1 Esdras 4:12

12 Gentlemen, why is not the king the strongest, since he is to be obeyed in this fashion?" And he stopped speaking.

1 Esdras 4:12 In-Context

10 All his people and his armies obey him. Moreover, he reclines, he eats and drinks and sleeps,
11 but they keep watch around him and no one may go away to attend to his own affairs, nor do they disobey him.
12 Gentlemen, why is not the king the strongest, since he is to be obeyed in this fashion?" And he stopped speaking.
13 Then the third, that is Zerubbabel, who had spoken of women and truth, began to speak:
14 Gentlemen, is not the king great, and are not men many, and is not wine strong? Who then is their master, or who is their lord? Is it not women?
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.