I Esdras 9

¹And Esdras risynge up fro the fore porche of the temple, wente in to the celle of Jonathe, the sone of Nazaby.

²And he herbowrewid there, tastide no bred, ne dronke watir, for the wickidnessis of the multitude.

³And ther was maad a prechyng in al Judee and in Jerusalem, to alle that weren of the caitiftee gederid in Jerusalem,

⁴Who so euer ayen comith not to the secounde or the thrid day, aftir the doom of the eldre men sittynge, his facultees schul be taken awey, and he be demed alien fro the multitude of the caitiftee.

⁵And alle, that weren of the lynage of Judee and of Beniamyn, weren gedrid togidre, thre daies in Jerusalem; this is the nynthe monthe, the twentithe day of the monthe.

⁶And al the multitude saat in the floor of the temple, tremblynge for wyntir thanne beynge.

⁷And Esdras risynge up, seide to Israel, Ye han do wickidly, settynge to you in to matrimonye hethen wyues, that ye adde to the synnes of Israel.

⁸And now yiue ye to the Lord God of oure fadris confessioun, and gret worthynesse;

⁹and perfourme ye his will, and goth awey fro the hethene folc of the lond, and fro hethene wyues.

¹⁰And al the multitude criede, and thei seiden with a gret voice, We schul do, as thou hast seid.

¹¹But for the multitude is gret, and the tyme is wyntir, and we mowen not stonde vnholpen, and this werk is not to us of oo day, ne of two; myche we haue synned in thes thingis;

¹²therfor stonde the prouostis of the multitude, and alle that dwellen with us, and hou many euere han anentis hem hethen wijues;

¹³and stonde thei nyy in the tyme that is take, prestis, and domesmen, til that thei lousen the wraththe of the Lord, of this nede.

¹⁴Jonathas forsothe, the sone of Ezely, and Ozias, Thethan, token aftir thes thingis, and Bosoramus, and Leuys, and Satheus wrouyten togidre with hem.

¹⁵And alle that weren of the caitiftee stoden there, aftir alle thes thingis.

¹⁶And Esdras, prest, chees to him men, grete princis, of the fadris of hem, aftir the names; and thei seten togidre, in the newe moone of the tenthe monthe, to examyne this nede.

¹⁷And it is determyned of the men, that hadden hethen wyues, vnto the newe mones of the firste monthe.

¹⁸And ther ben founden mengid among of the prestis, that hadden hethen wiues;

¹⁹of the sones of Jesu, the sone of Josedech, and of his bretheren, Maseas, and Eleeserus, and Joribus, and Joadeus.

²⁰And thei leiden her hoondis, that thei schuldn putte awey their wyues, and for to sacrifie a ram, in to preier for their ignoraunce.

²¹And of the sones of Semmery, Masseas, and Esses, and Geley, Azarias;

²²and of the sonus of Phosore, Leomasias, Hismaenis, and Nathanae, Jussio, Jeddus, and Talsas.

²³And of the dekens, Josabdus, and Semeis, and Cholitus, and Calitas, and Phacceas, and Coluas, and Elionas.

²⁴And of the halewid syngers, Eliazub, Zacturus.

²⁵And of the vsschers, Salumus, and Thosbanes.

²⁶And of Israel, of the sones of Phorcosy, and Remyas, and Jeddias, and Melchias, and Mychelus, and Eleazarus, and Jemebias, and Bannas.

²⁷And of the sones of Jolamani, Anias, and Zacharias, Jerselus, and Jobdius, and Erymath, and Elias.

²⁸And of the sonus of Sachon, Eleadas, and Eleasumus, and Othias, and Jarymoth, and Zabdis, and Thebedias.

²⁹And of the sones of Bedo, Johannes, and Amanyas, and Zabdias, and Emetis.

³⁰And of the sonus of Banny, Olamus, and Mallucus, and Jeddeus, and Jazub, and Azabus, and Jerymoth.

³¹And of the sones of Addyn, Naathus, and Moosias, and Calemus, and Raanas, and Baseas, Mathatias, and Bethsel, and Bonnus, and Manasses.

³²And of the sones of Myaie, Nenyas, and Apheas, and Melcheas, and Sameas, and Symon, Beniamyn, and Malchus, and Marias.

³³Of the sones of Azom, Cartaneus, Mathatias, and Bannus, and Eliphalath, and Manasses, and Semey.

