The second praiseth the excellency of a king: 13. The third (which is Zorobabel) commendeth women: 33. but preferreth truth above all 41. Which is so approved, and he is rewarded. 42. The king moreover at his request restoreth the holy vessels of the temple, and granteth means to build the city of Jerusalem, and the temple.The second prayseth the excellencie of a king: 13. The third (which is Zorobabel) commendeth wemen: 33. but preferreth truth aboue al 41. Which is so approued, and he is rewarded. 42. The king moreouer at his request restoreth the holie vessels of the temple, and granteth meanes to build the citie of Ierusalem, and the temple.
And the next began to speak, he that spake of the strength of a king.AND the next began to speake, he that spake of the strength of a king.Et inchoavit sequens dicere, qui dixit de fortitudine regis.
2O ye men do not the men excel, which obtain land and sea, and all things that are in them?O ye men doe not the men excel, which obteyne land and sea, and al thinges that are in them?O viri, num præcellunt homines, qui terram et mare obtinent, et omnia quæ in eis sunt ?
3But a king excelleth above all things, and hath dominion over them: and every thing whatsoever he shall say to them, they do.But a king excelleth aboue al thinges, and hath dominion ouer them: and euerie thing whatsoeuer he shal say to them, they doe.Rex autem super omnia præcellit, et dominatur eorum : et omne quodcumque dixerit illis, faciunt.
4And if he send them to warriors, they go, and throw down mountains, and the walls, and towers.And if he send them to warryers, they goe, and throw downe mountaines, and the walles, and towers.Et si miserit illos ad bellatores, vadunt, et demoliuntur montes, et muros, et turres.
5They kill, and are killed: and the king's word they transgress not. For if they shall overcome, they bring to the king all things whatsoever they have taken for a prædati: spoil, booty, plunder taken in war; that which is seized as loot.They kil, and are killed: and the kinges word they transgresse not. For if they shal ouercome, they bring to the king al thinges whatsoeuer they haue taken for a praye.Jugulantur, et jugulant, et regis verbum non prætereunt. Nam si vicerint, afferunt regi omnia quæcumque prædati fuerint.
6In like manner also all others, for so many as are not soldiers, nor fight, but colunt: to cultivate, work the ground, not the preposition until the ground: when they shall reap, again they bring tributes to the king.In like maner also al others, for so many as are not souldiars, nor fight, but til the ground: when they shal reape, againe they bring tributes to the king.Similiter et alii omnes, et quotquot non militant, nec pugnant, sed colunt terram : rursum cum fuerint metentes, afferunt tributa regi :
7And he being one only if he say: Kill ye, they kill: say he: forgive, they forgive.And he being one onlie if he say: Kil ye, they kil: say he: forgeue, they forgeue.et ipse unus solus si dixerit occidite, occidunt : dixerit remittite, remittunt :
8say he: strike: they strike: say he, destroy, they destroy: say he build, they build.say he: strike: they strike: say he, destroy, they destroy: say he build, they build.dixerit percutite, percutiunt : dixerit exterminate, exterminant : dixerit ædificate, ædificant :
9say he, cut down, they cut down, say he plant, they plant:say he, cut downe, they cut downe, say he plant, they plant:dixerit excidite, excidunt : dixerit plantate, plantant :
10and all the people, and virtutes: the powers, the armed hosts and authorities hear him, and beside this he sitteth down, and drinketh, and sleepeth.and al the people, & potestates here him, and beside this he sitteth downe, and drinketh, and sleepeth.et omnis plebs, et virtutes eum obaudiunt, et super hoc ipse recumbit, et bibit et dormit.
11And others guard him round about, and can not go every one, and do their own works, but at a word are obedient to him.And others gard him round about, and can not goe euerie one, and doe their owne workes, but at a word are obedient to him.Hi autem custodiunt in circuitu eum, et non possunt ire singuli, et facere opera sua, sed in dicto obaudientes sunt ei.
12O ye men, how doth not a king excel that is so renowned? And he held his peace.O ye men, how doth not a king excel that is so renowmed? And he held his peace.Viri, quomodo non præcellit rex, qui sic diffamatur ? Et tacuit.
13The third that spake of women and truth, this is Zorobabel, began to speak.The third that spake of wemen and truth, this is Zorobabel, began to speake.Tertius qui dixerat de mulieribus et veritate, hic est Zorobabel, cœpit loqui.
14O ye men, not the great king, and many men, neither is it wine that doth excel. Who is it then that hath the dominion of them?O ye men, not the great king, & many men, neither is it wine that doth excel. Who is it then that hath the dominion of them?Viri, non magnus rex, et multi homines, nec vinum præcellit. Quis est ergo qui dominatur eorum ?
15Have not women brought forth the king, and all the people, that ruleth over land and sea:Haue not wemen brought forth the king, and al the people, that ruleth ouer land & sea:Nonne mulieres genuerunt regem, et omnem populum, qui dominatur mari et terræ :
16and were they not born of them, and did not they bring up them which planted the vineyards, whereof wine is made?and were they not borne of them, and did not they bring vp them which planted the vineyardes, whereof wine is made?et ex illis nati sunt, et ipsæ educaverunt eos, qui plantaverunt vineas ex quibus vinum fit ?
17And they make the garments of all men, and they do honour to all men, and men can not be separated from women.And they make the garmentes of al men, & they doe honor to al men, and men can not be separed from wemen.Et ipsæ faciunt stolas omnium hominum, et ipsæ faciunt gloriam hominibus, et non possunt homines separari a mulieribus.
18If they have gathered gold and silver, and every beautiful thing, and see a woman comely and fair,If they haue gathered gold and siluer, and euerie beutiful thing, & see a woman comlie and fayre,Si congregaverint aurum et argentum, et omnem rem speciosam, et viderint mulierem unam bono habitu et bona specie,
19leaving all these things they fix their look upon her, and with open mouth behold her, and allure her more then gold and silver, and every precious thing.leauing al these thinges they fixe their looke vpon her, & with open mouth beholde her, and allure her more then gold and siluer, and euerie precious thing.omnia hæc relinquentes in eam intendunt, et aperto ore conspiciunt, et eam alliciunt magis quàm aurum et argentum, et omnem rem pretiosam.
20Man forsaketh his father that brought him up, and his country, and joineth himself to a woman.Man forsaketh his father that brought him vp, and his countrie, and ioyneth himself to a woman.Homo patrem suum relinquit qui enutriit illum, et suam regionem, et ad mulierem se conjungit.
21And with a woman he refresheth his soul: and neither doth he remember father, nor mother, nor country.And with a woman he refresheth his soul: and neither doth he remember father, nor mother, nor countrie.Et cum muliere remittit animam : et neque patrem meminit, neque matrem, neque regionem.
22And hereby you must know that women rule over you. Are you not sorry?And hereby you must know that wemen rule ouer you. Are you not sorie?Et hinc oportet vos scire : quoniam mulieres dominantur vestri. Nonne doletis ?
23And a man taketh his sword, and goeth into the way to commit thefts and murders, and to sail seas and rivers,And a man taketh his sword, & goeth into the way to commit theftes and murders, & to sayle seas & riuers,Et accipit homo gladium suum, et vadit in via facere furta, et homicidia, et mare navigare et flumina,
24and seeth a lion, and goeth in darkness: and when he hath committed theft, and fraud, and spoils, he bringeth it to his beloved.and seeth a lyon, and goeth in darkenes: and when he hath committed theft, and fraude, and spoyles, he bringeth it to his beloued.et leonem videt, et in tenebris ingreditur : et cum furtum fecerit, et fraudes et rapinas amabili suæ affert.
25And again, man loveth his wife more then father or mother.And againe, man loueth his wife more then father or mother.Et iterum diligit, homo uxorem suam, magis quàm patrem, aut matrem.
26And many have become mad for their wives: and have been made bondmen for them:And many haue become madde for their wiues: and haue bene made bondmen for them:Et multi dementes facti sunt propter uxores suas : et servi facti sunt propter illas :
27and many have perished and been slain, and have sinned for women.and many haue perished and bene slayne, and haue sinned for wemen.et multi perierunt et jugulati sunt, et peccaverunt propter mulieres.
28And now believe me, that the king is great in his power: because all countries are afraid to touch him.And now beleue me, that the king is great in his powre: because al countries are afrayd to touch him.Et nunc credite mihi, quia magnus est rex in potestate sua: quoniam omnes regiones verentur tangere eum.
29Nevertheless I saw Apemes the daughter of Bezaces the concubine of a marvellous king, sitting by the king at his right hand,Neuertheles I saw Apemes the daughter of Bezaces the concubine of a meruelous king, sitting by the king at his right hand,Videbam tamen Apemen filiam Bezacis, mirifici concubinam regis, sedentem juxta regem ad dexteram,
30and taking of the crown from his head, and putting it upon herself, and with the palm of her left hand she stroke the king.and taking of the crowne from his head, and putting it vpon her self, and with the palme of her lefthand she stroke the king.et auferentem diadema de capite ejus, et imponentem sibi; et palmis cædebat regem de sinistra manu.
31And beside these things he with open mouth beheld her: and if she smile he laugheth, and if she be angry with him, he flattereth, till he be reconciled to her favour.And beside these thinges he with open mouth beheld her: and if she smile he laugheth, and if she be angrie with him, he flattereth, til he be reconciled to her fauour.Et super hæc aperto ore intuebatur eam : et si arriserit ei, ridet. Nam si indignata ei fuerit, blanditur, donec reconcilietur in gratiam.
32O ye men, why are not women stronger? Great is the earth, and high is the heaven: who doeth these things?O ye men, why are not wemen stronger? Great is the earth, and high is the heauen: who doeth these thinges?O viri, cur non sunt fortiores mulieres ? Magna est terra, et excelsum est cælum : quis ista agit ?
33And then the king and they that wear purple looked one upon another. And he began to speak of truth.And then the king and they that weare purple looked one vpon an other. And he began to speake of truth.Et tunc rex, et purpurati intuebantur in alterutrum. Et inchoavit loqui de veritate.
34O ye men, are not women strong? The earth is great and heaven is high: and the swift course of the sun turneth the heaven round into his place in one day.O ye men, are not wemen strong? The earth is great and heauen is high: & the swift course of the sunne turneth the heauen round into his place in one day.O viri, nonne fortes sunt mulieres ? Magna est terra, et excelsum est cælum : et velox cursus solis convertit in gyro cælum in locum suum in una die.
35Is not he magnificus: magnificent, great in power that doth these things, and the truth great, and stronger above all things?Is not he magnifical that doth these thinges, and the truth great, and stronger aboue al thinges?Nonne magnificus est qui hæc facit, et veritas magna, et fortior præ omnibus ?
36All the earth calleth upon the truth, heaven also blesseth it, and all works are moved, and tremble at it, and there is not any thing with it unjust.Al the earth calleth vpon the truth, heauen also blesseth it, and al workes are moued, and tremble at it, and there is not any thing with it vniust.Omnis terra veritatem invocat, cælum etiam ipsam benedicit, et omnia opera moventur, et tremunt eam, et non est cum ea quicquam iniquum.
37Wine is unjust, the king is unjust, women are unjust, all the sons of men are unjust, and all their works are unjust, and in them is not truth, and they shall perish in their iniquity:Wine is vniust, the king is vniust, wemen are vniust, al the sonnes of men are vniust, and al their workes are vniust, and in them is not truth, and they shal perish in their iniquitie:Vinum iniquum, iniquus rex, iniquæ mulieres, iniqui omnes filii hominum, et iniqua illorum omnia opera, et non est in ipsis veritas, et in sua iniquitate peribunt :
38and truth abideth, and groweth strong for ever, and liveth, and prevaileth for ever and ever.and truth abydeth, and groweth strong for euer, and liueth, and preuayleth for euer and euer.et veritas manet, et invalescit in æternum, et vivit, et obtinet in sæcula sæculorum.
39Neither is there with it accipere personas: respect of persons, partiality, not the accepting of a meaning of persons, nor differences: but the things that are just it doth to all men, to the unjust and malignant, and all men are well pleased in the works thereof.Neither is there with it acception of persons, nor differences: but the thinges that are iust it doth to al men, to the vniust and malignant, and al men are wel pleased in the workes thereof.Nec est apud eam accipere personas, neque differentias : sed quæ justa sunt facit omnibus, injustis ac malignis, et omnes benignantur in operibus ejus.
40And there is no unjust thing in the judgment thereof, but strength, and reign, and power, and majesty of ævorum: ages, all the ages of time. Blessed be the God of truth.And there is no vniust thing in the iudgement therof, but strength, and reigne, and power, and maiestie of worldes. Blessed be the God of truth.Et non est in judicio ejus iniquum, sed fortitudo, et regnum, et potestas, et majestas omnium ævorum. Benedictus Deus veritatis.
