but

But they had his messengers in derision; and, look, when the Lord spake unto them, they made a sport of his prophets:

But in the time of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following;

Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.

But to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be thy pleasure it may be sought out in the books of thy fathers:

The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory.

But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have done.

But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he commandeth them they do.

Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbundry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king.

And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare;

And yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, the king was fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again.

O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?

With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unjust and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.

But when the seventh month was at hand, and when the children of Israel were every man in his own place, they came all together with one consent into the open place of the first gate which is toward the east.

But many with trumpets and joy shouted with loud voice,

But the heathen of the land lying heavy upon the inhabitants of Judea, and holding them strait, hindered their building;

But when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned against the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the Chaldees;

But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon Cyrus the king wrote to build up this house.

And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews, to build the house of the Lord in that place.

They that were of the captivity were not all sanctified together: but the Levites were all sanctified together.

For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgments.

But when I had found there none of the priests and Levites,

So all they that were then moved at the word of the Lord God of Israel assembled unto me, whilst I mourned for the iniquity: but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.

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 us food;

And didst give unto us such a root: but we have turned back again to transgress thy law, and to mingle ourselves with the uncleanness of the nations of the land.

But forasmuch as the people are many, and it is foul weather, so that we cannot stand without, and this is not a work of a day or two, seeing our sin in these things is spread far:

Am not I even he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? but they have provoked me unto wrath, and despised my counsels.

Pull thou off then the hair of thy head, and cast all evil upon them, for they have not been obedient unto my law, but it is a rebellious people.

And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this day do ye yet murmur.

I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the river sweet.

Ye have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the Lord.

I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my face.

Thus saith the Lord, I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by menservants the prophets; whom they would not hear, but despised my counsels.

I brought you up with gladness; but with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for ye have sinned before the Lord your God, and done that thing that is evil before him.

But what shall I now do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go your way, O my children, and ask mercy of the Lord.

Be not weary: for when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry and have abundance.

The heathen shall envy thee, but they shall be able to do nothing against thee, saith the Lord.

I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they set me at nought, and despised the commandment of the Lord.

Weigh thou therefore our wickedness now in the balance, and theirs also that dwell the world; and so shall thy name no where be found but in Israel.

Thou shalt find that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts; but not the heathen.

Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which thou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of them.

Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also?

For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens.

For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,

But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come.

But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come.

What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.

Then said he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more than the drops, and as the fire is greater than the smoke; but the drops and the smoke remain behind: so the quantity which is past did more exceed.

He answered me, and said, As for the tokens whereof thou askest me, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not sent to shew thee; for I do not know it.

But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard long ago.

But if the most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in the day:

And the Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise in the night, which many have not known: but they shall all hear the voice thereof.

At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall not prosper.

At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall not prosper.

And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.

And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling with men?

And he said unto me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If thou bringest forth children, why dost thou it not together, but one after another? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.

And I said, She cannot: but must do it by distance of time.

Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?

And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.

But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.

As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel.

But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.

But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;

And one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once.

Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils,: and very painful.

Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?

Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?

Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast ordained in thy law, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish.

Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;

But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.

But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:

But the day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is past,

O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.

That, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.

And he answered me, saying, The most High hath made this world for many, but the world to come for few.

I will tell thee a similitude, Esdras; As when thou askest the earth, it shall say unto thee, that it giveth much mould whereof earthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold cometh of: even so is the course of this present world.

There be many created, but few shall be saved.

But that which keepeth and is kept shall both be preserved: and when the time cometh, the womb preserved delivereth up the things that grew in it.

Now therefore, Lord, I will speak; touching man in general, thou knowest best; but touching thy people, for whose sake I am sorry;

But I have heard the swiftness of the judge which is to come.

O look not upon the sins of thy people; but on them which serve thee in truth.

Regard not the wicked inventions of the heathen, but the desire of those that keep thy testimonies in afflictions.

Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee: but remember them, which according to thy will have known thy fear.

Let it not be thy will to destroy them which have lived like beasts; but to look upon them that have clearly taught thy law.

Take thou no indignation at them which are deemed worse than beasts; but love them that always put their trust in thy righteousness and glory.

For we and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because of us sinners thou shalt be called merciful.

For in truth them is no man among them that be born, but he hath dealt wickedly; and among the faithful there is none which hath not done amiss.

But I will rejoice over the disposition of the righteous, and I will remember also their pilgrimage, and the salvation, and the reward, that they shall have.

Be not wroth with us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon thine own inheritance: for thou art merciful unto thy creature.

For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the unrighteous.

For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the unrighteous.

But understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.

But they which be created have defiled the name of him that made them, and were unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.

These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I and said,

Behold, O Lord, now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the wonders, which thou wilt begin to do in the last times: but at what time, thou hast not shewed me.

And they that have loathed my law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood not, but despised it;

And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be punished, and when: but enquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose the world is, and for whom the world is created.

For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves.

Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,

But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;)