The First Book of Esdras

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media and Persia,

And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.

And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.

Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king’s body, spake one to another;

Let every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall the king Darius give great gifts, and great things in token of victory:

As, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck:

And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin.

And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow;

And said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the writings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as was appointed.

The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.

The second wrote, The king is strongest.

The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory.

Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them unto him, and so he read them:

And sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and Media, and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief officers;

And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them.

And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own sentences. So they were called, and came in.

And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine;

And he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it causeth all men to err that drink it:

It maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich:

It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt:

And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by talents:

And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords:

But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have done.

O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.

Now King Darius made a great feast for all his subjects, for all who were born in his house, for all the princes of Media and of Persia,

and for all the local governors and captains and governors who were under him, from India to Ethiopia, in the one hundred twenty seven provinces.

They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied went home. Then King Darius went into his bedchamber slept, but awakened out of his sleep.

Then the three young men of the bodyguard, who guarded the king, spoke one to another:

“Let every one of us state what one thing is strongest. King Darius will give he whose statement seems wiser than the others great gifts and great honors in token of victory.

He shall be clothed in purple, drink from gold cups, sleep on a gold bed, and have a chariot with bridles of gold, a fine linen turban, and a chain around his neck.

He shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called cousin of Darius.”

Then they each wrote his sentence, sealed them, and laid them under King Darius’ pillow,

and said, “When the king wakes up, someone will give him the writing. Whoever the king and the three princes of Persia judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as it is written.”

The first wrote, “Wine is the strongest.”

The second wrote, “The king is strongest.”

The third wrote, “Women are strongest, but above all things Truth is the victor.”

Now when the king woke up, they took the writing and gave it to him, so he read it.

Sending out, he called all the princes of Persia and of Media, the local governors, the captains, the governors, and the chief officers

and sat himself down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writing was read before them.

He said, “Call the young men, and they shall explain their own sentences. So they were called and came in.

They said to them, “Explain what you have written.” Then the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, began

and said this: “O sirs, how exceedingly strong wine is! It causes all men who drink it to go astray.

It makes the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be the same, likewise of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich.

It also turns every thought into cheer and mirth, so that a man remembers neither sorrow nor debt.

It makes every heart rich, so that a man remembers neither king nor local governor. It makes people say things in large amounts.

When they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and kindred, and before long draw their swords.

But when they awake from their wine, they don’t remember what they have done.

O sirs, isn’t wine the strongest, seeing that it forces people to do this?” And when he had said this, he stopped speaking.