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Whatsoever Lysias the king’s cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.

But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.

But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.

Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.

And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,

Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice.

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.

So they went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief of the families, and said unto them, We will build together with you.

For we likewise, as ye, do obey your Lord, and do sacrifice unto him from the days of Azbazareth the king of the Assyrians, who brought us hither.

We ourselves alone will build unto the Lord of Israel, according as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us.

Let all things be known unto our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the Jews that were of the captivity

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

Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men.

Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men.

Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto thee by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men.

So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

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

For we had said unto the king, that the power of the Lord our God should be with them that seek him, to support them in all ways.

And again we besought our Lord as touching these things, and found him favourable unto us.

And from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was with us: and from the beginning of our journey the Lord delivered us from every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem.

And from the river Theras we departed the twelfth day of the first month, and came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was with us: and from the beginning of our journey the Lord delivered us from every enemy, and so we came to Jerusalem.

And when we had been there three days, the gold and silver that was weighed was delivered in the house of our Lord on the fourth day unto Marmoth the priest the son of Iri.

For ever since the time of our fathers we have been and are in great sin, even unto this day.

And for our sins and our fathers’ we with our brethren and our kings and our priests were given up unto the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame, unto this day.

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;

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 now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we have transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying,

And now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? for we have transgressed thy commandments, which thou gavest by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying,

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.

O Lord of Israel, thou art true: for we are left a root this day.

Behold, now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer by reason of these things before thee.

Behold, now are we before thee in our iniquities, for we cannot stand any longer by reason of these things before thee.

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 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.

Let us make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our wives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their children,

Let us make an oath to the Lord, that we will put away all our wives, which we have taken of the heathen, with their children,

Arise and put in execution: for to thee doth this matter appertain, and we will be with thee: do valiantly.

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

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:

And with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.

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 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.

And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.

The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country.

And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.

And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.

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

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

And I said, Behold, O Lord, yet art thou nigh unto them that be reserved till the end: and what shall they do that have been before me, or we that be now, or they that shall come after us?

And after these, Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy creatures: of him come we all, and the people also whom thou hast chosen.

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

If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?

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.

For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?

And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?

And that the glory of the most High is kept to defend them which have led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?

And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it?

(For we have walked in unpleasant places.)

For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.

For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.

For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.

O Lord, if thou suffer not thy servant, that we may pray before thee, and thou give us seed unto our heart, and culture to our understanding, that there may come fruit of it; how shall each man live that is corrupt, who beareth the place of a man?

For thou art alone, and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like as thou hast said.

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

For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it

After thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbours: and we gave great honour unto the Almighty.

Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night.

And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?

And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?

What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?

What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?

If thou shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been burned in the midst of Sion?

For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said,

For after death shall the judgment come, when we shall live again: and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the works of the ungodly shall be declared.

So I took the five men, as he commanded me, and we went into the field, and remained there.

You promised, out of love for the people of Israel, that if we fall away from you, become afflicted, and then come to this house and pray, you would hear our prayer.

see now, holy King, how through our many and great sins we are crushed and made subject to our enemies, and have become weak and powerless.

‘We have trampled upon the holy house, as idolatrous houses are trampled upon.’

we resolved, not with strength of spear, but with gentleness and much humanity, as it were to nurse the inhabitants of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, and to be their willing benefactors.

So, having bestowed considerable sums of money upon the temples of the several cities, we proceeded even as far as Jerusalem, and went up to honor the temple of these wretched beings who never cease from their folly.

To outward appearance they received us willingly, but belied that appearance by their deeds. When we were eager to enter their temple, and to honor it with the most beautiful and exquisite gifts,

they were so carried away by their old arrogance as to forbid us the entrance, while we, out of our forbearance toward all men, refrained from exercising our power upon them.

We then, having endeavored to make allowance for the madness of these people, and on our victorious return treating all people in Egypt courteously, acted in a manner which was befitting.

Accordingly, bearing no ill will against their kinsmen, but rather remembering our connection with them, and the numerous matters with sincere heart from a remote period entrusted to them, we wished to venture a total alteration of their state, by giving them the rights of citizens of Alexandria, and to admit them to the everlasting rites of our solemnities.

Having then received certain proofs that these Jews bear us every sort of ill will, we must look forward to the possibility of some sudden tumult among ourselves when these impious men may turn traitors and barbarous enemies.

Therefore, as soon as the contents of this letter become known to you, in that same hour we order those Jews who dwell among you, with wives and children, to be sent to us, vilified and abused, in chains of iron, to undergo a cruel and shameful death, suitable to enemies.

For by the punishment of them in one body we perceive that we have found the only means of establishing our affairs for the future on a firm and satisfactory basis.

For by the punishment of them in one body we perceive that we have found the only means of establishing our affairs for the future on a firm and satisfactory basis.

The whole nation was now to be registered. Every individual was to be specified by name, not for that hard servitude of labor which we have a little before mentioned, but that he might expose them to the before-mentioned tortures; and finally, in the short space of a day, might exterminate them by his cruelties.

But the Jews, as we just said, instituted a dance, and then gave themselves up to feasting, glad thanksgiving, and psalms.

We, too, and our children are well. God has directed our affairs as we wish.

We, too, and our children are well. God has directed our affairs as we wish.

For this cause we severely threatened them; yet, with the clemency which we usually extend to all men, we at length permitted them to live. Finding that the God of heaven cast a shield of protection over the Jews so as to preserve them, and that he fought for them as a father always fights for his sons,

For this cause we severely threatened them; yet, with the clemency which we usually extend to all men, we at length permitted them to live. Finding that the God of heaven cast a shield of protection over the Jews so as to preserve them, and that he fought for them as a father always fights for his sons,

For this cause we severely threatened them; yet, with the clemency which we usually extend to all men, we at length permitted them to live. Finding that the God of heaven cast a shield of protection over the Jews so as to preserve them, and that he fought for them as a father always fights for his sons,

and taking into consideration their constancy and fidelity toward us and toward our ancestors, we have, as we ought, acquitted them of every sort of charge.

and taking into consideration their constancy and fidelity toward us and toward our ancestors, we have, as we ought, acquitted them of every sort of charge.

We have dismissed them to their several homes, telling all men everywhere to do them no wrong, or unrighteously revile them about the past.

For know this, that should we conceive any evil design, or in any way aggrieve them, we shall ever have as our adversary, not man, but the highest God, the ruler of all might. From Him there will be no escape, as the avenger of such deeds. Farewell.”

For know this, that should we conceive any evil design, or in any way aggrieve them, we shall ever have as our adversary, not man, but the highest God, the ruler of all might. From Him there will be no escape, as the avenger of such deeds. Farewell.”