booke of Esdras otherwyse called the booke of Nehemia ⧠The booke of Esther The first Chapter 3 King Ahasuerus maketh a royall feast 10 Wherevnto the queene Vasthi will not come 19 For which cause she is diuorced 20 The kinges decree touching the preeminence of man 1 IT came to passe that in the dayes of Ahasuerus this is Ahasuerus whiche raigned from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen prouinces 2 Euen in those dayes when the king Ahasuerus sate on his seate royall which was in Susan the chiefe citie 3 In the third yere of his raigne he made a feast vnto all his princes seruauntes and the mightie men of Persia and Media the captaynes also and rulers of his countreys were before hym 4 And he shewed the richesse and glorie of his kingdome and the glorious worship of his greatnesse many dayes long euen an hundred and fourescore dayes 5 And when these dayes were expired the king made a feast vnto al the people that were in Susan the chiefe citie both vnto great small seuen dayes long in the court of the garden by the kinges palace 6 Where there hanged white greene and yelowe clothes fastened with cordes of fine silke and purple in siluer ringes vpon pillers of marble stones The benches also were of golde and siluer made vpon a pauement of greene white yelowe and blacke marble 7 And they dranke in vessels of gold and chaunged vessel after vessel and royal wine in aboundaunce according to the power of the king 8 And the drinking was by an order none might compell for so the king had appoynted to all the officers of his house that they shoulde do according to euery mans pleasure 9 And the queene Vasthi made a feast also for the women in the palace of Ahasuerus 10 And on the seuenth day when the king was mery after the wine he commaunded Nehuma Biztha Harbona Bigtha Abagthan Zethar and Charchas the seuen chamberlayns that did seruice in the presence of king Ahasuerus 11 To fetch the queene Vasthi with the crowne regall into the kinges presence that he might shewe the people princes her fairenesse for she was beautifull 12 But the queene Vasthi would not come at the kinges worde by his chamberlaynes Then was the king very wroth and his indignation kindled in hym 13 And the king spake to the wyse men which knewe the times for so was the kinges maner towardes all that knewe the lawe and the iudgementes 14 And the next vnto hym were Carsena Sethar Admata Thersis Mares Marsena and Memuchan the seuen princes of Persia and Media whiche sawe the kinges face and sate the first in the kingdome 15 What shall we do vnto the queene Vasthi according to the lawe because she dyd not according to the worde of the king Ahasuerus whiche he commaunded by his chamberlaynes 16 And Memuchan aunswered before the king the princes The queene Vasthi hath not onely done euyll against the king but also against all the princes and against all the people that are in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus 17 For this deede of the queene shall come abrode vnto all women so that they shall despise their husbandes before their eyes and shall say The king Ahasuerus commaunded Vasthi the queene to be brought in before hym but she woulde not come 18 And so shal the princesses in Persia and Media say lykewise this day vnto al the kinges princes when they heare of this deede of the queene thus shal there arise to much despite fulnesse and wrath 19 If it please the king let there go a commaundement from hym and let it be written according to the lawes of the Persians and Medians and not to be transgressed that Vasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus and let the king geue her royal estate vnto an other that is better then she 20 And when this commaundement of the king which shal be made is published throughout all his empire whiche i◠great all women shall holde their husbandes in honour both among great and small 21 This saying pleased the king and the princes and the king did according to the worde of Memucan 22 For he sent letters foorth into all the kinges prouinces into euery lande according to the wryting therof and to euery people after their language that euery man shoulde be lorde in his owne house and this to be published after the language of his people The .ii. Chapter 2 After the queene is put away certeyne young maydes are brought to the king 14 Esther pleaseth the king and is made queene 22 Mardocheus discloseth vnto the king those that woulde betray hym 1 AFter these actes when the displeasure of king Ahasuerus was nowe alayed he thought vpon Vasthi what she had done what was decreed against her 2 Then sayde the kinges seruauntes that ministred vnto hym Let there be faire young virgins sought for the king 3 And let the king appoynt officers in all the prouinces of his empire that they should bring together al the faire young virgins vnto Susan the head citie to the womens buylding vnder the hande of Hegai the kinges chamberlayne that kept the women to geue them their apparell 4 And that the mayden which pleased the king should be queene in Vasthis steede And this pleased the king and he did so 5 In the citie of Susan there was a certayne Iewe whose name was Mardocheus the sonne of Iair the sonne of Semei the sonne of Cis a man of Iemini 6 Which was caryed away from Hierusalem with the captiuitie when Iekoma the king of Iuda was led away whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon caryed thence 7 And he norished Hadassa that is Esther his vncles daughter for he had neither father nor mother and she was a faire and beautifull mayden whom Mardocheus when her father mother were dead receaued for his owne daughter 8 So when the kinges commaundement and commission was published and many maydens were brought together into the citie of Susan vnder the hand of Hegai Esther was brought also vnto the kinges house vnder the hande of Hegai the keper of the women 9 And the mayden pleased hym and she founde fauour in his sight and he caused ornamentes to be geuen her speedyly and such thinges as belonged to her and appoynted her seuen comely maydens out of the kinges house fauoured both her and her gentlewomen singularly in the house of the women 10 But Esther shewed not her people and her kinred for Mardocheus had charged her that she shoulde not tell it 11 And Mardocheus walked euery day before the court of the womens house that he might knowe howe Esther did and what shoulde become of her 12 And when the appoynted time of euery mayden came that she shoulde go in to the king Ahasuerus after that she had ben twelue monethes according to the maner of the women for so were the dayes of
incense vpon the aulter that was before the Lord and so he finished the house 26 And king Solomon made a nauie of shippes in Azion Gaber which is beside Eloth on the brinke of the red sea in the lande of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent by shippe also of his seruauntes that were shipmen and had knowledge of the sea with the seruauntes of Solomon 28 And they came to Ophir and set from thence foure hundred and twentie talentes of golde and brought it to king Solomon The .x. Chapter 1 The queene of Saba commeth to heare the wysdome of Solomon 18 His royall throne 32 His power and magnificence 1 ANd the queene of Saba hearing the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord came to proue him with harde questions 2 And she came to Hierusalem with a verie great trayne with camels that bare sweete odours and gold exceeding much precious stones And she came to Solomon and communed with him of al that was in her heart 3 And Solomon declared vnto her all her questions so that there was not one thing hyd from the king whiche he expounded not vnto her 4 And the queene of Saba considered al Solomons wysdome the house that he had buylded 5 And the meate of his table and the sitting of his seruauntes the order of his ministers their apparell his drinke and his burnt sacrifices that he offred in the house of the Lorde and she was astonied 6 And she sayde vnto the king It was a true word that I hearde in myne owne land of thy sayinges of thy wisdome 7 Howbeit I beleued it not till I came sawe it with myne eyes And beholde the one halfe was not tolde me for thy wysdome and prosperitie exceedeth the fame which I hearde of thee 8 Happy are thy men and happy are these thy seruauntes whiche stand euer before thee and heare thy wysdome 9 Blessed be the Lorde thy God whiche loued thee to set thee on the seate of Israel because the Lorde loued Israel for euer made thee king to do equite and righteousnes 10 And she gaue the king sixe score talentes of golde and of sweete odours exceeding much and precious stones There came no more suche aboundaunce of sweete odours as the queene of Saba gaue to king Solomon 11 The nauie also of the shippes of Hiram that caried golde from Ophir brought lykewyse great plentie of Almuge trees and precious stones from Ophir 12 And the king made of the Almuge trees pillers for the house of the Lorde and for the kinges palace and made harpes and psalteries for singers Ther came no more suche Almuge trees nor were any more seene vnto this day 13 And king Solomon gaue vnto the queene of Saba according to all her desire whatsoeuer she asked besides that he gaue her of a free wil with his owne hande And so she returned vnto her owne countrey both she and her seruauntes 14 The waight of golde that came to Solomon in one yere was sixe hundred theescore and sixe talentes of golde 15 Besydes that he had of marchauntes and of the marchaundises of the spices and of all the kinges of Arabia of the lordes of the countrey 16 And king Solomon made two hundred targettes of beaten golde sixe hundred sicles of golde went to a target 17 And he made three hundred shieldes of beaten golde three pounde of gold went to one shielde and the king put them in the house of the wood of Libanon 18 And the king made a great seate of iuorie and couered it with the best golde 19 And the seate had sixe steppes and the toppe of the seate was rounde behinde there were pommelles on either syde on the place of the seate and two lions stoode besyde the pommelles 20 And there stoode twelue lions on the steppes sixe on a syde There was none lyke worke seene many kingdome 21 And al king Solomons drinking vessels were of golde and lykewyse all the vessels of the house of the wood of Libanon were of pure golde And as for siluer it was nothing worth in the dayes of Solomon 22 For the kinges nauie of shippes went on the sea vnto Tharsis with the nauie of Hirams shippes euen once in three yeres went the nauie to Tharsis and brought golde and siluer Elephantes teeth apes and pecockes 23 And so king Solomon exceeded al the kinges of the earth both in ryches and wysdome 24 And all the worlde resorted to Solomon to heare his wysdome which God had put in his heart 25 And brought him euery man his present vessels of siluer vessels of golde rayment harnesse and sweete odours and horses and mules yere by yere 26 And Solomon gathered together charettes and horsemen and he had a thousande and foure hundred charettes and twelue thousande horsemen whom he bestowed in the charet cities and with the king at Hierusalem 27 And the king made siluer in Hierusalem as plenteous as stones and Cedar as plenteous as the wilde fegge trees that growe aboundauntly in the fieldes 28 Also Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt and fine linnen the kinges marchauntes receaued the linnen for a price 29 A charet came vp out of Egypt for sixe hundred sicles of siluer that is one horse for an hundred and fiftie And euen so for al the kinges of the Hethites and for the kinges of Siria did they bring them out through their handes The .xi. Chapter 1. Solomon hath a thousand wyues and concubines whiche bryng him to idolatrie 14 His God rayseth vp aduersaries against him 43 He dieth 1 BVt king Solomō loued many outlandishe women the daughter of Pharao and women of the Moabites Ammonites Edomites Zidonites Hethites 2 Wher as yet concerning these nations the Lorde sayd vnto the children of Israel Go not ye into them nor let them come into els will they turne your heartes after their gods Neuerthelesse Solomon claue vnto them in loue 3 And he had seuen hundred queenes and three hundred concubines and his wyues turned away his heart 4 For it came to passe when Solomon was olde his wyues turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as was the heart of Dauid his father 5 For Solomon folowed Astaroth the god of the Zidons and Milcom the abhomination of the Ammonites 6 And Solomon wrought wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde and folowed not the Lorde perfectly as dyd Dauid his father 7 For then dyd Solomon buylde an hye place for Chamos the abhomination of Moabim the hill that is before Hierusalem vnto Moloch the abhomination of the children of Ammon 8 And lykewyse dyd he for all his outlandishe wyues which burnt cense and offered vnto their gods 9 And the Lorde was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned frō the Lord God of Israel which had appeared vnto him twyse 10 And
the elders and to them that brought vp Ahabs children saying 2 Nowe when this letter commeth to you ye that haue with you your maisters sonnes ye haue with you both charets and horses a strong citie haue ye also and harnesse 3 Loke which of your maisters sonnes is best and most meete and set him on his fathers seate and fight for your lordes house 4 But they were exceedingly afrayde sayde See two kinges were not able to stande before him howe shall we then be able to stande 5 And he that was gouernour of Ahabs house he that ruled the citie the elders also the tutours sent to Iehu saying We are thy seruauntes will do all that thou shalt byd vs we wil make no man king therefore do thou what seemeth good in thyne eyes 6 Then he wrote another letter to them saying If ye be myne and wil hearken vnto my voyce then take the heades of the men that are your maisters sonnes and come to me to Iezrahel by to morowe this time And the kinges sonnes were threescore and ten persons and they were with the great men of the citie which brought them vp 7 And when the letter came to them they toke the kinges children and slue them euen threescore and ten persons layed their heades in baskettes and sent them to him to Iezrahel 8 And there came a messenger and told him saying They haue brought the heades of the kinges sonnes And he said Let them lay them on two heapes in the entring in of the gate vntill the morning 9 And when