The King James Version Bible

1 Esdras 3:1-8

  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 India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.

  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.

  4. Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king's body, spake 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 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 his pillow;