1 Esdras 4:10-12

Revised Standard Version

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.