1 Esdras 3:5-15

5 "Let each of us state what one thing is strongest; and to the one whose statement seems wisest, King Darius will give rich gifts and great honors of victory.
6 He shall be clothed in purple, and drink from gold cups, and sleep on a gold bed, and have a chariot with gold bridles, and a turban of fine linen, and a necklace around his neck;
7 and because of his wisdom he shall sit next to Darius and shall be called Kinsman of Darius."
8 Then each wrote his own statement, and they sealed them and put them under the pillow of King Darius,
9 and said, "When the king wakes, they will give him the writing; and to the one whose statement the king and the three nobles of Persia judge to be wisest the victory shall be given according to what is written."
10 The first wrote, "Wine is strongest."
11 The second wrote, "The king is strongest."
12 The third wrote, "Women are strongest, but above all things truth is victor."
13 When the king awoke, they took the writing and gave it to him, and he read it.
14 Then he sent and summoned all the nobles of Persia and Media and the satraps and generals and governors and prefects,
15 and he took his seat in the council chamber, and the writing was read in their presence.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Gk [on gold]
  • [b]. Or [but truth is victor over all things]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.