ȝour God, þat is in Jeruſalem. But and if any þing to þee, and to þi breþern pleſe, of þe remnaunt of ſiluer and of gold þat ȝee do, after þe wil of ȝoure God doþ; alſo þe veſſelis þat ben ȝiue in þe ſeruiſe of þe hous of þi God, tac in þe ſiȝte of God in to Jeruſalem. But and oþere þingus þe whiche nede were in þe hous of þi God, hou miche euere is nede, þat þou ſpende, þou ſhalt ȝiue of þe treſor of þe king and of þe comun bagge, and of me. I, Artaxerſes, king, haue ordeined, and demed to alle þe keperis of þe comun cofre, þat ben beȝonde þe flod, þat what euer aſke of ȝou Eſdras, preſt, ſcribe of þe lawe of God of heuene, wiþoute 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 forſoþe wiþoute meſure. Al þat to þe rit of God of heuene perteneþ, be it ȝiue biſili in þe hous of God of heuene, leſt perauenture he be wroþ aȝen þe reume of þe king and of his ſonus. To ȝou alſo we maken knowen of alle þe preſtus, and Leuitus, ſingeres, porteris, ſodeknys, and mynyſtris of þe hous of þis God, and pedage and tribute and ȝeris frutus haue ȝee no power of putting vpon hem. Þou forſoþe, Eſdra, after þe wiſdam of þi God, þat is in þin hond, ordeine þou domyſmen and gouernoures, þat þei deme to al þe puple, þat is beȝonde þe flod, to hem, þat is, þat knewen þe lawe of þi God, and þe lawe of þe king; but and vnwiſe men techeþ freely. And eche þat doþ not þe lawe of þi God, and þe lawe of þe king biſili, dom ſhal ben of hym, or in to deþ, or in to outlawe, or in to condempnacioun of his ſubſtaunce, or certis in to priſoun. And Eſdras, ſcribe, ſeide, Bleſſid þe Lord God of oure fadris, þat ȝaf þis in þe herte of þe king, þat he ſhulde glorifie þe hous of þe Lord, þat is in Jeruſalem, and in me haþ in bowid his merci befor þe king, and his counſeileris, and alle þe myȝti princis of þe king And I, coumfortid bi þe hond of þe Lord, of my God, þat was in me, I gaderede of þe ſonus of Irael princis, þat ſteȝeden vp wiþ me.

Capitulum VIII.

