Ezra 4:14

Bishop's Bible

And now in the meane season we haue destroyed the temple, and woulde no longer see the kinges dishonour, therefore sent we out also and certified the king,

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king, and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king

Hebrew Names Version
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king;

King James Version
Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

English Standard Version
Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,

New Century Version
Since we must be loyal to the government, we don't want to see the king dishonored. So we are writing to let the king know.

New English Translation
In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information

Amplified Bible
"Now because we are in the service of the palace, and it is not proper for us to witness the king's dishonor, for that reason we have sent word and informed the king,

New American Standard Bible
"Now because we are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king's shame, for this reason we have sent word and informed the king,

World English Bible
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king;

Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe therefore because wee haue bene brought vp in the Kings palace, it was not meete for vs to see the Kings dishonour: for this cause haue we sent and certified the King,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now because we are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and made known to the king,

Berean Standard Bible
Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

Contemporary English Version
We are telling you this, because you have done so much for us, and we want everyone to respect you.

Complete Jewish Bible
Now, because we eat the king's salt, and it is not right for us to see the king dishonored, we therefore are sending to inform the king,

Darby Translation
Now, since we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not right for us to see the king's injury, therefore have we sent and informed the king;

Easy-to-Read Version
We have a responsibility to the king. We don't want to see this happen, so we are sending this letter to inform the king.

George Lamsa Translation
Now because we have eaten the salt of the palace, and it was not meet for us to see the kings dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,

Good News Translation
Now, because we are under obligation to Your Majesty, we do not want to see this happen, and so we suggest

Lexham English Bible
Now since we eat the salt of the palace and the dishonor of the king is not proper for us to see, we send and make this known to the king,

Literal Translation
Now because we have eaten of the palace salt, and it is not right for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and notified the king,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But now that we all are therby which destroyed the temple, we wolde no longer se the kynges dishonoure. Therfore sent we out, and caused the kynge to be certified therof:

American Standard Version
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

Bible in Basic English
Now because we are responsible to the king, and it is not right for us to see the king's honour damaged, we have sent to give the king word of these things,

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and announced to the king,

King James Version (1611)
Now because we haue maintenance from the Kings palace, and it was not meete for vs to see the kings dishonour: therefore haue we sent, and certified the king,

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it is not lawful for us to see the dishonour of the king: therefore have we sent and made known the matter to the king;

English Revised Version
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor we ben myndeful of the salt, which we eeten in the paleis, and for we holden it vnleueful to se the harmes of the kyng, therfor we han sent and teld to the kyng;

Update Bible Version
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and certified the king;

Webster's Bible Translation
Now because we have maintenance from [the king's] palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

New King James Version
Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king's dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,

New Living Translation
"Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information.

New Life Bible
We are under the care of the king, and it is not right for us to see the king not being honored. So we have sent to let the king know.

New Revised Standard
Now because we share the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, because the salt of the palace we have eaten, the impoverishment of the king, it is not meet for us to see, - therefore have we sent, and certified the king;

Douay-Rheims Bible
But we remembering the salt that we have eaten in the palace, and because we count it a crime to see the king wronged, have therefore sent and certified the king,

Revised Standard Version
Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,

Young's Literal Translation
Now, because that the salt of the palace [is] our salt, and the nakedness of the king we have no patience to see, therefore we have sent and made known to the king;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now because we are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king,

