1 Esdras 4:5-7

Common English Bible

⁵ They murder and are murdered, but they don’t disobey the king’s word. If they win a battle, they bring everything to the king—whatever plunder they take and everything else. ⁶ Similarly, for those who don’t serve in the army or make war but farm the land, whenever they sow and reap, they bring some to the king. They force each other to pay taxes to the king. ⁷ Yet the king is only one man! If he tells them to kill, they kill. If he tells them to set someone free, they set someone free.