is the truth, and stronger than all things.
[36] All the earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing.
[37] Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish.
[38] As for the truth, it endureth, and is alwaYs strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore.
[39] With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unjust and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.
[40] Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth.
[41] And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.
[42] Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou art found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin.
[43] Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,
[44] And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again thither.
[45] Thou also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldees.
[46] And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality proceeding from thyself: I desire therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast vowed to the King of heaven.
[47] Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers and lieutenants and captains and governors, that they should safely convey on their way both him, and all those that go up with him to build Jerusalem.
[48] He wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him.
[49] Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors;
[50] And that all the country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held:
[51] Yea, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built;
[52] And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen:
[53] And that all they that went from Babylon to build the city should have free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that went away.
[54] He wrote also concerning. the charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister;
[55] And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up.
[56] And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages.
[57] He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, 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.
[58] Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,
[59] And said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and thine is the glory, and I am thy servant.
[60] Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.
[61] And so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon, and told it all his brethren.
[62] And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and liberty
[63] To go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and they feasted with instruments of musick and gladness seven days.

1Esdr.5

[1] After this were the principal men of the families chosen according to their tribes, to go up with their wives and sons and daughters, with their menservants and maidservants, and their cattle.
[2] And Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, till they had brought them back to Jerusalem safely, and with musical [instruments] tabrets and flutes.
[3] And all their brethren played, and he made them go up together with them.
[4] And these are the names of the men which went up, according to their families among their tribes, after their several heads.
[5] The priests, the sons of Phinees the son of Aaron: Jesus the son of Josedec, the son of Saraias, and Joacim the son of Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the house of David, out of the kindred of Phares, of the tribe of Judah;
[6] Who spake wise sentences before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month.
[7] And these are they of Jewry that came up from the captivity, where they dwelt as strangers, whom Nabuchodonosor