it was day he went out and stoode and sayde to al the folke Ye be righteous Behold I conspired against my maister and slue him But who slue all these 10 Learne here that there shall fall vnto the earth nothing of the worde of the Lorde whiche he spake concerning the house of Ahab For the Lorde hath brought to passe y e thinges that he spake by the hande of his seruaunt Elias 11 And so Iehu slue all that remayned of the house of Ahab in Iezrahel and all that were great with him and his kinsfolkes and his priestes so that he leâ— nothing of him remayne 12 And he arose departed and came to Samaria And when Iehu was in the way of the house where the sheepheardes dyd sheare their sheepe 13 He met with the brethren of Ahaziahu king of Iuda and sayde What are ye They aunswered The brethren of Ahaziahu are we and go downe to salute the children of the king of the queene 14 And he said Take them alyue Whom when they had taken them alyue they slue them at the wel whiche was beside the house where the sheepe are shoren euen two and fourtie men neither left he any of them 15 And when he was departed thence he met with Iehonadab the sonne of Rechab comming against him and he blessed him sayde to him Is thyne heart right as myne heart is true with thine And Iehonadab aunswered Yea that it is Then geue me thyne hand And when he had geuen him his hande he toke him vp to him into the charet 16 And sayde Come with me and see the zeale that I haue for the Lord. And so they made him ride in his charet 17 And when he came to Samaria he slue al that remained vnto Ahab in Samaria till he had wiped him out accorcording to the saying of the Lord which he spake to Elias 18 And Iehu gathered all the people together and sayd vnto them Ahab serued Baal a litle but Iehu shall serue him more 19 Now therfore call vnto me all the prophetes of Baal all such as serue him and al his priestes let none be lacking For I haue a great sacrifice to do to Baal therefore whosoeuer is missed he shall not lyue But Iehu dyd it for a sutteltie to the intent that he might destroy the seruauntes of Baal 20 And Iehu sayde Proclayme an holy conuocation for Baal And they proclaymed it 21 And Iehu sent vnto all Israel and al the seruauntes of Baal came that there was not a man left behind that came not And they came into the house of Baal and the house of Baal was full from one ende to another 22 And he sayde vnto him that was the keper of the vestrie Bring foorth garmentes for all the seruauntes of Baal And he brought them out garmentes 23 And when Iehu went with Iehonadab the sonne of Rechab into the house of Baal he sayd vnto the seruauntes of Baal Searche loke that ther be here with you none of the seruauntes of the Lord but the seruauntes of Baal only 24 And when they went in to offer sacrifice and burnt offring Iehu appoynted foure score men without and sayde If any of y e men whom I haue brought vnder your handes escape he that letteth him go shall dye for him 25 And it fortuned that assoone as he had made an ende of offring the burnt sacrifice Iehu sayd to the men of warre and to the captaynes Go in and slay them let none come out And they smote them with the edge of the sword And the men of warre the captaynes cast them out went to the citie of the temple of Baal 26 And fet the images out of the temple of Baal and burnt them 27 And they brake the image of Baal and brake the house of Baal made a draft house of it vnto this day 28 And so Iehu destroyed Baal out of Israel 29 But from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat whiche made Israel to sinne Iehu departed not from them neither from the golden calues that were in Bethel and in Dan. 30 And the Lorde sayde vnto Iehu Because thou hast done right wel in bringing to passe the thing that is right in myne eyes and hast done vnto the house of Ahab according to all thinges that are in myne heart therefore shall thy children vnto the fourth generation sit on the seate of Israel 31 But Iehu cared not for this to walke in the lawe of the Lorde God of Israel with all his heart for he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam whiche made Israel to sinne 32 In those dayes the Lorde began to cut Israel short and Hazael smote them in all the coastes of Israel 33 From Iordane eastward euen all the land of Gilead the Gadites the Rubenites and them that were of Manasses from Aroer which is by the riuer Arnon euen Gilead and Basan 34 The rest of the wordes that concerne Iehu and al that he did al his power are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 35 And Iehu slept with his fathers and they buryed him in Samaria Iehoahas his sonne raigned in his steade 36 And the time that Iehu raigned vpon Israel in Samaria is twentie eyght yeres The .xi Chapter 1 Athalia putteth to death all the kinges sonnes except Ioas
wildernesse repaired all the store cities which were in Hamath 5 And he buylt Bethhoron the vpper and Bethhoron the neather strong cities hauing walles gates and barres 6 And Baalah and al the store cities that Solomon had and all the charet cities and the cities of the horsmen and euery pleasaunt place that Solomon had lâ—st to buyld in Hierusalem Libanon and throughout all the land of his dominion 7 And all the people that were left of the Hethites Amorites Pherezites Heuites and Iebusites whiche were not of the children of Israel 8 But were the children of them whiche were left after them in the lande and were not consumed of the children of Israel them dyd Solomon make to pay tribute vntill this day 9 But of the children of Israel dyd Solomon make no bondemen for his worke but they were men of warre and rulers and great lordes with him and captaynes ouer his charets and horsemen 10 And king Solomons officers that ouersawe and ruled the people were two hundred and fiftie 11 And Solomon brought the daughter of Pharao out of the citie of Dauid into the house that he had buylded for her For he sayde My wyfe shall not dwel in the house of Dauid king of Israel for it is holy because that the arke of the Lorde is come vnto it 12 Then Solomon offred burnt offringes vnto the Lorde on the aulter of the Lorde whiche he had buylt before the porche 13 Doyng euery thing in his due time and offering according to the commaundemeÌ„t of Moyses in the Sabbathes new moones and solempne feastes three times in the yere that is to say in the feast of sweete bread in the feast of weekes and in the feast of tabernacles 14 And Solomon set the sortes of priestes to their offices as Dauid his father had ordered them and the Leuites in their watches for to prayse and minister before the priestes day by day and the porters by course at euery gate for so had Dauid the man of God commaunded 15 And they omitted not the commaundement of the king vnto the priestes and Leuites concerning any maner of thing and concerning the treasures 16 For Solomon made prouision for the charges from the first day that the foundation of the house of the Lorde was layed till it was finished that the house of the Lorde was perfect 17 Then went king Solomon to Ezion Gaber and to Eloth at the sea side in the lande of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent hym by the handes of his seruauntes shippes and seruauntes that had knowledge of the sea