41And he left speaking. And all the people cried, and said: Great is truth, and it prevaileth.And he left speaking. And al the people cryed, and sayd: Great is truth, and it preuaileth.Et desiit loquendo. Et omnes populi clamaverunt, et dixerunt, Magna est veritas, et prævalet.
42Then the king said to him: Ask, if thou wilt any more, then the things that are written, and I will give it thee, according as thou art found wiser then thy neighbours, and thou shalt sit next to me, and shalt be called my cousin.Then the king sayd to him: Aske, if thou wilt any more, then the thinges that are writen, and I wil geue it thee, according as thou art found wiser then thy neighbours, & thou shalt sitte next to me, and shalt be called my cosin.Tunc rex ait illi, Pete, si quid vis amplius, quàm quæ scripta sunt, et dabo tibi, secundum quod inventus es sapientior proximis, et proximus mihi sedebis, et cognatus meus vocaberis.
43Then said he to the king: Be mindful of thy vow, which thou hast vowed, to build Jerusalem in the day that thou didst receive the kingdom:Then sayd he to the king: Be mindful of thy vow, which thou hast vowed, to build Ierusalem in the day that thou didst receiue the kindom:Tunc ait regi, Memor esto voti tui, quod vovisti, ædificare Jerusalem, in die qua regnum accepisti :
44and to send back all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus separated, when he sacked Babylon, and would have sent them back thither.and to send backe al the vessels that were taken out of Ierusalem, which Cyrus separated, when he sacked Babylon, and would haue sent them backe thither.et omnia vasa quæ accepta sunt ex Jerusalem, remittere, quæ separavit Cyrus, quando mactavit Babyloniam, et voluit remittere ea ibi.
45And thou hast vowed to build the temple, which the Idumeans burnt, when Jewry was destroyed of the Chaldees.And thou hast vowed to build the temple, which the Idumeians burnt, when Iurie was destroyed of the Chaldees.Et tu vovisti ædificare templum, quod incenderunt Idumæi, quando exterminata est Judæa a Chaldæis.
46And now this is that which I ask Lord, and which I desire, this is the majesty which I desire of thee, that thou perform the vow which thou hast vowed to the king of heaven by thy mouth.And now this is that which I aske Lord, & which I desire, this is the maiestie which I desire of thee, that thou performe the vowe which thou hast vowed to the king of heauen by thy mouth.Et nunc hoc est quod postulo domine, et quod peto, hoc est majestas quod a te postulo, ut facias votum quod vovisti regi cæli ex ore tuo.
47Then Darius the king rising up, kissed him: and wrote letters to all the officers, and overseers, and them that wear purple, that they should conduct him, and them that were with him, all going up to build Jerusalem.Then Darius the king rising vp, kissed him: and wrote letters to al the officers, and ouerseers, and them that weare purple, that they should conduct him, and them that were with him, al going vp to build Ierusalem.Tunc surgens Darius rex, osculatus est illum : et scripsit epistolas ad omnes dispensatores, et præfectos, et purpuratos, ut deducerent eum, et eos qui cum illo erant, omnes ascendentes ædificare Jerusalem.
48And to all the overseers that were in Syria, and Phœnice, and Libanus he wrote letters, that they should draw Cedar trees from Libanus into Jerusalem, to build the city with them.And to al the ouerseers that were in Syria, and Phœnice, and Libanus he wrote letters, that they should draw Ceder trees from Libanus into Ierusalem, to build the citie with them.Et omnibus præfectis, qui erant in Syria, et Phœnice, et Libano scripsit epistolas, ut traherent ligna cedrina a Libano in Jerusalem, ut ædificarent cum eis civitatem.
