1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of
Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of
the God of Israel prophesied they to them. 2 Then rose up
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to
build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets
of God, helping them. 3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the
governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said
thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this
wall? 4 Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men
were who were making this building. 5 But the eye of their God was on the
elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should
come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and
Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the
River, sent to Darius the king; 7 they sent a letter to him, in which was
written thus: To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king,
that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which
is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work
goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. 9 Then asked we those
elders, and said to them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and
to finish this wall? 10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that
we might write the names of the men who were at the head of them. 11 Thus
they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and
earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which
a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But after that our fathers
had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and
carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus
king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
14 The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into
the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of
Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he
had made governor; 15 and he said to him, Take these vessels, go, put them
in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its
place. 16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the
house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it
been in building, and yet it is not completed. 17 Now therefore, if it
seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house,
which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus
the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his
pleasure to us concerning this matter.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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