and they went with the seruauntes of Solomon to Ophir and caryed thence foure hundred and fyftie talentes of golde and brought it to king Solomon The .ix. Chapter 1.9 The queene of Saba commeth to see Solomon and bringeth giftes 12 His yerely reuenues 30 The time of his raigne 31 His death 1 ANd when the queene of Saba hearde of the fame of Solomon she came to proue him in hard questions at Hierusalem with a verie great companie with camels that bare spices and plentie of golde and precious stones And when she was come to Solomon she communed with him of all that she had in her heart 2 And Solomon soyled her all her questions and there was not one word hyd from Solomon which he tolde her not 3 And when the queene of Saba had seene the wisdome of Solomon and the house that he had buylt 4 And the meate of his table the sitting of his seruauntes and the standing of his wayters their apparell his butlars their apparell his goyng vp by the whiche he went into the house of Lord there was no more spirite in her 5 And she sayde to the king The saying which I hearde in myne owne lande of thyne actes and of thy wisdome is true 6 I beleued not the wordes of them vntill I came and myne eyes had seene it And beholde the one halfe of thy wysdome was not tolde me for thou exceedest the fame that I hearde 7 Happy are thy men and happy are these thy seruauntes which stand before thee alway and heare thy wysdome 8 Blessed be the Lorde thy God whiche had lust to thee to set thee king on his seate that thou mightest be king for the Lord thy God because thy God loueth Israel and hath delyte to make them continue euer therefore made he thee king ouer them to do right and equitie 9 And she gaue the king an hundred and twentie talentes of golde and of spices exceeding great aboundaunce and precious stones neither was ther any more such spyce as the queene of Saba gaue king Solomon 10 And the seruauntes of Hiram and the seruauntes of Solomon which brought gold from Ophir brought also Algume wood and precious stones 11 And the king made of the Algume wood stayres in the house of the Lorde and in the kinges palace harpes and psalteries for singers And there was none such wood seene before in the land of Iuda 12 And king Solomon gaue to the queene of Saba euery pleasant thing that she asked besides that which she had brought vnto the king And so she turned and went away to her owne lande with her seruauntes 13 The waight of golde that came to Solomon in one yere was sixe hundred threescore and sixe talentes of golde 14 Besides that which chapmen marchauntes brought and all the kinges of Arabia and rulers of that countrey brought golde and siluer to Solomon 15 And king Solomon made two hundred tarkets of beaten golde and sixe hundred sicles of beaten golde were speÌ„t vpon one target 16 And three hundred shieldes made he of beaten golde one shielde cost three hundred peeces of golde and the king put them in the house that was in the forest of Libanon 17 And the king made a great seate of yuory ouerlayde it with pure golde 18 And there were sixe steps to the seate with a footestoole of golde fastened to the seate and pommels on eche syde of the sitting place and two lions standing by the pommels 19 And twelue lions stoode on the one side and on the other vpon the sixe steppes so that there was no such worke made in any kingdome 20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of golde and al the vessels of the house that was in the forest of Libanon were of precious golde for siluer was counted nothing worth in the dayes of Solomon 21 For the kinges shippes went to Tharsis with the seruauntes of Hiram euery three yeres once came the shippes to Tharsis and brought golde siluer yuorie and apes and pecockes 22 And king Solomon passed all the kinges of the earth in richesse wysedome 23 And all the kinges of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to heare his wysedome that God had put in his heart 24 And they brought euery man his present vessels of siuer vessels of golde rayment harnesse spises horses and mules and
37 And Eliezer the sonne of Dodauah of Maresa prophesied against Iehosaphat saying Because thou hast ioyned thy selfe with Ahaziahu y e lord hath broken thy workes And the shippes were brokē that they were not able to go to Tharsis The .xxi. Chapter 3 Iehosaphat dieth 1 Iehoram succedeth him 4 Which killeth his brethren 6 He was brought to idolatrie 11 and seduceth the people 16 He is oppressed of the Philistines 18 His miserable ende 1 IEhosaphat also slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid and Iehoram his sonne raigned in his steade 2 And he had brethren whiche were the sonnes of Iehosaphat Azaria Iehiel Zacharia Azariahu Michael and Sephatiahu All these are the sonnes of Iehosaphat king of Iuda 3 And their father gaue thē many great giftes of gold and siluer and other speciall substaunce with strong cities in Iuda but the kingdome gaue he to Iehoram for he was the eldest 4 And Iehoram rose vp against the kingdome of his father and preuayled and siue all his brethren with the sworde and diuers of the lordes of Israel 5 Iehoram was thirtie and two yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned eyght yeres in Hierusalem 6 And he walked in the way of the kinges of Israel like as dyd the house of Ahab for he had the daughter of Ahab to wise and he wrought euyll in the eyes of the Lorde 7 Howbeit the Lord woulde not destroy the house of Dauid because of the couenaunt that he had made with Dauid as he promised to geue a light to hym and to his sonnes for euer 8 In his dayes the Edomites rebelled when they were vnder the dominion of Iuda and made them selues a king 9 And Iehoram went foorth with his lordes and all his charets were with him and he rose vp by night and smote the Edomites which compassed him in and the captaynes of the charets 10 But Edom rebelled still so that they woulde not be vnder the hande of Iuda vnto this day That same time also dyd Libna depart from being vnder his hande because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers 11 Moreouer he made high places in the mountaynes of Iuda caused the inhabiters of Hierusalem to commit fornication and prouoked Iuda to idolatrie 12 And there came a writing to him from Elia the prophete saying Thus sayth the Lord God of Dauid thy father Because thou hast not walked in the wayes of Iehosaphat thy father and in the wayes of Asa king of Iuda 13 But walkedst in the wayes of the kinges of Israel and hast made Iuda and the dwellers of Hierusalem to go a whoring like to the whordome of the house of Ahab and hast slayne thy brethren euen thy fathers house whiche were better then thou 14 Beholde with a great plague will the Lorde smite thy folke thy children thy wyues and all thy goods 15 And thou shalt suffer great payne euen a disease of thy bowels vntill thy guttes fall out by reason of thy sicknes day by day 16 And so the Lorde stirred vp against Iehoram the spirite of the Philistines and the Arabians that were besyde the blacke Moores 17 And they came vp into Iuda and wasted it caried away all the substaunce that was found in the kinges house and his sonnes and his wyues so that there was neuer a sonne left hym saue Iehohahaz which was the youngest among his sonnes 18 And after all these thinges the Lorde smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease 19 And it came to passe that in processe of time euen after the ende of two yeres his guttes fell out in his sicknes and so he died of very euyll diseases And they made no burning for him lyke the burning of his fathers 20 When he began to raigne he was thirtie and two yeres olde and raigned in Hierusalem eyght yeres and liued wretchedly howebeit they buried him in the citie of Dauid but not among the sepulchres of the kinges The .xxii. Chapter 1 Ahaziahu raigneth after Iehoram 8 Iehu king of Israel killeth Ahaziahu 10 Athaliahu putteth to death all the kinges linage 11 Ioas escapeth 1 ANd the inhabiters of Hierusalem made Ahaziahu his young sonne king in his stead For the men of warre that came with the hoast of the Arabians had slayne all his eldest sonnes And so Ahaziahu the sonne of Iehoram king of Iuda was made king 2 Two fourtie yeres old was he when he began to raigne and he raigned one yere in Hierusalem His mothers name was Athaliahu the daughter of Amri 3 And he walked also in the wayes of the house of Ahab for his mother by her counsel enticed him to do wickedly 4 Wherfore he dyd that which was euyll in the sight of the Lord as dyd they that were of the house of Ahab for they were his counselers after the death of his father to his destruction 5 And he walked after their counsel and went with Iehoram sonne of Ahab king of Israel to fight against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth in Gilead and the Syrians smote Iehoram 6 And he returned to be healed in Iezrahel of the woundes whiche were geuen him at Rama whē he fought with Hazael king of Syria and Ahaziahu the sonne of Iehoram king of Iuda went downe to see Iehoram the sonne of Ahab at Iezrahel because he was diseased 7 At it came of God that Ahaziahu shoulde be dispised for his comming to Iehoram for when he was come he went out with Iehoram against Iehu the sonne of Nimsi whom y e Lord had annointed to destroy the house of Ahab 8 And so it came to passe that when Iehu was executing iustice vpon the house of Ahab and had founde the lordes of Iuda and the sonnes of the brethren of Ahaziahu that wayted on Ahaziahu he slue them 9 And he sought Ahaziahu they caught him where he was hid in Samaria and brought him to Iehu and when they had slayne him they buried him because said they he is the sonne of Iehosaphat whiche sought the Lorde with all his heart And the house of Ahaziahu had no powre to kepe still the kingdome 10 But when Athaliahu the mother of Ahaziahu sawe that her sonne was dead she arose and destroyed all the kinges seede in the kinred of the house of Iuda 11 And Iehosabeth the daughter of the king toke Ioas the sonne of Ahaziahu and stale him from among the kinges sonnes that were slayne put him and his nurse in a priuie chamber and so Iehosabeth the daughter of king Iehoram the wyfe of Iehoiada the priest and the sister of Ahaziahu hid him from Athaliahu that he was not slayne 12 And so he was with them hyd in the house of God sixe yeres and Athaliahu raigned ouer the lande The .xxiii. Chapter 1 Ioas the sonne of Ahazia is made king 3 Athaliahu is put to
which was before the kinges gate 7 And Mardocheus tolde him of al that had come vnto him of y e summe of siluer that Haman had promised to waye downe into the kinges treasurie because of the Iewes if he would destroy them 8 And he gaue him the copie of the kinges commaundement that was deuised at Susan to destroy them that he might shewe it vnto Esther and to speake to her and charge her that she should go in vnto the king make her prayer and supplication vnto him for her people 9 And when Hathach came in he tolde Esther the wordes of Mardocheus 10 And againe Esther spake vnto Hathach and commaūded him to say vnto Mardocheus 11 All the kinges seruauntes the people in the prouinces of the king knowe that whosoeuer commeth within the courte vnto the king whether it be man or woman which is not called the cōmaundement is that the same shall dye except the king holde out the golden septer vnto him for then he shall lyue As for me I haue not ben called to come in vnto the king now this thirtie dayes 12 And they certified Mardocheus of Esthers wordes 13 And Mardocheus bad say againe vnto Esther Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the kinges house more then all the Iewes 14 For if thou holdest thy peace at this time then shall the Iewes haue helpe and deliueraunce out of an other place and thou and thy fathers house shal be destroyed And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for this causes sake 15 Esther bad them geue Mardocheus this aunswere 16 Go thou thy way and gather together all the Iewes that are founde at Susan and fast ye for me that ye eate not and drinke not in three dayes neither day nor night I and my maydens wyll fast likewyse and so wyll I go into the king which thing yet is contrary to the commaundement and if I perishe I perishe 17 So Mardocheus went his way and did according to al that Esther had commaunded him ¶ The .v. Chapter 1 Esther entreth into the king and biddeth him and Haman to a feaste 11 Haman prepareth a gallous for Mardocheus 1 ANd on the third day it came to passe that Esther put on her royall apparell and stoode in the court of the kinges palace within ouer against y e kinges house and the king sat vpon his royall seate in the kinges palace ouer against the gate of the house 2 And when the king sawe Esther the queene standing in the court she founde grace in his sight And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand So Esther stept foorth and touched the top of the scepter 3 Then saide the king vnto her What wylt thou queene Esther and what requirest thou aske euen the halfe of the empire and it shal be geuen thee 4 And Esther aunswered If it please the king let the king and Haman come this day vnto the banket that I haue prepared for him 5 And the king saide Cause Haman to make haste that he may do as Esther hath saide So the king and Haman came to the banket that Esther had prepared 6 And the king saide vnto Esther at the banket of wine What is thy petition that it may be geuen thee And what requirest thou If it be euen the halfe of the empire it shall be done 7 Then aunswered Esther and said My petition and desire is 8 If I haue founde grace in the sight of the king and if it please the king to geue me my petition and to fulfil my request then let the king and Haman come to the banket that I shall prepare for thē and so wyl I do to morowe as the king hath saide 9 Then went Haman foorth the same day ioyfull and mery in his minde But when the same Haman sawe Mardocheus in the kinges gate that he stoode not vp nor moued for him he was ful of indignation at Mardocheus 10 Neuerthelesse Haman refrained him selfe and when he came home he sent and called for his friendes and Zares his wyfe 11 And Haman tolde them of the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and all the thinges wherein the king had promoted him so greatly and how that he had set him aboue the princes and seruauntes of the king 12 Haman saide moreouer Yea Esther the queene did let no man come in with the king vnto the bancket that she had prepared except me and to morowe am I bidden vnto her also with the king 13 But in all this am I not satisfied as long as I see Mardocheus the Iewe sitting at the kinges gate 14 Then saide Zares his wyfe and all his friendes vnto him Let them make a galous of fiftie cubites hie and to morowe speake thou vnto the king that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon then go thou in meryly with the king vnto the banket And Haman was well content withall and caused the galous to be made The .vi. Chapter 1 The king turneth ouer the chronicles and findeth the fidelitie of Mardocheus 10 and commaundeth Haman to cause Mardocheus to be had in honour 1 THe same night coulde not the king sleepe and he commaunded to bring the chronicles and stories and they were read before the king 2 Then it was founde written howe Mardocheus had tolde that Bigthana There 's the kinges two chamberlaynes which kept the thresholdes sought to laye handes on king Ahasuerus 3 And the king saide What honour and dignitie hath ben geuen to Mardocheus therfore Then saide the kinges seruaūtes that ministred vnto him There is nothing at all done for him 4 And the king saide Who is in the court for Haman was come into the court without before the kinges house that he might speake vnto the king to hang Mardocheus on the tree that he had prepared for him 5 And the kinges seruauntes saide vnto him Beholde Haman standeth in the court And the king saide let him come in 6 And when Haman came in the king saide vnto him what shal be done vnto the man whom the king would faine bring vnto worship Haman thought in his heart Whom desireth the king to bring vnto worship more then me 7 And Haman aunswered the king Let the man whom the king pleaseth to bring vnto worship be brought hither 8 That he may be arayed with the royall garmentes which the king vseth to weare and the horse that the king rydeth vpon and that the crowne royall may be set vpon his head 9 And let this rayment and horse be deliuered vnder the hande of one of the kinges most noble princes that they may aray the man withal whom the king is disposed to bring to honour and cary him vpon the horse through the streete of the citie and proclayme before him Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king pleaseth to bring to honour 10 And the king saide to Haman Make
haste and take as thou hast saide the rayment and the horse and do euen so vnto Mardocheus the Iewe that sitteth before the kinges gate and let nothing faile of all that thou hast spoken 11 Then toke Haman the rayment and the horse and arayed Mardocheus and brought him on horsebacke through the streete of the citie and proclaymed before him Euen this shall it be done vnto the man whom the king is disposed to honour 12 And Mardocheus came againe to the kinges gate but Haman gat him home in all the haste mourning and his head couered 13 And tolde Zares his wyfe and all his friendes euery thing that had befallen him Then saide his wise men and Zares his wyfe vnto him If it be Mardocheus of the seede of the Iewes before whō thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not preuaile against him but shalt surely fall before him 14 And whyle they were yet talking with him came the kinges chamberlaynes caused Haman to make hast to come vnto the banket that Esther had prepared ¶ The .vij. Chapter ◠The queene biddeth the king and Haman againe and prayeth for her selfe and her people 6 She accuseth Haman and he is hanged on the galous which he had prepared for Mardocheus 1 AND the king and Haman came to bancket with the queene Esther 2 And the king saide againe vnto Esther on the seconde day at the bancket of wine What is thy petition queene Esther that it may be geuen thee And what requirest thou if it be euen to the halfe of the empire it shal be done 3 And Esther the queene aunswered and saide If I haue found grace in thy sight O king and if it please the king then graunt me my lyfe at my desire and my people for my petitions sake 4 For we are solde I and my people to be destroyed to be slaine and to perishe And would God that we were solde to be bondmen and bondwomen then would I holde my tongue although the enemie coulde not recompence the kinges losse 5 The king Ahasuerus aunswered and saide vnto queene Esther Who is he And where is he that dare presume in his minde to do after that maner 6 And Esther saide the enemie and aduersarie is this wicked Haman Then Haman was exceedingly afrayde before the king and the queene 7 And the king arose from the bancket and from the wine in his displeasure and went into the palace garden And Haman stoode vp and besought queene Esther for his lyfe for he saw that there was a mischiefe prepared for him of the king alreadie 8 And when the king came againe out of the palace gardē into the place where they dranke wine Haman had layde him vpon the bed that Esther sate vpon Then saide the king wil he force the queene also before me in the house As soone as that worde went out of the kinges mouth they couered Hamans face 9 And Harbona one of the chamberlaynes that stoode before the king said◠Beholde there standeth yet a galous in Hamans house fiftie cubites hye which he had made for Mardocheus that spake good for the king Then the king saide Hang him thereon 10 So they hanged Haman on the galous that he had made for Mardocheus Then was the kinges wrath pacified ¶ The .viii. Chapter 1 After the death of Haman was Mardocheus exalted 14 Comfortable letters are sent vnto the Iewes 1 THe same day did king Ahasuerus geue the house of Haman the Iewes enemie vnto queene Esther and Mardocheus came before the king for Esther tolde what he was vnto her 2 And the king toke of his ring which he had taken from Haman and gaue it vnto Mardocheus And Esther sette Mardocheus ouer the house of Haman 3 And Esther spake yet more before the king and fel downe at his feete weping and besought him that he would put away the wickednesse of Haman the Agagite and his deuice that he had imagined against the Iewes 4 And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther Then rose Esther and stode before the king 5 And saide if it please the king and if I haue founde grace in his sight and if it be acceptable before the king and I please him then let it be writtē that the letters of the deuise of Haman the sonne of Hamadatha the Agagite may be called againe which letters he wrote to destroy the Iewes which are in all the kinges prouinces 6 For how can I suffer and see the euill that shall come vnto my people or how can I beare and loke vpon the destruction of my kindred 7 And the king Ahasuerus saide vnto queene Esther and to Mardocheus the Iewe Beholde I haue geuen Esther the house of Haman whom they haue hanged vpon a tree because he layde hand vpon the Iewes 8 Write ye also for the Iewes as it lyketh you in the kinges name and seale it with the kinges ring For the writinges that were written in the kinges name and sealed with the kinges ring durst no man disanul 9 Then were the kinges scribes called at the same time euen in the thirde moneth that is the moneth Swan on the three and twentie day thereof and it was written according to all as Mardocheus commaūded vnto the Iewes and to the princes to the debuties and captaynes in the prouinces which