1 Then the second, who had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say, (WEB) 2 “O sirs, don’t men excel in strength who rule over the sea and land, and all things in them? (WEB) 3 But yet the king is stronger. He is their lord and has dominion over them. In whatever he commands them, they obey him. (WEB) 4 If he tells them to make war against each other, they do it. If he sends them out against the enemies, they go, and conquer mountains, walls, and towers. (WEB) 5 They kill and are killed, and don’t disobey the king’s commandment. If they win the victory, they bring everything to the king—all the plunder and everything else. (WEB) 6 Likewise for those who are not soldiers, and don’t have anything to do with wars, but farm, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring some to the king and compel one another to pay tribute to the king. (WEB) 7 He is just one man! If he commands people to kill, they kill. If he commands them to spare, they spare. (WEB) 8 If he commands them to strike, they strike. If he commands them to make desolate, they make desolate. If he commands to build, they build. (WEB) 9 If he commands them to cut down, they cut down. If he commands them to plant, they plant. (WEB) 10 So all his people and his armies obey him. Furthermore, he lies down, he eats and drinks, and takes his rest; (WEB) 11 and these keep watch around him. None of them may depart and do his own business. They don’t disobey him in anything. (WEB) 12 O sirs, how could the king not be the strongest, seeing that he is obeyed like this?” Then he stopped talking. (WEB)
1 Esdras 4:1–12
Semantically similar passages
1 Maccabees 1:7–9
7 Alexander reigned twelve years, then he died. (WEB) 8 Then his servants ruled, each one in his place. (WEB) 9 They all put crowns upon themselves after he was dead, and so did their sons after them many years; and they multiplied evils on the earth. (WEB)
Isaiah 10:7–9
7 But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations. 8 “Are not all my commanders kings?” he says. 9 “Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
Odes of Solomon 16:13–15
13 And created things run in their courses, and do their works: (ODE) 14 And they know not how to stand and be idle; and His heavenly hosts are subject to His word. (ODE) 15 The treasure-chamber of the light is the sun, and the treasury of the darkness is the night: (ODE)
Sirach 16:27–29
27 He arranged his works for all time, and their beginnings to their generations. They aren’t hungry or weary, and they don’t cease from their works. (WEB) 28 No one pushes aside his neighbor. They will never disobey his word. (WEB) 29 After this also the Lord looked at the earth a… (WEB)
1 Clement 37:1–3
1 Let us therefore enlist ourselves, brethren, with all earnestness in His faultless ordinances. (1CL) 2 Let us mark the soldiers that are enlisted under our rulers, how exactly, how readily, how submissively, they execute the orders given them. (1CL) 3 All are not prefects, nor… (1CL)
1 Maccabees 8:12–14
12 but with their friends and those who relied on them they stayed friends. They conquered the kingdoms that were near and those that were far off, and all that heard of their fame were afraid of them. (WEB) 13 Moreover, whoever they desired to help and to make kings, the… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 8:3–5
3 Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the…
Psalms 18:43–45
43 You have delivered me from the strife of the people; You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me. 44 When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me. 45 Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds.
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources