1 Then the second, who had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say, (WEB) 2 “O sirs, don’t men excel in strength who rule over the sea and land, and all things in them? (WEB) 3 But yet the king is stronger. He is their lord and has dominion over them. In whatever he commands them, they obey him. (WEB) 4 If he tells them to make war against each other, they do it. If he sends them out against the enemies, they go, and conquer mountains, walls, and towers. (WEB) 5 They kill and are killed, and don’t disobey the king’s commandment. If they win the victory, they bring everything to the king—all the plunder and everything else. (WEB) 6 Likewise for those who are not soldiers, and don’t have anything to do with wars, but farm, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring some to the king and compel one another to pay tribute to the king. (WEB) 7 He is just one man! If he commands people to kill, they kill. If he commands them to spare, they spare. (WEB) 8 If he commands them to strike, they strike. If he commands them to make desolate, they make desolate. If he commands to build, they build. (WEB) 9 If he commands them to cut down, they cut down. If he commands them to plant, they plant. (WEB) 10 So all his people and his armies obey him. Furthermore, he lies down, he eats and drinks, and takes his rest; (WEB) 11 and these keep watch around him. None of them may depart and do his own business. They don’t disobey him in anything. (WEB) 12 O sirs, how could the king not be the strongest, seeing that he is obeyed like this?” Then he stopped talking. (WEB) 13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak: (WEB) 14 “O sirs, isn’t the king great, and men are many, and isn’t wine strong? Who is it then who rules them, or has the lordship over them? Aren’t they women? (WEB) 15 Women have given birth to the king and all the people who rule over sea and land. (WEB) 16 They came from women. Women nourished up those who planted the vineyards, from where the wine comes. (WEB) 17 Women also make garments for men. These bring glory to men. Without women, men can’t exist. (WEB) 18 Yes, and if men have gathered together gold and silver and any other beautiful thing, and see a woman who is lovely in appearance and beauty, (WEB) 19 they let all those things go and gape at her, and with open mouth stare at her. They all have more desire for her than for gold, or silver, or any other beautiful thing. (WEB) 20 A man leaves his own father who brought him up, leaves his own country, and joins with his wife. (WEB) 21 With his wife he ends his days, with no thought for his father, mother, or country. (WEB) 22 By this also you must know that women have dominion over you. Don’t you labor and toil, and bring it all… (WEB)
1 Esdras 4:1–63
Semantically similar passages
Greek Esther 4:37–39
37 to abolish the decree of your mouth, and utterly to destroy your inheritance, and to stop the mouth of those who praise you, and to extinguish the glory of your house and your altar, (WEB) 38 and to open the mouth of the Gentiles to speak the praises of vanities, and t… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 8:3–5
3 Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the…
Job 37:23–24
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress. 24 Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
2 Baruch 72:5–6
5 and has not trodden down the seed of Jacob, shall indeed be spared. And this because some out of (2BA) 6 every nation shall be subjected to thy people. But all those who have ruled over you, or have known you, shall be given up to the sword. (2BA)
Isaiah 10:7–9
7 But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations. 8 “Are not all my commanders kings?” he says. 9 “Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
Odes of Solomon 16:13–15
13 And created things run in their courses, and do their works: (ODE) 14 And they know not how to stand and be idle; and His heavenly hosts are subject to His word. (ODE) 15 The treasure-chamber of the light is the sun, and the treasury of the darkness is the night: (ODE)
Job 36:10–12
10 He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. 12 But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
Greek Esther 1:19–21
19 If then it seems good to the king, let him make a royal decree, and let it be written according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, and let him not alter it: ‘Don’t allow the queen to come in to him any more. Let the king give her royalty to a woman better… (WEB)
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