are from India vnto Ethiopia namely an hundred twentie and seuen prouinces vnto euery prouince according to the writing thereof and vnto euery people after their speach and to the Iewes according to their writing and language 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus name sealed it with the kinges ring and by postes that rode vpon horses and swyft young Mules sent he the writinges 11 Wherin the king graunted the Iewes in what cities soeuer they were to gather themselues together and to stand for their lyfe and for to roote out to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and prouince that woulde trouble them both children and women and to spoyle their goodes 12 Vpon one day in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus namely vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is the moneth Adar 13 The summe of the writing was how there shoulde be a commaundement geuen in all and euery prouince and published among all people and that the Iewes should be redy against that day to auenge them selues on their enemies 14 And so the postes that rode vpon the swyft Horses and Mules made haste with all speede to execute the kinges word and the commaundement was deuised in Susan the chiefe citie 15 And Mardocheus went out from the king in royall apparell of yelowe and white with a great crowne of golde being arayed with a garment of silke and purple and the citie of Susan reioysed and was glad 16 And vnto the Iewes there was come light and gladnesse ioy and worship 17 In all prouinces and cities into what places soeuer the kinges word and commaundement
hym 33 The very same houre was this matter fulfilled vpon Nabuchodonozor so that he was cast out of mens companie did eate grasse like oxen and his body was wet with the deawe of heauen till his heere 's were growen as Egles fethers and his nayles like byrdes clawes 34 When this time was past I Nabuchodonozor lift vp myne eyes vnto heauen and mine vnderstanding was restored vnto me then gaue I thankes vnto the highest I magnified praysed hym that liueth for euermore whose power is an euerlasting power and his kingdome is from one generatiō to another 35 And all they that dwel vpon the earth are to be reputed as nothing and according to his will he worketh in the armie of heauen among the inhabitours of the earth and there is none that may resist his hand or say vnto him what doest thou 36 At the same time was myne vnderstanding geuen me againe and I was restored to the honour of my kingdome my glorie and my beautie was restored vnto me my counsellers and princes sought vnto me and I was established in my kingdome my glorie was augmented towarde me 37 Now therfore I Nabuchodonozor prayse and extol magnifie the king of heauen whose workes are all trueth his wayes iudgement and those that walke in pryde he is able to abase The .v. Chapter 1 Balthasar king of Babylon abusing the vessels of the temple seeth an hande wryting in the wal 8 The soothsayers called of the king can not expounde the wryting 13 Daniel is called which readeth it and interpreteth also 30 Balthasar beyng slaine Darius succedeth in his roome 1 KIng Balthasar made a great feast to a thousand of his princes and dranke wine before the thousande 2 And Balthasar when he had tasted the wine commaunded to bring hym the golden and siluer vessels whiche his father Nabuchodonozor had brought from the temple in Hierusalem that the king and his princes and his wyues and his concubines might drinke therin 3 So were brought the goldē vessels that they had taken out of the temple of the Lordes house at Hierusalem and the king and his princes his wyues and his concubines drunke in them 4 They drunke wine praysed the gods of golde siluer brasse iron wood and stone 5 In the very same houre there appeared fingers of a mans hande wryting right ouer against the candlesticke vpon the plaster of the wall of the kinges palace and the king sawe the knockles of the hande that wrote 6 Then chaunged the king his countenaunce his thoughtes troubled hym so that the ioyntes of his loynes were loosed and his knees smote one against the other 7 Wherfore the king cryed mightyly that they should bring the soothsayers Chaldees wysardes the king spake also to the wise men of Babylon said Who so can reade this wryting shewe me the interpretation thereof shal be clothed with purple and haue a cheyne of golde about his necke and shal be the third ruler in the kingdome 8 Vpon this came al the kinges wise men but they coulde neither reade the wryting nor shewe the king the interpretation 9 Then was king Balthasar greatly troubled and his countenaunce was chaunged in him and his princes were astonied 10 Nowe the queene by reason of the talke of the king his princes came into the banket house and the queene spake and sayde O king lyue for euer let not thy thoughtes trouble thee and let not thy countenaunce be chaunged 11 There is a man in thy kingdome that hath the spirite of the holy Gods within him in the dayes of thy father light and vnderstanding wysdome like the wysedome of the gods was founde in hym whom the king Nabuchodonozor thy father the king I say thy father made chiefe of the wyse men soothsayers Chaldeans and wysardes 12 Because that such an aboundaunt spirite knowledge and vnderstanding to expound dreames to open secretes to declare harde doubtes was founde in him yea euen in Daniel whom the king named Baltassar let Daniel be called and he shal declare the interpretation 13 Then was Daniel brought before the king so the king spake vnto Daniel and sayde Art thou that Daniel whiche art of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda whom my father the king brought out of Iurie 14 I haue hearde of thee that thou hast the spirite of the holy gods that light and vnderstanding and excellent wysdome is founde in thee 15 Now haue there ben brought before me wyse men and soothsayers to reade this wryting and to shewe me the interpretation therof but they could not declare the interpretation of the thing 16 Then hearde I of thee that thou couldest shewe interpretations and dissolue doubtes nowe if thou canst reade his writing shew me the meaning therof thou shalt be clothed with purple and haue a cheyne of gold about thy necke be the thirde ruler in the kingdome 17 Then Daniel aunswered and sayd before the king As for thy rewardes kepe them to thy selfe and geue thy giftes to another yet I wil reade the writing vnto the king and shewe him the interpretation 18 O thou king the most high god gaue vnto Nabuchodonozor thy father a kingdome and maiestie and honour glorie 19 And for the maiestie that he gaue him al people nations and languages trembled and feared before him he slue whom he would he smote whom it pleased him againe whom he would he set vp and whom he list he put downe 20 But because his heart was loftie and his minde strengthened in pride he was deposed from his kingly throne and they toke his glory from him 21 He was driuen out from the sonnes of men his heart was made lyke the beastes and his dwelling was with the wilde Asses they fed him with grasse lyke Oxen and his body was wet with the deawe of the heauen till he knewe that the most hie God bare rule ouer the kingdome of men and that he appoynteth ouer it whom so euer he pleaseth 22 And thou his sonne O Balthasar hast not submitted thyne heart though thou knewest all these thinges 23 But hast lift vp thy selfe against the Lorde of heauen so that the vessels of his house were brought before thee that thou and thy princes with thy wyues and concubines might drinke wine thereout and thou hast praysed the gods of siluer and golde of brasse and iron of wood and stone which neither see heare nor vnderstand As for the God in whose hande consisteth thy breath and all thy wayes thou hast not glorified him 24 Then was the knockles of the hand sent from him and hath written this writing 25 And this the writing that he hath writtē MENE MENE THECEL VPHARSIN 26 Now the interpretation of the thing is this MENE God hath numbred thy kingdome and brought it to an ende 27 THECEL thou art wayed in the