Contextual Overview

⁶ And in the raigne of Ahasuerus, euen at the beginning of his raigne, wrote they vnto him a complaynt against the inhabiters of Iuda and Hierusalem. ⁷ And in the dayes of Artaxerxes, wrote Mithridach, Tabel, and the other of his counsell, vnto Artaxerxes the king of Persia with faire wordes: And the writing of the letter was in the Syrians speache, and interpreted in the language of the Syrians: ⁸ Rehum the recorder, and Samsai the scribe wrote a letter from Hierusalem to Artaxerxes the king, as it foloweth. ⁹ Then Rehum the recorder, and Samsai the scribe, and other of their company, they of Dina, of Apharsath, of Tharpelai, of Persia, of Arache, of Babylon, of Susan, of Deha, of Elan, ¹⁰ And other of the people whom the great & noble Asnappar brought ouer, and set in the cities of Samaria, and other that are nowe beyond the water, and Cheeneth. ¹¹ This is the copie of the letter that they sent vnto king Artaxerxes: Thy seruauntes, and the men that are nowe beyond the water, and Cheeneth. ¹² Be it knowen vnto the king that the Iewes which came vp from thee to vs, are come vnto Hierusalem, a citie seditious and froward, and builde the same, and set vp the walles thereof, and lay the foundations. ¹³ Be it knowen now vnto the king, that if this citie be builded, and the walles made vp againe, then shal not they geue toule, tribute, and custome, & the kinges profite shall incurre damage. ¹⁴ And now in the meane season we haue destroyed the temple, and woulde no longer see the kinges dishonour, therefore sent we out also and certified the king, ¹⁵ That it may be sought in the booke of the cronicles of thy progenitours, and so shalt thou finde in the booke of the cronicles, and perceaue that this citie is seditious and noysome vnto the kinges and landes, and that they cause other also among them to rebell of olde: and for the same cause was this citie destroyed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

have maintenance: etc. Chal, are salted with the salt of the palace, Salt is reckoned among the principal necessaries of life - Ecclesiastes 39:26, or verse 31 hence, by a very natural figure, salt is used for food or maintenance in general. I am well informed, says Mr. Parkhurst, that it is a common expression of the natives in the East Indies, "I eat such a one's salt," meaning, I am fed by him. Salt was also, as it still is, among eastern nations, a symbol of friendship and hospitality; and hence, to eat a man's salt, is to be bound to him by the ties of friendship.

and it was: Ezekiel 33:31, John 12:5, John 12:6, John 19:12-15

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 5:14 - the bread

Cross-References

Genesis 4:5
But vnto Cain and to his offeryng he had no respect: for the whiche cause Cain was exceedyng wroth, and his countenaunce abated.

Genesis 4:6
And the Lorde saide vnto Cain: why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenaunce abated?

Genesis 4:11
And nowe art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receaue thy brothers blood from thy hande.

Genesis 4:12
If thou tyll the grounde, she shall not yeelde vnto thee her strength. A fugitiue and a vacabound shalt thou be in the earth.

Genesis 4:13
And Cain sayde vnto the Lord: My iniquitie is more then that it may be forgeuen.

Genesis 4:14
Beholde, thou hast cast me out this day from the vpper face of the earth, & from thy face shall I be hyd, fugitiue also and a vacabounde shall I be in the earth: and it shall come to passe, that euery one that fyndeth me shal slay me.

Genesis 4:15
And the Lorde said vnto him: Uerely whosoeuer slayeth Cain, he shalbe punished seuen folde. And the Lorde set a marke vpon Cain, lest any man fyndyng hym shoulde kyll hym.

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lorde, & dwelt in the lande of Nod, eastwarde from Eden.

Genesis 4:20
And Ada bare Iabel, which was the father of such as dwel in the tentes, and of such as haue cattell.

Genesis 4:24
If Cain shalbe auenged seuen folde, truely Lamech seuentie tymes & seuen tymes.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace,.... Have posts under the king, to which salaries were annexed, by which they were supported, and which they had from the king's exchequer; or "salt" o, as in the original, some places of honour and trust formerly being paid in salt; hence, as Pliny p observes, such honours and rewards were called "salaries":

and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour; to see any thing done injurious to his crown and dignity, to his honour and revenues, when we are supported by him; this would be ungrateful as well as unjust:

therefore have we sent and certified the king; of the truth of what is before related; and, for the further confirmation of it, refer him to the ancient records of the kingdom, as follows.

o מלח "salem vel sale", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis. p Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

We have maintenance - See the margin. The phrase “to eat a man’s salt” is common in the East to this day; and is applied not only to those who receive salaries, but to all who obtain their subsistence by means of another. The Persian satraps had no salaries, but taxed their provinces for the support of themselves and their courts.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace — More literally: Now because at all times we are salted with the salt of the palace; i.e., We live on the king's bounty, and must be faithful to our benefactor. Salt was used as the emblem of an incorruptible covenant; and those who ate bread and salt together were considered as having entered into a very solemn covenant. These hypocrites intimated that they felt their conscience bound by the league between them and the king; and therefore could not conscientiously see any thing going on that was likely to turn to the king's damage. They were probably also persons in the pay of the Persian king.