1And it happened in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king: that wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king: and I was as one languishing away before his face.

2And the king said to me: Why is your face sad, seeing you do not appear to be sick? this is not without cause, but some evil, I know not what, is in your heart. And I was seized with an exceeding great fear:

3And I said to the king: OH king, live forever: why should not my face be sorrowful, seeing the city of the place of the tombs of my fathers is desolate, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire?

4Then the king said to me: For what do you make request? And I prayed to the God of heaven,

5And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you would send me into Judea to the city of the tomb of my father, and I will build it.

6And the king said to me, and the queen that sat by him: For how long shall your journey be, and when will you return? And it pleased the king, and he sent me: and I fixed him a time.

7And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, let him give me letters to the governors of the country beyond the river, that they convey me over, till I come into Judea:

8And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, to give me timber that I may cover the gates of the tower of the house, and the walls of the city, and the house that I shall enter into. And the king gave me according to the good hand of my God with me.

1Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy lasts forever.

2Praise you the God of gods: for his mercy lasts forever.

3Praise you the Lord of lords: for his mercy lasts forever.

4Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy lasts forever.

5Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy lasts forever.

6Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy lasts forever.

57And it happened, as they walked in the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow you withersoever you go.

58Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of Man has not where to lay his head.

59But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go, and to bury my father.

60And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but go you, and preach the kingdom of God.

61And another said: I will follow you, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house.

62Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.