Theſe þanne ben þe princis of meines, and þis þe genelogie of hem, þat ſteȝeden vp wiþ me in þe reume of Artaxerſes, king, fro Babiloine. Of þe ſonus of Finees, Jerſon; of þe ſonus of Iþamar, Danyel; of þe ſonus of Dauid, Archus; of þe ſonus of Sechemye and of þe ſonus of Faros, Zacharias, and wiþ hym ben noumbrid an hundrid and fifti men; of þe ſonus of Feþmoab and of Eleoenai, ſone of Zacharie, and wiþ hym two hundrid men; of þe ſonus of Sechemye, ſone of Jeſechiel, and wiþ hym þre hundrid men; of þe ſonus of Addaenebeþ, ſone of Jonaþan, and wiþ hym fifti men; of þe ſonys of Elam, Iſaias, þe ſone of Italie, and wiþ hym ſeuenti men; of þe ſonus of Safacie, Zebedias, þe ſone of Mychael, and wiþ hym eiȝteti men; of þe ſonus of Joab, Obedia, þe ſone of Jehiel, and wiþ hym two hundrid and eiȝtetene men; of þe ſonus of Salomyþ, þe ſone of Josfie, and wiþ hym an hundrid and ſixti men; of þe ſonus of Belbai, Zacharias, þe ſone of Bebai, and wiþ hym twenti and eiȝte men; of þe ſonus of Eſiad, Johannan, þe ſone of Eſeþan, and wiþ hym an hundrid and ten men; of þe ſonus of Odonycham, þat laſt weren, and þeſe þe namus of hem, Elifilech, and Heiel, and Samaias, and wiþ hem ſixti men; of þe ſonus of Beguy, Vþai, and Saccur, and wiþ hem ſeuenti men. I gederede hem forſoþe to þe flod, þat renneþ to Hanna; and wee dwelten þere þre daȝis. And I ſoȝte in þe puple, and in þe preſtus of þe ſonus of Leuy, and I fond not þere. And ſo I ſente Elizer, and Arihel, and Semeiam, and Elnaþan, and Jaubeþ, and an oþer Elnaþan, and Naþan, and Zacharie, and Meſollam, princis; and Joarib, and Elnaþan, wiſe men; and I ſente hem to Heldo, þe whiche is þe firſte in þe place off Casfee, and I putte in þe mouþ of hem woordis, þat þei ſhulden ſpeken to Eldo, and to þe breþern of hym, ſodeknys, in þe place of Casfee, þat þei ſhulden bringe to vs mynyſtris of þe hous of oure God. And þei broȝten to vs, bi þe goode hond of oure God vpon vs, a moſt wis man of þe ſonus of Mooli, ſone of Leui, ſone of Irael; and Sarabiam, and þe ſonus of hym, twenti, and þe breþern of hym, eiȝtetene; and Azabie, and wiþ hym, Iſaie, of þe ſonys of Merari, þe breþern of hym, and þe ſonys of hym, twenti; and of þe ſodeknys, þat Dauid hadde ȝiue and princis to þe ſeruiſe of Leuitys, ſodeknys two hundrid and twenti; alle þeſe bi þer namys weren clepid. And I prechide þere faſting beſide þe flod of Hanna, þat we ſhulden ben trauailid in penaunce befor þe Lord oure God, and aſken of hym a riȝt weie to vs, and to oure ſonus, and to al oure ſubſtaunce. Forſoþe I was aſhamyd to aſken þe king helpe, and horſe men, þat myȝten defenden vs fro þe enemy in þe weie, for wee hadden ſeid to þe king, Þe hond of oure God is vpon alle þat ſechen hym in goodneſſe; and þe empire of hym, and þe ſtrengþe of hym, and wodneſſe vpon alle þat forſaken hym. Wee faſteden forſoþe, and preȝeden oure God for þis, and it cam to vs welſumli. And I ſeuerede of þe princis of preſtis twelue, Sarabiam, Sazabiam, and wiþ hem of þe breþern of hem, ten; and I peiſede to hem þe ſiluer and gold, and þe ſacride veſſelis of þe hous of oure God, þe whiche þe king hadde offrid, and þe counſeileris of hym, and þe princis of hym, and al Irael, of hem þat weren founden. And I peiſede in þe hondis of hem of ſiluer talentis ſixe hundrid and fifti, and ſiluerene veſſelys an hundrid; of gold an hundrid talentus, and goldene chalicis twenti, þe whiche hadden a þouſend ſhillingus; and two faire veſſelis of beſt ſhinende bras as gold. And I ſeide to hem, Ȝee halewis of þe Lord, and þe holy veſſelis, and ſiluer and gold, þat wilfulli is offrid to þe Lord God of oure fadris, wakeþ, and kepiþ, to þe time þat ȝee peiſen vp befor þe princis of preſtus, and of Leuitus, and dukis of meines of Irael in Jeruſalem, in to þe treſor of þe hous of God. Forſoþe þe preſtus and Leuitus token þe peis of ſiluer, and of gold, and of veſſelis, þat þei bringe in to Jeruſalem, in to þe hous of þer God. Þanne we moueden forþ fro þe flod of Hanna, þe twelfþe dai of þe firſte monyþ, þat we go in to Jeruſalem; and þe hond of oure God was vpon vs, and deliuerede vs fro þe hond of þe enemy and of þe ſpiere in þe weie. And wee camen to Jeruſalem, and wee dwelten þere þre daȝis. Þe ferþe forſoþe dai peiſid vp is þe ſiluer and gold, and þe veſſelis, in þe hous of oure God, bi þe hond of Remmoþ, ſone of Vrie, preſt; and wiþ hym Eleazar, þe ſone of Fynees, and wiþ hem Joſaded, þe ſone of Joſue, and Noadoia, þe ſone of Bennoi, Leuite, aftir þe noumbre and weiȝte of alle þingus; and al þe weiȝte is deſcriued in þat time. But þe ſonus of tranſmygracioun, þat weren come fro caitifte, offriden brent ſacrifiſes to þe Lord God of Irael, caluys twelue for al þe puple of Irael, weþeris nynti and ſixe, lambis ſeuenti and ſeuene, got buckis for ſynne twelue; alle in to brent ſacrifiſe to þe Lord. Þei ȝeuen forſoþe maundemens of þe king to þe ſatrapis, þat weren of þe ſiȝte of þe king, and to þe dukis beȝonde þe flod; and þei rereden vp a puple, and þe hous of God.

Capitulum IX.