gaue him a charge concerning this thyng that he shoulde not folowe other gods But he kept not that which the Lorde commaunded him 11 Wherfore the Lorde sayde vnto Solomon Forasmuche as this is done of thee and thou hast not kept myne appoyntment and my statutes whiche I commaunded thee I wil rent the kingdome from thee and will geue it to thy seruaunt 12 Notwithstanding in thy dayes I will not do it because of Dauid thy father but wil take it frō the hand of thy sonne 13 Howbeit I will not take away all the kingdome But will geue one tribe to thy sonne because of Dauid my seruaūt and because of Hierusalem whiche I haue chosen 14 And the Lorde stirred vp an aduersarie vnto Solomon euen one Hadad an Edomite of the kinges seede whiche was in Edom. 15 For when Dauid was in Edom and Ioab the captayne of the hoast was gone vp to burie them that were slaine he smote all the men children in Edom 16 For sixe monethes dyd Ioab remayne there and all Israel till he had destroyed all the men children of Edom. 17 And this Hadad fled and certaine other Edomites of his fathers seruaūtes with hym to come into Egypt Hadad beyng yet a litle childe 18 And they arose out of Madian came to Paran and toke men with them out of Paran and came to Egypt vnto Pharao king of Egypt whiche gaue him an house and appoynted him vittailes and gaue him lande 19 And Hadad gat great fauour in the sight of Pharao so that he gaue him to wyfe the sister of his owne wyfe euen the syster of Thahpenes the queene 20 And the sister of Thahpenes bare him Genubath his sonne whō Thahpenes norished in Pharaos house And Genubath was with Pharaos housholde among the sonnes of Pharao 21 And when Hadad hearde in Egypt that Dauid was layde to sleepe with his fathers that Ioab the captayne of the hoaste was dead also he sayde to Pharao Let me depart that I may go to myne owne countrey 22 Pharao sayde vnto him What hast thou lacked here with me that thou wouldest thus go to thyne owne countrey He aunswered Nothing howbeit let me go 23 And God stirred him vp another aduersarie one Rezon the sonne of Eliada whiche fled from his lorde Hadadezer king of Zoba 24 And he gathered men vnto him and became captayne ouer the companie when Dauid slue them And they went to Damasco and dwelt there and raigned in Damasco 25 Therfore was he an aduersarie to Israel all the dayes of Solomon and this was the mischiefe in that Hadad dyd abhorre Israel and raigned ouer Syria 26 And Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat an Ephrathite of Zareda whose mother was called Zeruah whiche was a wydowe and he Solomons seruaunt lyft vp his hande against the king 27 But this was the cause that he lift vp his hande against the king Solomon buylt Mello and mended the broken places of the citie of Dauid his father 28 And this felowe Ieroboam was a man of strength courage And Solomon sawe the young man that he was able to do the worke he made him ruler ouer all the charge of the house of Ioseph 29 And it chaunced at that season that Ieroboam went out of Ierusalem and the prophete Ahia the Silonite met him by the way hauing a newe mantel on him and they two were alone in the fielde 30 Ahia caught the newe mantel that was on him rent it in twelue peeces 31 And sayd to Ieroboam Take thee ten peeces For thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel Behold I will rent the kingdome out of the handes of Solomon and will geue ten tribes to thee 32 And he shal haue one for my seruaunt Dauids sake and for Hierusalem the citie which I haue chosen out of all the tribes of Israel 33 Because they haue forsaken me haue worshipped Astharoth the god of the Zidons and Chamos the god of the Moabites Milcom the god of the children of Ammon haue not walked in my wayes to fulfill my pleasure my statutes and my lawes as dyd Dauid his father 34 I will not take the whole kingdome out of his hand But I will make him chiefe all his lyfe long for Dauid my seruauntes sake whom I chose because he kept my commaundementes and my statutes 35 But I will take the kingdome out of his sonnes hande and will geue it vnto thee euen ten tribes of it 36 And vnto his sonne will I geue one tribe that Dauid my seruaunt may haue a light alway before me in Hierusalem the citie which I haue chosen me to put my name there 37 And I will take thee and thou shalt raigne according to all that thy soule desireth and shalt be king ouer Israel 38 And if thou hearken vnto all that I commaunde thee and wilt walke in my wayes and do that is right in my sight that thou kepe my statutes and my commaundementes as Dauid my seruaunt dyd then will I be with thee and buyld thee a sure house as I buylt for my seruaunt Dauid and will geue Israel vnto thee 39 And I will for this offence whiche Solomon hath committed vexe the seede of Dauid but nor for euer 40 Solomon sought therfore to kil Ieroboam and Ieroboam arose and fled into Egypt vnto Sisac king of Egypt and continued there in Egypt vntill the death of Solomon 41 The rest of the wordes that concerne Solomon and all that he dyd and his wysdome are they not written in the booke of the wordes of Solomon 42 The tyme that Solomon raigned in Hierusalem vpon al Israel was fourtie yeres 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the citie of Dauid his father and Rehoboam his sonne raigned in his steade The xii Chapter 1 Rehoboam succeedeth Solomon 8 He refuseth the counsel of the auncient 20 Ieroboam raigneth ouer Israel 21 God commaundeth Rehoboam not to fight 28 Ieroboam maketh golden calues 1 ANd Rehoboam went to Sichē for all Israel were come to Sichem to make him king 2 And when Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat whiche was yet in Egypt heard of it for he fled to Egypt from the presence of king Solomon and dwelt in Egypt 3 So they sent and called him and Ieroboam and all the congregation of IsIsrael came spake vnto Rehoboam saying 4 Thy father made our yocke greeuous nowe therfore make thou the greeuous seruice of thy father and his sore yocke whiche he put vpon vs lighter and we will serue thee 5 And he sayde vnto them Depart yet for the space of three dayes and then come againe to me And the people departed 6 And king Rehoboam toke counsel with the olde men that stoode before Solomon his father while he yet lyued and sayd What counsel geue ye that I may haue matter to aunswere this people 7 And they sayd vnto him If thou be a seruaunt vnto this people this day and