49And he wrote to all the Jews which went up from the kingdom into Jewry for liberty, every mighty man, and magistrate, and overseer not to come upon them to their gates,And he wrote to al the Iewes which went vp from the kindome into Iurie for libertie, euerie mightie man, & magistrate, & ouerseer not to come vpon them to their gates,Et scripsit omnibus Judæis qui ascendebant a regno in Judæam pro libertate, omnem potentem, et magistratum, et præfectum non supervenire ad januas ipsorum,
50and all the country which they had obtained to be free unto them, and that the Idumeans leave the castles which they possess of the Jews,and al the countrie which they had obtayned to be free vnto them, & that the Idumeians leaue the castels which they possesse of the Iewes,et omnem regionem quam obtinuerant immunem esse eis, et Idumæi relinquant castella quæ obtinent Judæorum :
51and to the building of the temple to give every year twenty talenta: great weights or sums of silver, not natural abilities until it were perædificaretur: thoroughly, completely built:and to the building of the temple to geue euerie yeare twentie talentes vntil it were throughly built:et in structuram templi dare per singulos annos talenta viginti, usque dum perædificaretur :
52and upon the altars to burn holocausts daily, as they have commandment: to offer other ten talents every year,& vpon the altars to burne holocausts dayly, as they haue commandment: to offer other ten talentes euery yeare,et super sacrarium holocautomata ustulare quotidie, sicut habent præceptum : alia talenta decem offerre per singulos annos,
53and to all that go forth from Babylon to build the city, that there should be liberty as well to them as to their children, and to all the priests that go before.& to al that go forth from Babylon to build the citie, that there should be libertie aswel to them as to their children, and to al the priestes that goe before.et omnibus qui procedunt a Babylonia condere civitatem : ut esset libertas tam ipsis, quàm filiis eorum, et omnibus sacerdotibus qui præcedunt :
54And he wrote a quantity also, and commanded the sacred stolam: a robe or vestment, here the sacred priestly garment to be given, wherein they should serve;And he wrote a quantitie also, and commanded the sacred stole to be geuen, wherein they should serue;Scripsit autem et quantitatem, et sacram stolam jussit dari, in qua deservirent ;
55and to the Levites he wrote to give precepts, until the day wherein the house shall be finished, and Jerusalem builded.and to the Leuites he wrote to geue preceptes, vntil the day wherein the house shalbe finished, and Ierusalem builded.et Levitis scripsit dare præcepta, usque in diem, qua consummabitur domus, et Jerusalem extruetur :
56And to all that keep the city, he wrote portions and wages to be given to them.And to al that kepe the citie, he wrote portions and wages to be geuen to them.et omnibus custodientibus civitatem scripsit dari eis sortes et stipendia.
57And he sent away all the vessels whatsoever Cyrus had separated from Babylon, and all things whatsoever Cyrus said, he also commanded to be done, and to be sent to Jerusalem.And he sent away al the vessels whatsoeuer Cyrus had separated from Babylon, and al thinges whatsoeuer Cyrus sayd, he also commanded to be donne, and to be sent to Ierusalem.Et dimisit omnia vasa quæcumque separaverat Cyrus a Babylonia, et omnia quæcumque dixit Cyrus, et ipse præcepit fieri, et mitti Jerusalem.
58And when that young man was gone forth, lifting up his face toward Jerusalem, he blessed the king of heaven,And when that yong man was gone forth, lyfting vp his face toward Ierusalem, he blessed the king of heauen,Et cum processisset ille adolescens, elevans faciem in Jerusalem, benedixit regem cæli,
59and said: Of thee is victory, and of thee is wisdom, and glory. And I am thy servant.and sayd: Of thee is victorie, and of thee is wisdome, and glorie. And I am thy seruant.et dixit, Abs te est victoria, et abs te est sapientia et claritas. Et ego servus tuus sum.
60Blessed art thou which hast given me wisdom, and I will confitebor: to acknowledge with praise and thanksgiving, give praise, not to admit a fault to thee Lord God of our fathers.Blessed art thou which hast geuen me wisedom, and I wil confesse to thee Lord God of our fathers.Benedictus es, qui dedisti mihi sapientiam, et tibi confitebor Domine Deus patrum nostrorum.
61And he took the letters, and went into Babylon. And he came, and told all his brethren that were in Babylon:And he toke the letters, and went into Babylon. And he came, and told al his brethren that were in Babylon:Et accepit epistolas, et profectus est in Babyloniam. Et venit, et nunciavit fratribus suis omnibus qui fuerunt in Babylonia :
62and they blessed the God of their fathers, because he gave them remission and refreshing,and they blessed the God of their fathers, because he gaue them remission and refreshing,et benedixerunt Deum patrum suorum, quoniam dedit illis remissionem et refrigerium,
63that they should go up and build Jerusalem, and the temple wherein his name was renowned, and they rejoiced with music and joy seven days.that they should goe vp and build Ierusalem, and the temple wherein his name was renowmed, and they reioyced with musike and ioy seuen dayes.ut ascenderent et ædificarent Jerusalem, et templum ubi nominatum est nomen ejus in ipso, et exultaverunt cum musicis et lætitia diebus septem.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.