Common English Bible

1 Esdras 4:21-30 Common English Bible (CEB)

21. With his wife he departs this life, with no memory of his father or mother or country.

22. Therefore, surely you must recognize that women rule over you!“Don’t you work and labor, yet you bring everything and give it to women?

23. A man takes his sword, goes out to travel abroad to raid, steal, and sail the sea and rivers.

24. He faces lions; he walks in darkness; when he steals and robs and plunders, he carries it back to the woman he loves.

25. A man loves his own wife much more than his father or mother.

26. Many men have lost their heads over women, and have become slaves on account of them.

27. Many have perished, stumbled, or sinned because of women.

28. "Now don’t you believe me? Isn’t the king great in his authority? Don’t all countries fear to touch him?

29. I once saw the king and Apame his mistress, the daughter of the eminent Bartacus, sitting by his right side.

30. She took the crown from the king’s head and put it on her own head, and slapped the king with her left hand.