The Worlds Greatest Books - Volume 13 | Page 3

of God was laid; and the Temple was finished in
the three and twentieth day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of Darius, and
dedicated with a great feast and sacrifices.
After these things, when Artaxerxes, the King of the Persians, reigned, came Esdras of
the family of Aaron, the chief priest, from Babylon, and with him certain priests, Levites,
holy singers and ministers of the Temple unto Jerusalem. He brought commission from
the king to look into the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem, agreeably to that which is in the
Law of the Lord, and gifts of vessels of gold and silver for the use of the Temple of the
Lord.
Then Esdras made proclamation in all Jewry and Jerusalem to all them who were of the
captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem. Three days after all the
multitude gathered in the broad court of the Temple, and they gave their hands to put
away their heathen wives and children, and to offer rams to make reconcilement for the
errors they had committed. And Esdras stood up upon a pulpit of wood, which was made
for that purpose, and opened the Law of Moses to the people.
So Esdras blessed the Lord God, most High, the God of Hosts, Almighty. And all the
people answered: Amen; and, lifting up their hands, they fell to the ground and
worshipped the Lord, saying: This day is holy unto the Lord; for they all wept when they
heard the Law. So the Levites published all things to the people, saying: This day is holy
to the Lord; be not sorrowful. Then went they their way every one to eat and drink, and

make merry and to give to them that have nothing, and to make great cheer.
SECOND ESDRAS
The word of the Lord came unto the prophet Esdras, saying: Go thy way, and show my
people their sinful deeds which they have done against me, for they have forgotten me,
and have offered unto strange gods. I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings: But now I will cast you out from my face. Then Esdras willed
to comfort Israel, but they refused, and despised the commandments of the Lord;
therefore he announced that the heathen were called to the heavenly kingdom. After that,
Esdras saw upon the Mount Sion a great people who praised the Lord with songs; and the
angel said unto him: These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the
immortal, and have confessed the name of God. Now are they crowned, and receive
palms in their hands from the Son of God in their midst.
In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city, Esdras was in Babylon and troubled because
of the desolation of Sion. He acknowledged to God the sins of the people, yet complained
that the heathen who were lords over them were more wicked than they. Uriel, the angel,
then said that when Adam transgressed God's statutes the way was made narrow, and the
days few and evil; but, behold, the time shall come when my son Jesus shall be revealed
and shall die, and all men that have life. And after seven days of silence, the earth shall
restore those that are asleep, and the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment;
and misery shall pass away but judgment shall remain; truth shall stand; and faith wax
strong.
Then Esdras said: I know the most High is called merciful, and he pardoneth; for if he did
not so that they which have committed iniquities might be eased of them, the ten
thousandth part of men should not remain living; there should be very few left,
peradventure, in an innumerable multitude. And the angel answered: There be many
created, but few shall be saved. Every one that shall be saved shall be able to escape by
his works and by faith, and then they shall be shown great wonders. And it came to pass
that a voice out of a bush called Esdras, which prophesied that God would take
vengeance upon Egypt, Syria, Babylon, and Asia; that the servants of the Lord must look
for troubles, and not hide their sins but depart from evil, and they would be delivered
because God is their guide.
TOBIT
This is the Book of Tobit, of the tribe of Nephthali, who in the time of Enemessar, King
of the Assyrians, was led captive to Nineve. Tobit in captivity still remembered God with
all his heart, and was deprived of his goods under King Sennacherib for privily burying
fellow-captives who had been killed. Then Tobit, who became blind, remembered that he
had in the days of his prosperity