then

Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants, and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch.

After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner;

Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.

Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king’s business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.

Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God.

Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.

Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.

Then said the king unto his servants, Carry me away out of the battle; for I am very weak. And immediately his servants took him away out of the battle.

Then gat he up upon his second chariot; and being brought back to Jerusalem died, and was buried in his father’s sepulchre.

And he reigned in Judea and in Jerusalem three months: and then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.

Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his neighbours, with gold, and with silver,

Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem,

Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice, after this manner;

Then king Artexerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.

Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king’s body, spake one to another;

And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow;

And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine;

Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,

Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak.

O ye men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine, that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not women?

Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the truth.

And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.

Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou art found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin.

Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,

Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers and lieutenants and captains and governors, that they should safely convey on their way both him, and all those that go up with him to build Jerusalem.

And that all the country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held:

Then stood up Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren the priests and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and made ready the altar of the God of Israel,

And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old over the works of the Lord. Then stood up Jesus, and his sons and brethren, and Cadmiel his brother, and the sons of Madiabun, with the sons of Joda the son of Eliadun, with their sons and brethren, all Levites, with one accord setters forward of the business, labouring to advance the works in the house of God. So the workmen built the temple of the Lord.

Then Zorobabel and Jesus and the chief of the families of Israel said unto them, It is not for us and you to build together an house unto the Lord our God.

Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them.

Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?

Then the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the foundations of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.

Then commanded king Darius to seek among the records at Babylon: and so at Ecbatane the palace, which is in the country of Media, there was found a roll wherein these things were recorded.

Then Sisinnes the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions following the commandments of king Darius,

Then said Esdras the scribe, Blessed be the only Lord God of my fathers, who hath put these things into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in Jerusalem:

And these I gathered together to the river called Theras, where we pitched our tents three days: and then I surveyed them.

Then sent I unto Eleazar, and Iduel, and Masman,

Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Esebrias, and Assanias, and ten men of their brethren with them:

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.

Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and the holy garment rent, and bowing my knees, and stretching forth my hands unto the Lord,

Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel, called out, and said, O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we have married strange women of the nations of the land, and now is all Israel aloft.

Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,

Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do.

Then Jonathan the son of Azael and Ezechias the son of Theocanus accordingly took this matter upon them: and Mosollam and Levis and Sabbatheus helped them.

Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in the first place in the sight of them all.

Then spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying,

Go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing;

Then went they their way, every one to eat and drink, and make merry, and to give part to them that had nothing, and to make great cheer;

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.

Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so ye did eat angels’ bread.

Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands?

So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.

Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.

So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end: then didst thou raise thee up a servant, called David:

When this was done many years, then they that inhabited the city forsook thee,

Are their deeds then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they should therefore have the dominion over Sion?

For when I came thither, and had seen impieties without number, then my soul saw many evildoers in this thirtieth year, so that my heart failed me.

I do not remember how this way may be left: Are they then of Babylon better than they of Sion?

Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee:

And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past.

Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?

How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight?

Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.

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

Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:

What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked.

Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,

If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good.

Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?

Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety.

Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:

Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,

Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.

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.

Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or what shall happen in those days?

And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall destroy one another; then shall wit hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into his secret chamber,

And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied upon earth.

Then I awaked, and an extreme fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.

Up then, and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.

Then said I unto him, Go thy ways from me, and come not nigh me. And he heard what I said, and went from me.

And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore troubled in mind for Israel’s sake: lovest thou that people better than he that made them?

And he said unto me, Thou canst not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord? whereunto was I born then? or why was not my mother’s womb then my grave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?

And he said unto me, Thou canst not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord? whereunto was I born then? or why was not my mother’s womb then my grave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?

Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to thee the thing that thou labourest to know.

As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof thou askest me?

Then said he unto me, Like as thou canst do none of these things that I have spoken of, even so canst thou not find out my judgment, or in the end the love that I have promised unto my people.

Then answered he me, and said, The creature may not haste above the maker; neither may the world hold them at once that shall be created therein.

Then said he unto me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those that be sown in it in their times.

Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy sight, shew thy servant by whom thou visitest thy creature.

Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.

Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder of the times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth?

I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,

And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament, and they shall see all together:

And then was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man’s voice was not yet formed.

Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.

Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leviathan;

And I said, Speak on, my God. Then said he unto me, The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great.

Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?

And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel’s portion.