1 Esdras 3:1-15
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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,
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2 And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.
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3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.
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4 Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king's body, spake one to another;
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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:
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6 As, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck:
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7 And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin.
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8 And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow;
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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.
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10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.
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11 The second wrote, The king is strongest.
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12 The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory.
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13 Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them unto him, and so he read them:
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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;
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15 And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them.