2 ESDRAS: The Hidden Book of Prophecy With 1st Esdras - Book - Page 172
3 :
T H E
W I S D O M
CHAPTER 3:
4 Three strive to excel each other in wise
speeches. 9 They refer themselves to the
judgment of the King. 18 The first declares
the strength of Wine.
The Debate of the Three
Bodyguards
1 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,
2 And to all the governors
and captains, and lieutenants
that were under him, from
Yahudea unto Ethiopia, of
an hundred twenty and seven
provinces.
3 And when they ate and
drank, and being satisfied
were gone home, then Darius
the king went into his bed
chamber, and slept, and soon
after awakened.
4 Then three young men that
were of the guard, that kept
the kings body, spoke one to
another:
5 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:
6 As to be clothed in purple,
to drink in gold, and to sleep
D E B A T E
upon gold, and a chariot with
bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine linen, and a chain
about his neck:
7 And he shall sit next to
Darius, because of his wisdom,
and shall be called, Darius his
cousin.
8 And then every one wrote
his sentence, sealed it, and laid
it under king Darius’ pillow,
9 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.
10 The first wrote: Wine is the
strongest.
11 The second wrote: The
King is strongest.
12 The third wrote; Women
are strongest, but above all
things truth bears away the
victory.
13 Now when the king was
risen up, they took their
writings, and delivered them
unto him, and so he read
them.
14 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,
15 And sat him down in the
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