³⁴Of the sones of Banny, Jeremias, and Moodias, and Abramus, and Johel, and Baneas, and Pelias, and Jonas, and Marymoth, and Eliazub, and Mathaneus, and Eleazis, and Ozias, and Dielus, and Samedius, and Zambris, and Josephus.

³⁵And of the sones of Nobey, Ydelus, and Mathatias, and Zaladus, and Setheda, Sedym, and Jessei, Baneas.

³⁶Alle these ioyneden to hem hethen wyues, and leften hem, with her sones.

³⁷And prestis, and dekens, and thei that weren of Israel, dwelliden in Jerusalem in an oo regioun, the newe moone of the seuenthe monthe; and the sones of Israel weren in their abidyngis.

³⁸And al the multitude gedride togidre in the floor, that is fro the eest of the halewid yate.

³⁹And thei seiden to Esdre, bisschop and reder, that he schulde brynge forth the lawe of Moises, that was youen of the Lord God of Israel.

⁴⁰And Esdras, the bisschop, brouyte forth the lawe to al the multitude of hem, fro man vn to womman, and to alle the prestis, to here the lawe, in the newe moone of the seuenthe monthe.

⁴¹And he radde in the floor, that is bifore the hooly yate of the temple, fro the firste liyt of the daie vnto euyn, bifore men and wymmen; and alle thei yauen witt to the lawe.

⁴²And Esdras, the prest, and redere of the lawe, stood upon the treen chaier, that was maad therfore.

⁴³And ther stoden with him Mathatias, and Samus, and Ananyas, Azarias, Vrias, Ezechias, and Balsamus, at the riyt side;

⁴⁴and at the left side, Phaleleus, Mysael, Malachias, Abustas, Sabus, Nabadias, and Zacharias.

⁴⁵And Esdras took a book bifore al the multitude; forsothe he sate bifore in worschip, in the siyt of alle.

⁴⁶And whanne he hadde assoilid the lawe, alle thei stoden upright. And Esdras blesside the Lord God, alther hiyest God of Sabaoth, al myyti.

⁴⁷And al the peple answeride, Amen. And efte thei reisyden up her hondis, and fallynge doun vnto the erthe, thei honouriden the Lord.

⁴⁸And Esdras comaundide, that these schulden teche the lawe, Jesus, and Banaeus, and Sarabias, and Jadmus, and Accubus, and Sabatheus, and Calithes, and Azarias, and Joradus, and Ananyas, and Philas, dekens.

⁴⁹The whiche tauyten the lawe of the Lord, and in the multitude thei radden the lawe of the Lord; and eche bi him self, that vndirstoden the lesson, tolde it before hem.

⁵⁰And Atharathes seide to Esdre, the bisschop and redere, and to the Leuytis that tauyten the multitude,

⁵¹seiynge, This day is hooly to the Lord. And alle thei wepten, whanne thei hadden herd the lawe.

⁵²And Esdras seide, Ye therfore, aftir ye ben gon atwynne, eteth alle moost fatte thingis, and drynketh alle mooste swete, and sende ye yiftis to hem that han not;

⁵³forsothe this day of the Lord is hooly; and be ye not sory, the Lord forsothe schal clarifie vs.

⁵⁴And the dekens denounciden, or schewiden, openly to alle men, seiynge, This day is hooly; wille ye not be sory.

⁵⁵And thanne alle thei wenten awey, to ete, and to drynke, and to haue plentee of mete, and to yiue yiftis to hem that han not, wheroff to ete plenteuously. Gretly forsothe thei ben enhaunsid in the wordis, with the whiche thei ben tauyt.

⁵⁶And alle thei weren gadrid in to Jerusalem, to make solempne the gladnesse, aftir the testament of the Lord God of Israel.

I Esdras 9

¹Then Esdras rising from the court of the temple went to the chamber of Joanan the son of Eliasib,

²And remained there, and did eat no meat nor drink water, mourning for the great iniquities of the multitude.

³And there was a proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them that were of the captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem:

⁴And that whosoever met not there within two or three days according as the elders that bare rule appointed, their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple, and himself cast out from them that were of the captivity.

⁵And in three days were all they of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin gathered together at Jerusalem the twentieth day of the ninth month.

⁶And all the multitude sat trembling in the broad court of the temple because of the present foul weather.

⁷So Esdras arose up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed the law in marrying strange wives, thereby to increase the sins of Israel.

⁸And now by confessing give glory unto the Lord God of our fathers,

⁹And do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from the strange women.

