1Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,
2O sirs, do not men excel in strength, but one man: and see a woman which is comely in favour and beauty,
19They let all those things go, and her is no unrighteous thing.
37Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, Cp. Ps. 14.1 & 53.1 & 2 Esd. 8.35 & Rom. 3.10. See 2 Esd. 3.20-22.all the children of men are unrighteous, and unrighteous are all such their works; and Cp. John 8.44 & 1 John 2.4.there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish.
38But truth abideth, and is strong for ever; she liveth and conquereth for evermore.
39With her there is See Deut. 10.17.no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unrighteous and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.
40Neither in her judgement is any unrighteousness; and she is Cp. 1 Chr. 29.11.the strength, and the kingdom, and the power, and the majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the Ps. 31.5. Cp. Deut. 32.4 & Jer. 10.10.God of truth.
41And with that he held his tongue. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is truth, and strong above all things.
42Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more Cp. ch. 3.5-7.than is appointed in writing, and we will give it thee, inasmuch as thou art found wisest; and thou ch. 3.7.shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin.
43Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou didst vow to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,
44And to send away all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, ver. 57. ch. 1.41 & 2.10 & 6.18.19.which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them again thither.
45Thou didst also vow to build up the temple, which Ps. 137.7. Cp. ver. 50 & Ezek. 25.12 & 35.5 & Amos 1.11. See Obad. 10-15.the Edomites burned when Judæa was made desolate by the Chaldeans.
46And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality Cp. ver. 42.that shall proceed from thee: I pray therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof thou hast vowed to ver. 58. Dan. 4.37. Tobit 13.7,11.the King of heaven with thine own mouth.
47Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers and governors and captains and satraps, that they should safely bring on their way both him, and all those that should go up with him to build Jerusalem.
48He wrote letters also unto all the governors that were in See ch. 2.17.Cœlesyria and Phœnicia, and unto them in Judith 1.7.Libanus, that they should bring ch. 5.55. Ezra 3.7. See Judg. 9.15.cedar wood from Judith 1.7.Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him.
49Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that should go out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no governor, no satrap, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors;
50And that all the country which they occupied should be free to them without tribute; and that Cp. ver. 45 & Ezek. 36.5 & Obad. 13.the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held:
51And 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, for burnt offerings to be presented upon the altar Cp. ch. 5.51.every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen:
53And that all they that should come from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that came.
54He wrote also to give them their charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister;
55And for the Levites he wrote that their charges should 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 lands and wages.
57He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, See ver. 44.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 Cp. ch. 3.4.young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven Cp. 1 Kin. 8.48 & Dan. 6.10.toward Jerusalem, and praised See ver. 46.the King of heaven,
59And said, From thee cometh Prov. 21.31. Cp. 2 Macc. 13.15.victory, from thee cometh Prov. 2.6. Ecclus. 1.1. Cp. James 1.5.wisdom, and thine is the 1 Chr. 29.11. Mat. 6.13 (mg.).glory, and I am thy servant.
60Blessed art thou, Wis. 7.15. See 1 Kin. 3.12.who hast given me wisdom: and 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 1 Kin. 8.43.which is called by his name: and they feasted with ch. 5.2,59.instruments of music and gladness seven days.
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