1. Ezra 4

¹Kralın gücü hakkında konuşmuş olan ikinci genç konuşmaya başladı:

²"Ey insanlar, yeryüzüne, denize ve içlerindeki her şeye hükmederek egemen olan insanoğulları güçte en üstün olanlar değil midir?

³Fakat kral hepsinden daha üstündür; o bunların hepsine egemendir ve onlara mutlak bir şekilde hükmeder. Onlara ne söylerse sözünü dinlerler.

⁴Eğer onlara birbirleriyle savaşmalarını söylerse bunu yaparlar; eğer onları düşmanlara karşı sefere gönderirse giderler; dağları, surları ve kuleleri yerle bir ederler.

⁵Öldürürler ve öldürülürler, ama kralın sözünün dışına asla çıkmazlar. Eğer zafer kazanırlarsa, yağmaladıkları her şeyi ve diğer tüm şeyleri krala getirirler.

⁶Askerlik yapmayan, savaşmayan, aksine toprağı işleyen çiftçiler bile, ekip biçtikten sonra hasat ettiklerini krala sunarlar; krala vergilerini ödemek için birbirlerini zorlarlar.

⁷Oysa kendisi tek bir insandır: Öldürün derse öldürürler, salıverin derse salıverirler.

⁸Vurun derse vururlar, harap edin derse harap ederler, inşa edin derse inşa ederler.

⁹Kesin derse keserler, dikin derse dikerler.

¹⁰Bütün halkı ve orduları onun sözünü dinler. Kendisi ise sofrasına uzanır, yer, içer ve uyur.

¹¹Diğerleri ise onun çevresinde nöbet tutar; hiçbiri kendi işine gitmek için oradan ayrılamaz ve onun sözünden çıkamazlar.

¹²Ey insanlar, kendisine bu denli itaat edildiğine göre, kral en güçlü olan değil midir?" Ve sustu.

¹³Kadınlar ve gerçek hakkında konuşmuş olan üçüncü genç –ki bu Zerubbabel'dir– konuşmaya başladı: "Ey insanlar,

¹⁴kral büyük değil mi, insanlar çok değil mi ve şarap güçlü değil mi? Öyleyse onlara egemen olan, onlara hükmeden kimdir? Kadınlar değil mi?

¹⁵Denize ve karaya hükmeden kralı ve tüm halkı kadınlar doğurdu.

¹⁶Onlar kadınlardan doğdular; şarabın elde edildiği bağları dikenleri büyütüp besleyenler de kadınlardır.

¹⁷Erkeklerin görkemli kaftanlarını yapan onlardır, erkeklere şan ve şeref kazandıran onlardır; erkekler kadınlar olmadan var olamazlar.

¹⁸İnsanlar altın, gümüş ve her türlü güzel şeyi toplasalar bile, görünüşü ve endamı güzel tek bir kadın gördüklerinde,

¹⁹bütün bunları bırakıp gözlerini ona dikerler, ağızları açık bir şekilde ona bakarlar; herkes onu altına, gümüşe ve her türlü güzel şeye tercih eder.

²⁰İnsan kendisini büyütüp besleyen babasını ve kendi ülkesini bırakıp karısına sıkı sıkıya bağlanır.

²¹Karısıyla birlikte canını teslim eder; ne babasını, ne annesini, ne de ülkesini hatırlar.

²²Buradan kadınların size egemen olduğunu anlamalısınız. Ağır işlerde didinip çalışmıyor musunuz, sonra da her şeyi getirip kadınlara vermiyor musunuz?

²³İnsan kılıcını kuşanır, yola koyulur; yağmalamak, çalmak, denizlerde ve nehirlerde yelken açmak için gider.

²⁴Aslanla karşı karşıya gelir, karanlıkta yürür; çaldığında, yağmaladığında ve soygun yaptığında, bunları sevgilisine getirip sunar.

²⁵Bu yüzden insan karısını babasından ve annesinden daha çok sever.

²⁶Birçokları kadınlar yüzünden akıllarını yitirdi ve onlar yüzünden köle oldu.

²⁷Birçokları da kadınlar yüzünden yok oldu, yoldan saptı ve günah işledi.

