1 Esdras 4:5
King James VersionSource notes
“They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king’s commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else.”
Context
2O ye men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and land and all things in them?
3But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he commandeth them they do.
4If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and break down mountains walls and towers.
5They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king’s commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else.
6Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbundry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king.
7And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare;
8If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they build;