¹⁰Then cried the whole multitude, and said with a loud voice, Like as thou hast spoken, so will we do.

¹¹But 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:

¹²Therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all them of our habitations that have strange wives come at the time appointed,

¹³And with them the rulers and judges of every place, till we turn away the wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.

¹⁴Then 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.

¹⁵And they that were of the captivity did according to all these things.

¹⁶And Esdras the priest chose unto him the principal men of their families, all by name: and in the first day of the tenth month they sat together to examine the matter.

¹⁷So their cause that held strange wives was brought to an end in the first day of the first month.

¹⁸And of the priests that were come together, and had strange wives, there were found:

¹⁹Of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren; Matthelas and Eleazar, and Joribus and Joadanus.

²⁰And they gave their hands to put away their wives and to offer rams to make reconcilement for their errors.

²¹And of the sons of Emmer; Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Eanes, and Sameius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.

²²And of the sons of Phaisur; Elionas, Massias Israel, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus and Talsas.

²³And of the Levites; Jozabad, and Semis, and Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Judas, and Jonas.

²⁴Of the holy singers; Eleazurus, Bacchurus.

²⁵Of the porters; Sallumus, and Tolbanes.

²⁶Of them of Israel, of the sons of Phoros; Hiermas, and Eddias, and Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Baanias.

²⁷Of the sons of Ela; Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielus, and Hieremoth, and Aedias.

²⁸And of the sons of Zamoth; Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Jarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus.

²⁹Of the sons of Babai; Johannes, and Ananias and Josabad, and Amatheis.

³⁰Of the sons of Mani; Olamus, Mamuchus, Jedeus, Jasubus, Jasael, and Hieremoth.

³¹And of the sons of Addi; Naathus, and Moosias, Lacunus, and Naidus, and Mathanias, and Sesthel, Balnuus, and Manasseas.

³²And of the sons of Annas; Elionas and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.

³³And of the sons of Asom; Altaneus, and Matthias, and Baanaia, Eliphalet, and Manasses, and Semei.

³⁴And of the sons of Maani; Jeremias, Momdis, Omaerus, Juel, Mabdai, and Pelias, and Anos, Carabasion, and Enasibus, and Mamnitanaimus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Samis, Selemias, Nathanias: and of the sons of Ozora; Sesis, Esril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambis, Josephus.

³⁵And of the sons of Ethma; Mazitias, Zabadaias, Edes, Juel, Banaias.

³⁶All these had taken strange wives, and they put them away with their children.

³⁷And the priests and Levites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the country, in the first day of the seventh month: so the children of Israel were in their habitations.

³⁸And the whole multitude came together with one accord into the broad place of the holy porch toward the east:

³⁹And they spake unto Esdras the priest and reader, that he would bring the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel.

⁴⁰So Esdras the chief priest brought the law unto the whole multitude from man to woman, and to all the priests, to hear law in the first day of the seventh month.

⁴¹And he read in the broad court before the holy porch from morning unto midday, before both men and women; and the multitude gave heed unto the law.

⁴²And Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which was made for that purpose.

⁴³And there stood up by him Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ezecias, Balasamus, upon the right hand:

⁴⁴And upon his left hand stood Phaldaius, Misael, Melchias, Lothasubus, and Nabarias.

⁴⁵Then took Esdras the book of the law before the multitude: for he sat honourably in the first place in the sight of them all.

⁴⁶And when he opened the law, they stood all straight up. So Esdras blessed the Lord God most High, the God of hosts, Almighty.

⁴⁷And all the people answered, Amen; and lifting up their hands they fell to the ground, and worshipped the Lord.

⁴⁸Also Jesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adinus, Jacubus, Sabateas, Auteas, Maianeas, and Calitas, Asrias, and Joazabdus, and Ananias, Biatas, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, making them withal to understand it.

⁴⁹Then spake Attharates unto Esdras the chief priest. and reader, and to the Levites that taught the multitude, even to all, saying,

⁵⁰This day is holy unto the Lord; (for they all wept when they heard the law:)

⁵¹Go then, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part to them that have nothing;

⁵²For this day is holy unto the Lord: and be not sorrowful; for the Lord will bring you to honour.

⁵³So the Levites published all things to the people, saying, This day is holy to the Lord; be not sorrowful.

⁵⁴Then 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;

⁵⁵Because they understood the words wherein they were instructed, and for the which they had been assembled.