Aftir forſoþe þat þeſe þingis ben fulfild, neȝheden to me þe princis, ſeiende, Þe puple of Irael is not ſeuered, and preſtus, and Leuitus, fro þe puplis of londis, and fro þe abhomynaciouns of hem, of Cananei, þat is, of Eþei, and of Fereſei, and of Jebuſei, and of Amonitus, and of Moabitus, and of Egipcienus, and of Amoriees. Forſoþe þei token of þe doȝtris of hem to hem, and to þer ſonus, wiues, and þei mengden holi ſed wiþ þe puplis of londis; þe hond alſo of princis and of maiſtris was in þis firſte treſpaſing. And whan I hadde herd þis woord, I cutte my mantil and cote, and pullide out þe heris of myn hed and berd, and ſat weilende. Forſoþe þer camen to me alle þat dradden þe woord of God of Irael, for þe treſpaſing of hem þat weren come fro þe caitifte; and I ſat dreri vnto þe euetid ſacrifiſe. And in þe euetid ſacrifiſe I ros fro myn affliccioun, and þe mantil cut and cote, I bowide my knes, and ſpradde out myn hondis to þe Lord my God, and ſeide, Mi God, I am confoundid and aſhamed to reren my face to þee, for oure wickeneſſis ben multiplied vpon oure hed, and oure giltis ben ſprungen vnto heuene, fro þe daȝis of oure fadris; but and wee vſſelf han ſynned greuouſli vnto þis dai, and in oure wickeneſſis we ben taken, wee, and oure kingus, and oure preſtus, in þe 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 þis dai. And now as at litil and at a moment is don oure preȝere anent þe Lord our God, þat þe remnauntus ben forȝiue to vs, and þe 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 þe king of Perſis, þat he ȝeue to vs lijf, and rere þe hous of oure God, and make out þe wilderneſſis of it, and ȝeue to vs hope in Juda and in Jeruſalem. And now what ſhul wee ſein, Lord oure God, after þeſe þingus? For wee han forſake þin heſtus, þat þou haſt comaundid in þe hond of þi ſeruauns prophetis, ſeiende, Þe lond, to þe whiche ȝee ſhul gon out, þat ȝee welden it, is a lond vnclene, after þe vncleneſſe of puplis, and of oþere londis, þe whiche fulfilden it wiþ þe abhomynaciouns of hem, fro mouþ vnto mouþ in þer defouling. Now þanne ȝoure doȝtris ne ȝiue ȝe to þe ſonus of hem, and þe doȝtris of hem takeþ not to ȝour ſonus; and ſekeþ not pes of hem and proſperite of hem vnto euermor; þat ȝee be coumfortid, and eten þat ben goode þingus of þe lond, and eiris ȝee haue ȝoure ſonus vnto þe world. And after alle þingus þat camen vpon vs in oure werſte werkis, and in oure grete gilte, for þou, oure God, deliuerediſt vs fro oure wickeneſſe, and ȝeue to vs helþe, as is to dai, þat we be not turned, and make þin heſtis in vein, ne bi matrimoyne we ben ioyned wiþ þe puplis of þeſe abhomynaciouns. Wheþer þou art wroþ to vs vnto þe ending, leſt þou leue to vs relikis and helþe? Lord God of Irael, riȝtwis þou art; for wee ben forſaken, þe whiche ſhulden ben ſaaf as bi þis dai, lo! befor þee we ben in oure gilte; forſoþe it mai not ben ſtonden befor þee vpon þis.

Capitulum X.

So þanne Eſdre preȝende, and beſechende God, and wepende, and liende befor þe temple of God, þer is gedered to hym a ful myche cumpanye gret of men, and of wymmen, and childer; and þe puple wepte wiþ myche weping. And Sechenyas, þe ſone of Jaiel, of þe ſonus of Elam, anſwerde, and ſeide to Eſdre, Wee han treſpaſid in oure God, and wee han weddid aliene wiues of þe puplis of þe lond. And now, for þer is penaunce in Irael vpon þis, ſmyte wee couenaunt of pes wiþ þe Lord oure God, and þrowe awei alle oure wiues, and hem þat of hem ben born, after þe wil of þe Lord; and of hem þat dreden þe maundement of oure God, after þe lawe be it don. Ris, þin it is to demen, and wee ſhul be wiþ þee; tac coumfort, and do. Þanne Eſdras ros, and adiurede þe princis of preſtus, and of Leuitus, and al Irael, þat þei ſhulden do after þis woord; and þei ſworen. And Eſdras ros befor þe hous of God, and wente awei to þe bed place of Johannan, ſone of Eliaſif, and he wente in þider; bred he eet not, and water he dranc not; forſoþe he weilede þe treſpaſing of hem, þat fro þe caitifte weren comen. And þer is ſent a vois in Juda and Jeruſalem, to alle þe ſonus of tranſmygracioun, þat þei ſhulden be gedered in to Jeruſalem; and alle þat comeþ not in þre daȝis, aftir þe counſeil of þe princis and of þe elders, al his ſubſtaunce ſhal be taken awei, and he ſhal be caſt awei fro þe cumpanye of tranſmygracioun. Þanne alle þe men of Juda and of Beniamyn camyn togidre in Jeruſalem þre daȝes; it is þe nynþe monyþ, in þe twentiþe dai of þe monyþ; and al þe puple ſat in þe ſtrete of þe hous of God, tremblende for ſynne and reynes. And Eſdras, þe preſt, ros, and ſeide to hem, Ȝee han treſpaſid, and wedded aliene wiues, þat ȝee adden vp on þe gilte of Irael. And now ȝiueþ confeſſioun to þe Lord God of oure fadris, and doþ þe pleſaunce of hym, and beþ ſeuered fro þe puplis of þe lond, and fro alien wiues. And al þe multitude anſwerde, and ſeide wiþ a gret vois, After þi woord to vs, ſo be it do. Nerþelatere for þe puple is myche, and þe time of rein, and we ſuſtene not to ſtonde wiþ oute forþ, and it is not þe werc of o dai, or of two; forſoþe hidouſli we han ſynned in þis woord; be þer ſett princis in al þe multitude, and alle in oure cites, þat han wedded aliene wiues, come þei in þe time ſet, and wiþ hem þe elders, bi cite and cite, and þe domeſmen of it, to þe time þat þe wraþe of oure God be turned awei fro vs vpon þis ſynne. Þanne Jonaþan, þe ſone of Azahel, and Jaſia, þe ſone of Thechue, ſtoden vpon þis; and Moſollam, and Sebeþai, Leuitus, holpen hem. And ſo diden þe ſonus of tranſmygracoun. And Eſdras, preſt, and þe men, princis of þe meynes, wenten awei in to þe houſis of þer fadris, and alle bi þer namys; and þei ſeten in þe firſte dai of þe tenþe moniþ, þat þei enſerche þe þing. And alle þe men þat hadden weddid alien wiues ben endid, vn to þe firſte dai of þe firſte moneþ. And þer ben founden of þe ſonus of preſtus, þat weddeden heþene wiues; of þe ſonus of Joſue, þe ſones of Joſedech, and þe breþern of hym, Maaſia, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Godolia. And þei ȝeuen þer hondis, þat þei ſhulden caſten awei þer wiues, and for þer gilte þei ſhulden offren a weþer of þe ſhep. And of þe ſonus of Semmer; Anam and Sebedia. And of þe ſonus of Seerim; Maazia, and Helia, and Semeia, and Jehiel, and Oſias. And of þe ſonus of Feſſur; Helioenai, Maazia, Hiſmael, Naþanael, and Joſabeþ, and Elaſa. And of þe ſones of Leuitus; Joſabeþ, and Semei, and Eliaia; he is Caliþafaþaia; Juda, and Elieſer. And of þe ſingeris, Eliazub; and of þe porteris, Sellum, and Thellem, and Vri. And of Irael, of þe ſonus of Faros; Remea, and Ezia, and Melchia, and Buanym, and Eliezer, and Melchia, and Banya. And of þe ſonus of Elam; Maþanya, and Zacharias, and Jehil, and Abdi, and Rimoþ, and Helia. And of þe ſonus of Secua; Helieonai, Heliazub, Maþanya, and Jerymuþ, and Saeþ, and Aziza. And of þe ſonus of Bebai; Johannan, Ananya, Zabbai, Aþalia. And of þe ſonys of Beny; Moſollam, and Melue, and Azaia, Jaſub, and Saal, and Jamoþ. And of þe ſonus of Faeþ; Moab, Edua, and Calal, Banaias, and Maſſias, Maþanyas, Beſeleel, and Bemym, and Manaſſe. And of þe ſonus of Erem; Elieer, Jeſue, Melchias, Semeias, Symeon, Beniamyn, Maloþ, Samarias. And of þe ſonus of Aſom; Maþanai, Maþeþa, Zabeþ, Elifelech, Jermai, Manaſſe, Semei. And of þe ſonus of Bany; Maddi, Amram, and Huel, Baneas, and Badaias, Cheilian, Bianna, Marimuþ, and Eliaſif, Maþanyas, Maþanay, and Jaſi, and Lany, and Bennan, and Semei, and Salmyes, and Naþan, and Daias, Meſuedebai, Suſai, Sarai, Eſriel, and Seloman, Semeria, Sellum, Amaria, Joſeph. Of þe ſonus of Nebny; Aiel, Maþaþias, Zabed, Zabina, Jebdu, and Joel, Banai. Alle þeſe hadden taken heþene wiues, and þer weren of þeſe wymmen, þat hadden born ſonys.

Explicit liber primus. Incipit liber ſecundus.