²⁸Şimdi bana inanmıyor musunuz? Kral yetkisinde büyük değil midir? Bütün ülkeler ona dokunmaktan korkmaz mı?

²⁹Ben onu ve harika Bartakos'un kızı olan kralın cariyesi Apame'yi gördüm; kralın sağında oturuyordu.

³⁰Kralın başından tacı alıp kendi başına koyuyor, sol eliyle de kralı tokatlıyordu.

³¹Buna rağmen kral ağzı açık bir şekilde ona bakıyordu. Kadın ona gülerse o da gülüyor, eğer kadın ona öfkelenirse, kendisiyle barışsın diye ona yaltaklanıyordu.

³²Ey insanlar, bu kadarını yapabildiklerine göre kadınlar güçlü değil midir?"

³³O zaman kral ve soylular birbirlerine baktılar. Ve Zerubbabel gerçek hakkında konuşmaya başladı:

³⁴"Ey insanlar, kadınlar güçlü değil midir? Dünya büyüktür, gökyüzü yüksektir, güneş yolunda hızlıdır; çünkü gök kubbede döner ve bir günde yine kendi yerine geri koşar.

³⁵Bunları yapan büyük değil midir? Gerçek de büyüktür ve her şeyden daha güçlüdür.

³⁶Bütün yeryüzü gerçeği çağırır, gökyüzü onu kutsar; bütün işler onun önünde sarsılır ve titrer, onda hiçbir haksızlık yoktur.

³⁷Şarap haksızdır, kral haksızdır, kadınlar haksızdır, bütün insanoğulları haksızdır ve onların bütün bu işleri haksızdır; onlarda gerçek yoktur ve haksızlıkları içinde yok olacaklardır.

³⁸Ama gerçek sonsuza dek kalır ve güçlüdür, sonsuzlar boyunca yaşar ve egemen olur.

³⁹Onun katında hatır saymak ya da rüşvet almak yoktur; o, her türlü haksızlığa ve kötülüğe karşı adil olanı yapar. Herkes onun işlerinden hoşnut kalır, onun yargısında hiçbir haksızlık yoktur.

⁴⁰Güç, krallık, yetki ve yücelik sonsuzlar boyunca onundur. Gerçeğin Tanrısı'na övgüler olsun!"

⁴¹Konuşmasını bitirdiğinde bütün halk haykırdı ve şöyle dedi: "Gerçek büyüktür ve her şeyden üstündür!"

⁴²O zaman kral ona şöyle dedi: "Yazılı olandan daha fazlasını iste, ne istersen sana vereceğiz; çünkü en bilge sen çıktın. Yanımda oturacaksın ve akrabam olarak adlandırılacaksın."

⁴³O zaman krala şöyle dedi: "Krallığını devraldığın gün Yeruşalim'i inşa etmek için ettiğin adağı hatırla.

⁴⁴Koreş'in Babil'i yok etmeye adak adadığında ayırdığı ve oraya geri göndermeyi adadığı, Yeruşalim'den alınmış olan bütün kapları geri gönder.

⁴⁵Yahudiye, Kildaniler tarafından viran edildiğinde, Edomluların ateşe verdiği tapınağı inşa etmeyi sen de adamıştın.

⁴⁶Ve şimdi, ey efendim kral, senden dilediğim ve istediğim budur; senin büyüklüğünden beklenen cömertlik budur. Göklerin Kralı'na kendi ağzınla verdiğin sözü, ettiğin adağı yerine getirmeni diliyorum."

⁴⁷Bunun üzerine Kral Darius ayağa kalkıp onu öptü. Yeruşalim'i inşa etmek için onunla birlikte yukarı çıkacak olan herkesi güvenle götürmeleri için bütün kahyalara, valilere, komutanlara ve satraplara mektuplar yazdı.

⁴⁸Çukur Suriye, Fenike ve Lübnan'daki bütün valilere, Lübnan'dan Yeruşalim'e sedir ağaçları taşımaları ve onunla birlikte kenti inşa etmeleri için mektuplar yazdı.

⁴⁹Krallığından Yahudiye'ye çıkan bütün Yahudilerin özgürlüğü için mektup yazdı; hiçbir memur, vali, satrap ya da kahya onların kapılarından içeri zorla girmeyecekti.

⁵⁰Sahip oldukları bütün topraklar vergiden muaf olacaktı ve Edomlular, Yahudilerden zorla aldıkları köyleri geri vereceklerdi.

⁵¹Tapınak inşa edilene kadar, onun inşası için her yıl yirmi talant verilecekti.

⁵²Ve sunak üzerinde her gün yakmalık sunular sunulması için –on yedi sunu sunulması buyruğuna ek olarak– her yıl on talant daha verilecekti.

⁵³Babil'den kenti inşa etmek için giden herkesin, kendilerinin, soylarının ve giden bütün kahinlerin özgürlüğü olacaktı.

⁵⁴Onların geçimini ve hizmet ederken giyecekleri kahinlik giysilerini de yazdı.

⁵⁵Tapınak tamamlanana ve Yeruşalim inşa edilene kadar Levililerin geçiminin sağlanmasını yazdı.

⁵⁶Kenti koruyan herkes için onlara paylar ve ücretler verilmesini buyurdu.

⁵⁷Koreş'in Babil'den ayırdığı bütün kapları geri gönderdi; Koreş'in yapılmasını buyurduğu her şeyin yapılmasını ve Yeruşalim'e gönderilmesini kendisi de buyurdu.

⁵⁸Genç adam dışarı çıktığında, yüzünü Yeruşalim'e doğru göğe kaldırarak Göklerin Kralı'nı övdü ve şöyle dedi:

⁵⁹"Zafer sendendir, bilgelik sendendir, görkem senindir ve ben senin kulunum.

⁶⁰Bana bilgelik veren sen kutsalsın; sana şükrederim, ey atalarımızın Rabbi."

⁶¹Mektupları alıp dışarı çıktı, Babil'e geldi ve bütün kardeşlerine durumu bildirdi.

⁶²Atalarının Tanrısı'na övgüler sundular; çünkü onlara Yeruşalim'e çıkıp gitme,

⁶³kendi adıyla anılan tapınağı ve kenti inşa etme özgürlüğünü ve iznini vermişti. Ve yedi gün boyunca müzikle ve sevinçle şölen yaptılar.

¹ΚΑΙ ἤρξατο ὁ δεύτερος λαλεῖν, ὁ εἴπας περὶ τῆς ἰσχύος τοῦ βασιλέως·

²ὦ ἄνδρες, οὐχ ὑπερισχύουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν κατακρατοῦντες καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς;

³ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ὑπερισχύει καὶ κυριεύει αὐτῶν καὶ δεσπόζει αὐτῶν, καὶ πᾶν ὃ ἐὰν εἴπῃ αὐτοῖς, ἐνακούουσιν.

⁴ἐὰν εἴπῃ αὐτοῖς ποιῆσαι πόλεμον ἕτερος πρὸς τὸν ἕτερον, ποιοῦσιν· ἐὰν δὲ ἐξαποστείλῃ αὐτοὺς πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους, βαδίζουσι καὶ κατεργάζονται τὰ ὄρη καὶ τὰ τείχη καὶ τοὺς πύργους,

⁵φονεύουσι καὶ φονεύονται, καὶ τὸν λόγον τοῦ βασιλέως οὐ παραβαίνουσιν· ἐὰν δὲ νικήσωσι, τῷ βασιλεῖ κομίζουσι πάντα, καὶ ὅσα ἐὰν προνομεύσωσι καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα.

⁶καὶ ὅσοι οὐ στρατεύονται οὐδὲ πολεμοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ γεωργοῦσι τὴν γῆν, πάλιν ὅταν σπείρωσι, θερίσαντες ἀναφέρουσι τῷ βασιλεῖ· καὶ ἕτερος τὸν ἕτερον ἀναγκάζοντες ἀναφέρουσι τοὺς φόρους τῷ βασιλεῖ.

⁷καὶ αὐτὸς εἷς μόνος ἐστίν· ἐὰν εἴπῃ ἀποκτεῖναι, ἀποκτέννουσιν· ἐὰν εἴπῃ ἀφεῖναι, ἀφιοῦσιν·

⁸εἶπε πατάξαι, τύπτουσιν· εἶπεν ἐρημῶσαι, ἐρημοῦσιν· εἶπεν οἰκοδομῆσαι, οἰκοδομοῦσιν·

⁹εἶπεν ἐκκόψαι, ἐκκόπτουσιν· εἶπε φυτεῦσαι, φυτεύουσι.

¹⁰καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτοῦ ἐνακούουσι. πρὸς δὲ τούτοις, αὐτὸς ἀνάκειται, ἐσθίει καὶ πίνει καὶ καθεύδει,

¹¹αὐτοὶ δὲ τηροῦσι κύκλῳ περὶ αὐτὸν καὶ οὐ δύνανται ἕκαστος ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ποιεῖν τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ παρακούουσιν αὐτοῦ.

¹²ὦ ἄνδρες, πῶς οὐχ ὑπερισχύει ὁ βασιλεύς, ὅτι οὕτως ἐπάκουστός ἐστι; καὶ ἐσίγησεν.

¹³῾Ο δὲ τρίτος ὁ εἴπας περὶ τῶν γυναικῶν καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας -οὗτός ἐστι Ζοροβάβελ- ἤρξατο λαλεῖν· ἄνδρες,

¹⁴οὐ μέγας ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ πολλοὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι καὶ ὁ οἶνος ἰσχύει; τίς οὖν ὁ δεσπόζων αὐτῶν ἢ τίς ὁ κυριεύων αὐτῶν; οὐχ αἱ γυναῖκες;

¹⁵αἱ γυναῖκες ἐγέννησαν τὸν βασιλέα καὶ πάντα τὸν λαόν, ὃς κυριεύει τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ τῆς γῆς·

¹⁶καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐγένοντο, καὶ αὗται ἐξέθρεψαν αὐτοὺς τοὺς φυτεύσαντας τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας, ἐξ ὧν ὁ οἶνος γίνεται.

¹⁷καὶ αὗται ποιοῦσι τὰς στολὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ αὗται ποιοῦσι δόξαν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, καὶ οὐ δύνανται οἱ ἄνθρωποι χωρὶς τῶν γυναικῶν εἶναι.

¹⁸ἐὰν δὲ συναγάγωσι χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον καὶ πᾶν πρᾶγμα ὡραῖον καὶ ἴδωσι γυναῖκα μίαν καλὴν τῷ εἴδει καὶ τῷ κάλλει,

¹⁹ταῦτα πάντα ἀφέντες, εἰς αὐτὴν ἐκκέχηναν καὶ χάσκοντες τὸ στόμα θεωροῦσιν αὐτήν, καὶ πάντες αὐτὴν αἱρετίζουσι μᾶλλον ἢ τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ πᾶν πρᾶγμα ὡραῖον.

²⁰ἄνθρωπος τὸν ἑαυτοῦ πατέρα ἐγκαταλείπει, ὃς ἐξέθρεψεν αὐτόν, καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν χώραν καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν γυναῖκα κολλᾶται

²¹καὶ μετὰ τῆς γυναικὸς ἀφίησι τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ οὔτε τὸν πατέρα μέμνηται οὔτε τὴν μητέρα οὔτε τὴν χώραν.

²²καὶ ἐντεῦθεν δεῖ ὑμᾶς γνῶναι ὅτι αἱ γυναῖκες κυριεύουσιν ὑμῶν· οὐχὶ πονεῖτε καὶ μοχθεῖτε, καὶ πάντα ταῖς γυναιξὶ δίδοτε καὶ φέρετε;

²³καὶ λαμβάνει ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκπορεύεται ἐξοδεύειν καὶ λῃστεύειν καὶ κλέπτειν καὶ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν πλεῖν καὶ ποταμούς·

²⁴καὶ τὸν λέοντα θεωρεῖ καὶ ἐν σκότει βαδίζει, καὶ ὅταν κλέψῃ καὶ ἁρπάσῃ καὶ λωποδυτήσῃ, τῇ ἐρωμένῃ ἀποφέρει.

²⁵καὶ πλεῖον ἀγαπᾷ ἄνθρωπος τὴν ἰδίαν γυναῖκα μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα·

²⁶καὶ πολλοὶ ἀπενοήθησαν· ταῖς ἰδίαις διανοίαις διὰ τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ δοῦλοι ἐγένοντο δι᾿ αὐτάς,

²⁷καὶ πολλοὶ ἀπώλοντο καὶ ἐσφάλησαν καὶ ἡμάρτοσαν διὰ τὰς γυναῖκας.

²⁸καὶ νῦν οὐ πιστεύετέ μοι; οὐχὶ μέγας ὁ βασιλεὺς τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ; οὐχὶ πᾶσαι αἱ χῶραι εὐλαβοῦνται ἅψασθαι αὐτοῦ;

²⁹ἐθεώρουν αὐτὸν καὶ ᾿Απάμην τὴν θυγατέρα Βαρτάκου τοῦ θαυμαστοῦ, τὴν παλλακὴν τοῦ βασιλέως, καθημένην ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ βασιλέως

³⁰καὶ ἀφαιροῦσαν τὸ διάδημα ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐπιτιθοῦσαν ἑαυτῇ καὶ ἐρράπιζε τὸν βασιλέα τῇ ἀριστερᾷ·

³¹καὶ πρὸς τούτοις ὁ βασιλεὺς χάσκων τὸ στόμα ἐθεώρει αὐτήν. καὶ ἐὰν προσγελάσῃ αὐτῷ, γελᾷ· ἐὰν δὲ πικρανθῇ ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, κολακεύει αὐτήν, ὅπως διαλλαγῇ αὐτῷ.

³²ὦ ἄνδρες, πῶς οὐχὶ ἰσχυραὶ αἱ γυναῖκες, ὅτι οὕτως πράσσουσι;

³³καὶ τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες ἔβλεπον εἷς τὸν ἕτερον. καὶ ἤρξατο λαλεῖν περὶ τῆς ἀληθείας.

³⁴ἄνδρες, οὐχὶ ἰσχυραὶ αἱ γυναῖκες; μεγάλη ἡ γῆ καὶ ὑψηλὸς ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ταχὺς τῷ δρόμῳ ὁ ἥλιος, ὅτι στρέφεται ἐν τῷ κύκλῳ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πάλιν ἀποτρέχει εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ.

³⁵οὐχὶ μέγας ὃς ταῦτα ποιεῖ; καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια μεγάλη καὶ ἰσχυροτέρα παρὰ πάντα.

³⁶πᾶσα ἡ γῆ τὴν ἀλήθειαν καλεῖ, καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς αὐτὴν εὐλογεῖ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα σείεται καὶ τρέμει, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι μετ᾿ αὐτῆς ἄδικον οὐδέν.

³⁷ἄδικος ὁ οἶνος, ἄδικος ὁ βασιλεύς, ἄδικοι αἱ γυναῖκες, ἄδικοι πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἄδικα πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν τὰ τοιαῦτα· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἀλήθεια, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀδικίᾳ αὐτῶν ἀπολοῦνται.

³⁸ἡ δὲ ἀλήθεια μένει καὶ ἰσχύει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ ζῇ καὶ κρατεῖ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.

³⁹καὶ οὐκ ἔστι παρ᾿ αὐτὴν λαμβάνειν πρόσωπα, οὐδὲ διάφορα, ἀλλὰ τὰ δίκαια ποιεῖ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἀδίκων καὶ πονηρῶν· καὶ πάντες εὐδοκοῦσι τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ κρίσει αὐτῆς οὐδὲν ἄδικον.

⁴⁰καὶ αὐτῇ ἡ ἰσχὺς καὶ τὸ βασίλειον καὶ ἡ ἐξουσία καὶ ἡ μεγαλειότης τῶν πάντων αἰώνων. εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεὸς τῆς ἀληθείας.

⁴¹καὶ ἐσιώπησε τοῦ λαλεῖν· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τότε ἐφώνησε, καὶ τότε εἶπον· μεγάλη ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ὑπερισχύει.

⁴²Τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· αἴτησαι ὃ θέλεις πλείω τῶν γεγραμμένων, καὶ δώσομέν σοι ὃν τρόπον εὑρέθης σοφώτερος, καὶ ἐχόμενός μου καθήσῃ, καὶ συγγενής μου κληθήσῃ.

⁴³τότε εἶπε τῷ βασιλεῖ· μνήσθητι τὴν εὐχήν, ἣν ηὔξω, οἰκοδομῆσαι τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ᾗ τὸ βασίλειόν σου παρέλαβες,

⁴⁴καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη τὰ ληφθέντα ἐξ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐκπέμψαι, ἃ ἐχώρισε Κῦρος, ὅτε ηὔξατο ἐκκόψαι Βαβυλῶνα, καὶ ηὔξατο ἐξαποστεῖλαι ἐκεῖ.

⁴⁵καὶ σὺ ηὔξω οἰκοδομῆσαι τὸν ναόν, ὃν ἐνεπύρισαν οἱ ᾿Ιδουμαῖοι, ὅτε ἠρημώθη ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία ὑπὸ τῶν Χαλδαίων.

⁴⁶καὶ νῦν τοῦτό ἐστιν, ὅ σε ἀξιῶ, κύριε βασιλεῦ, καὶ ὃ αἰτοῦμαί σε, καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μεγαλωσύνη ἡ παρὰ σοῦ· δέομαι οὖν ἵνα ποιήσῃς τὴν εὐχήν, ἣν ηὔξω τῷ βασιλεῖ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ποιῆσαι ἐκ στόματός σου.

⁴⁷τότε ἀναστὰς Δαρεῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς κατεφίλησεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἔγραψεν αὐτῷ τὰς ἐπιστολὰς πρὸς πάντας τοὺς οἰκονόμους καὶ τοπάρχας καὶ στρατηγοὺς καὶ σατράπας, ἵνα προπέμψωσιν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πάντας ἀναβαίνοντας οἰκοδομῆσαι τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ.

⁴⁸καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς τοπάρχαις ἐν κοίλῃ Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῷ Λιβάνῳ ἔγραψεν ἐπιστολὰς μεταφέρειν ξύλα κέδρινα ἀπὸ τοῦ Λιβάνου εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ὅπως οἰκοδομήσωσι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὴν πόλιν.

⁴⁹καὶ ἔγραψε πᾶσι τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις τοῖς ἀναβαίνουσιν ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας εἰς τὴν ᾿Ιουδαίαν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐλευθερίας, πάντα δυνατὸν καὶ τοπάρχην καὶ σατράπην καὶ οἰκονόμον μὴ ἀπελεύσεσθαι ἐπὶ τὰς θύρας αὐτῶν,

⁵⁰καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν χώραν, ἣν κρατοῦσιν, ἀφορολόγητον αὐτοῖς ὑπάρχειν, καὶ ἵνα οἱ ᾿Ιδουμαῖοι ἀφίωσι τὰς κώμας, ἃς διακρατοῦσι τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων,

⁵¹καὶ εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ ἱεροῦ δοθῆναι κατ᾿ ἐνιαυτὸν τάλαντα εἴκοσι μέχρι τοῦ οἰκοδομηθῆναι,

⁵²καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον ὁλοκαυτώματα καρποῦσθαι καθ᾿ ἡμέραν, καθὰ ἔχουσιν ἐντολὴν ἑπτακαίδεκα προσφέρειν, ἄλλα τάλαντα, δέκα κατ᾿ ἐνιαυτόν,

⁵³καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς προσβαίνουσιν ἀπὸ τῆς Βαβυλωνίας κτίσαι τὴν πόλιν, ὑπάρχειν τὴν ἐλευθερίαν, αὐτοῖς τε καὶ τοῖς ἐκγόνοις αὐτῶν, καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἱερεῦσι τοῖς προσβαίνουσιν.

⁵⁴ἔγραψε δὲ καὶ τὴν χορηγίαν καὶ τὴν ἱερατικὴν στολήν, ἐν τίνι λατρεύουσιν ἐν αὐτῇ.

⁵⁵καὶ τοῖς Λευίταις ἔγραψε δοῦναι τὴν χορηγίαν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας, ἧς ἐπιτελεσθῇ ὁ οἶκος καὶ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ οἰκοδομηθῆναι,

⁵⁶καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς φρουροῦσι τὴν πόλιν ἔγραψε δοῦναι αὐτοῖς κλήρους καὶ ὀψώνια.

⁵⁷καὶ ἐξαπέστειλε πάντα τὰ σκεύη, ἃ ἐχώρισε Κῦρος ἀπὸ Βαβυλῶνος· καὶ πάντα, ὅσα εἶπε Κῦρος ποιῆσαι, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπέταξε ποιῆσαι καὶ ἐξαποστεῖλαι εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλήμ.

⁵⁸Καὶ ὅτε ἐξῆλθεν ὁ νεανίσκος, ἄρας τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐναντίον ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ εὐλόγησε τῷ βασιλεῖ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ λέγων·

⁵⁹παρὰ σοῦ νίκη, καὶ παρὰ σοῦ ἡ σοφία, καὶ σὴ ἡ δόξα καὶ ἐγὼ σὸς οἰκέτης.

⁶⁰εὐλογητὸς εἶ, ὃς ἔδωκάς μοι σοφίαν, καὶ σοὶ ὁμολογῶ, δέσποτα τῶν πατέρων.

⁶¹καὶ ἔλαβε τὰς ἐπιστολὰς καὶ ἐξῆλθε καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα καὶ ἀπήγγειλε τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶσι.

⁶²καὶ εὐλόγησαν τὸν Θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἄνεσιν καὶ ἄφεσιν

⁶³ἀναβῆναι καὶ οἰκοδομῆσαι τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ τὸ ἱερόν, οὗ ὠνομάσθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ. καὶ ἐκωθωνίζοντο μετὰ μουσικῶν καὶ χαρᾶς ἡμέρας ἑπτά.

¹Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,

²O ye men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and land and all things in them?

³But 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.

⁴If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and break down mountains walls and towers.

⁵They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king’s commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else.

⁶Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbandry, 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.

⁷And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare;

⁸If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they build;

⁹If he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant.

¹⁰So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth down, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest:

¹¹And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in any thing.

¹²O ye men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his tongue.

¹³Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak.

¹⁴O 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?

¹⁵Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land.

¹⁶Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh.

¹⁷These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot men be.

¹⁸Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely in favour and beauty?

¹⁹And letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire unto her than unto silver or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever?

²⁰A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his wife.

²¹He sticketh not to spend his life with his wife. and remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country.

²²By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil, and give and bring all to the woman?

²³Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;

²⁴And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.

²⁵Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.

²⁶Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sakes.

²⁷Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.

²⁸And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him?

²⁹Yet did I see him and Apame the king’s concubine, the daughter of the admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king,

³⁰And taking the crown from the king’s head, and setting it upon her own head; she also struck the king with her left hand.

³¹And 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.

³²O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?

³³Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the truth.

³⁴O ye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day.

³⁵Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is the truth, and stronger than all things.

³⁶All the earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing.

³⁷Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish.

³⁸As for the truth, it endureth, and is Always strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore.

³⁹With 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.

⁴⁰Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth.

⁴¹And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.

⁴²Then 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.

⁴³Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,

⁴⁴And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again thither.

⁴⁵Thou also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldees.

⁴⁶And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality proceeding from thyself: I desire therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast vowed to the King of heaven.

⁴⁷Then 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.

⁴⁸He wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him.

⁴⁹Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors;

⁵⁰And 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:

⁵¹Yea, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built;

⁵²And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen.

⁵³And that all they that went from Babylon to build the city should have free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that went away.

⁵⁴He wrote also concerning. the charges, and the priests’ vestments wherein they minister;

⁵⁵And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up.

⁵⁶And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages.

⁵⁷He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem.

⁵⁸Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,

⁵⁹And said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and thine is the glory, and I am thy servant.

⁶⁰Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.

⁶¹And so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon, and told it all his brethren.

⁶²And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and liberty

⁶³To go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and they feasted with instruments of musick and gladness seven days.