Chapter 5

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied⁷³ unto the Jews that [were] in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, [even] unto them.

Then rose up⁵⁷ Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua ³