An Abridgeme[n]t of all the Canonical books of the olde Testament ::

Asking for newes from Iury land,
Nehemiah astond:
The Cittie rackt and burnt adown
hee shright and lowdly moend.
Him self alone with weeping fast,
he praid to God almight:
His prayer did tend grace for to finde,
in Aasuerus sight.

The ii. Chapiter.

Butler vnto the King he was,
and sadly did he wait:
The King him askt and he him tolde,
then pasport had he straight.
When to Hierusalem he came,
he vewd the whole decay:
Then cheerfully went foorth the woork,
he would haue no denay.

The iii. chapiter.

Companies now in order built,
eche one he took his place:

Some of good wil, some in despite
the woork went on apace.
Of all estates laid to their hande,
the building to aduaunce:
And last of all the Goldesmiths build
and so doo the merchants.

The iiii. chapiter.

Deadly hate the enemies took,
that stil the Iewes did build:
They scornd & mockt, they did conspire,
vnwares to giue them feeld.
Their treason wrought came to the Iewes
so were they prest to fight:
Their foes were blank so souldierlike,
they wrought and wacht by night.

The v. chapiter.

Eche mā cride out, ye dearth was great
they pledgd their land for bread:
The riche opprest the poor ful sore
of God they had no dread.
It was redrest, Nehemiah
got pardon for the gaged:
He liued without the peoples fee,
all thing was wel eswaged.

The vi. chapiter.

Ful suttlely wrought the heathen then
Nehemiah to kil:
They sent for him ful oft with craft,
he went not them vntil.
The Prophetes false would him afraid,
in faith he finisht all:
Some bearing rule had hollowe hartes
I think and euer shall.

The vii. chapiter.

Garded now is Hierusalem,
with watche and eke with warde
They are found out that first went vp,
their names are red and heard.
Some were put out their kin forworn,
and some found right in blood:
Bothe riche and poor gaue to the kark,
it came to mickle good.

The viii. chapiter.

Hauing now doon the woork as ought,
the law to them is read:
The people wept and mourned sore,
of God they were in dread.
The teachers thē with gladsome woordes
their fearfulnes remooues:
The rulers all came for to hear,
their feast was kept in boothes.

The ix. chapiter.

In fasting and in prayer bothe,
with sack clothe mourningly:
The people doo their alien wiues,
forsake moste willingly.
A godly prayer the preestes doo make
Gods wunders to set out:
How merciful he was to them,
though stil they had been stout

The x. chapiter.

Knowne out were now how many would
and eke therto subscribe:
That they would haue the couenāt kept,
the cheef of euery tribe:
The things are tolde: wherto they swear
to keep with all their hart:
They doo protest with ful consent,
they nil from them depart.

The xi. chapiter.

Lots then were cast in euery ten,
one should appointed be:
Hierusalem to make his shrowd,
they did therto agree.
So are they tolde from tribe to tribe,
who did the cittie keep:

The ressdue abrode did dwel,
in townes as folded sheep.

The xii. chapiter.

Many there were that did return,
home with Zorobabel:
Preestes and Leuits their names in course
this Chapter dooth you tel.
And eke how that the wall therto,
they doo it dedicate:
With ranks beset with singing men
with laudes from gate to gate.

The xiii. chapiter.

Now on that day the law was read,
that straungers were forbod:
To mixe among the Iewishe sect,
and so from them they yod.
The Saboth day they did not keep,
the ruler it refourmd:
And double men with heathen babes,
with speed suche out he turnd.

Nehemiah thus finisheth,
the second some it call:
Of Esdras now, and Esther next,
in course to you shall fall.

This prouerb heer is true ifound,
the wicked makes his gin:
To catche the iust, but he him self,
is trapt and caught therein.

University of Virginia Library

The second book of Esdras.

The first Chapiter.