1 Esdras 4
Of the strength of a King. 13 Of the strength of women. 34 Of the strength of truth, which sentence is approved. 47 And his petition granted.
THEN the second which had spoken of the strength of the King, began to say,
O ye men, are not men strongest, which bear rule by land and by the sea, and over all things which are in them!
But the King is yet greater: for he ruleth all things, and is lord of them, so that they do all things which he commands them.
If he bid them make war one against another, they do it: if he send them out against the enemies, they go and break down mountains and walls and towers.
They kill and are killed, and do not pass the commandment of the King: if they overcome, they bring all to the King, always the spoils as all other things;
And those also which go not to war and battle, but til the earth: for when they have sown it again, they reap it, and bring it to the King, and compel one another to pay tribute to the King.
Yet he is but one man: if he bid, Kill, they kill: if he say, Spare, they spare.
If he bid, Smite, they smite: if he bid them, Make desolate, they make desolate: if he bid, Build, they build.
If he bid, Cut off, they cut off: if he bid, Plant, they plant.
So all his people and all his armies obey one man: in the meanwhile he sits down, he eats, and drinks and sleeps.
For these keep him round about: neither can any one go and do his own business, neither are they disobedient unto him.
O ye men, how should not the King be strongest, seeing he is thus obeyed! So he held his tongue.
Then the third which had spoken of women and of the truth (this was Zorobabel) [Zurrubbabel]* began to speak,
O ye men, neither the mighty King, nor many men nor wine is strongest: who then ruleth them or has dominion over them! are they not women!
Women have born the King and all the people which bear rule by sea and by land.
Even of them were they born, and they nourished them, which planted the vines, of which the wine is made.
They also make mens garments and make men honorable, neither can men be without women.
And if they have gathered together gold and silver, or any goodly thing, so they not love a fair and beautiful woman!
Do they not leave all those things and give themselves wholly unto her, and gape, and gaze upon her, and all men desire her more than gold, or silver, or any precious thing!
A man leaves his own father which has nourished him, and his own country, and is joined with his wife.
And for every woman he jeopardizes his life, and neither remembers father nor mother nor country.
Therefore by this ye may know that every woman bears rule over you: do ye not labor and travail, and give and bring all to the women?
Yea, a man takes his sword and goes forth to kill and to steal, and to fail upon the sea, and upon rivers,
And he sees a lion and goes in darkness and when he has stolen, ravished and spoiled, he brings it to his love.
Wherefore a man loveth his own wife more than father or mother.
Yea, many have run mad for women, and have been servants for them.
Many also have perished and have erred and sinned for women.
Now therefore do you not believe me? is not the King great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him?
Yet I saw him and Apame, the Kings concubine, the daughter of the famous Bartacus, sitting on the right hand of the King.
And she took the crown of the King’s head, and put it upon her own, and stroke the King with her left hand.
Yet in the mean season the King gaped and gazed on her: and if she laughed at him, he laughed: and if she were angry with him, he did flatter her that he might be reconciled with her.
How then, o ye men, are not women more strong, seeing they do thus?
Then the King and the princes looked one upon another, and he began to speak of the truth.
O ye men, are not women stronger? great is the earth, and the heaven is high, and the sun is swift in his course: for he turns round about in heaven in one day, and runs again into his own place.
Is not he great that makes these things? therefore the truth is greater and stronger then all.
All the earth calls for truth, and the heaven blesses it: and all things are shaken and tremble, neither is there any unjust thing with it.
The wine is wicked, the King is wicked, women are wicked, and all their wicked works are such, and there is no truth in them, and they perish in their iniquity.
But truth does abide, and is strong for ever, and lives and reigns for ever and ever.
With her there is no receiving of persons nor difference: but she does the things which are just, and abstains from unjust and wicked things, and all men favor her works.
Neither is there any unjust thing in her judgement, and she is the strength and the kingdom and the power, and the majesty of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth.
So he ceased to speak, and then all the people cried and said then, Truth is great and strongest.
Then the King said unto him, Ask what thou wilt besides that which is appointed, and we will give it thee, because thou art found the wisest, and thou shalt have liberty to sit by me, and shalt be called my cousin.
Then he said to the King, Remember the vow that thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day that thou took the kingdom,
And to send again all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart when he made a vow to cut off Babylon, and vowed to send them thither.
Thou also hast vowed to build the Temple, which the Idumeans burnt when Judea was destroyed by the Chaldeans.
And now, o Lord the King, this is that which I desire and require of thee, and this is the magnificence, which I require of thee: I require therefore that thou would accomplish the vow which thou hast vowed with thine own mouth to do to the King of heaven.
Then King Darius rising up, kissed him, and wrote him letters to all the stewards and lieutenants, and captains, and governors, that they should bring on every way both him, and all that were with him, which went up to build Jerusalem.
And he wrote letters to all the lieutenants in Coelosyria and Phenice, and to them that were in Libanus, that they should bring cedarwood from from Libanus to Jerusalem, and build the city with him.
And he wrote for all the Jews, which went up out of his kingdom unto Judea, concerning their liberty, that no prince, nor lieutenant, nor governor, nor steward should enter into their doors,
And that all the region which they kept, should pay no tribute, and that the Idumeans should let go the villages of the Jews which they held,
And that every year there should be given for the building of the Temple twenty talents until it were built,
And to maintain every burnt offerings upon the altar every day (as they had a commandment to offer seventy) other ten talents every year.
And that all they which went from Babylon to build every city, should have liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the Priests that went away.
He wrote also touching the charges and the Priests garment, wherein they should minister.
And he wrote that they should give the Levites their charges until the House were finished, and Jerusalem built.
Also he wrote that they should give pensions and wages to them that kept the city.
And he sent away all the vessels which Cyrus had set apart out of Babylon, and whatsoever Cyrus had commanded to do, he also commanded to do it, and to sent to Jerusalem.
And when the young man was gone forth, he lift up his face to heaven towards Jerusalem, and gave thanks to the King of heaven,
Saying, Of thee is the victory, and of thee is wisdom, and of thee is glory, and I am thy servant.
Blessed be thou which hast given me wisdom: for unto thee I acknowledge it, o Lord of our fathers.
So he took the letters and went out and came to Babylon and told all his brethren.
And they blessed the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and liberty.
To go up and to build Jerusalem, and the Temple, where his Name is renowned, and they rejoiced with instruments of music and joy, seven days.
*WP4Y
warriorprincess4yeshua.blog 