1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the
house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of
Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record: 3 In the first
year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of
God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer
sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid; the height of it
sixty cubits, and the breadth of it sixty cubits; 4 with three courses of
great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out
of the king’s house. 5 Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house
of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at
Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the
temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them
in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River,
Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the
River, be you far from there: 7 let the work of this house of God
alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this
house of God in its place. 8 Moreover I make a decree what you shall
do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of
the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given
with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. 9 That which
they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings
to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to
the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day
without fail; 10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God
of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I
have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled
out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let
his house be made a dunghill for this: 12 and the God who has caused his
name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their
hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at
Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.
13 Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their
companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all
diligence. 14 The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built
and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and
according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was
in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 The children of
Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the
captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They
offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred
rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve male
goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They set the
priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service
of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
19 The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth
day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites had
purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the
Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the
priests, and for themselves. 21 The children of Israel who had come again
out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from
the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel,
ate, 22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for
Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria
to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God
of Israel.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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