1 Esdras 4:7–24

7 And he is but one man: 8 if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare; if he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they build; 9 if he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant. 10 So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth down, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest: 11 and these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in anything. 12 O sirs, how should not the king be strongest, seeing that in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his peace.

13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak. 14 O sirs, is not the king great, and men are many, and wine is strong? who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not women? 15 Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land. 16 Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh. 17 These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot men be. 18 Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver and every other goodly thing, and see a woman which is comely in favour and beauty, 19 they let all those things go, and gape after her, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have all more desire unto her than unto gold or silver, or any goodly thing whatsoever. 20 A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his wife. 21 And with his wife he endeth his days, and remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country. 22 By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil, and give and bring all to women? 23 Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth forth to make outroads, and to rob and to steal, 24 and to sail upon the sea and upon rivers; and looketh upon a lion, and walketh in the darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.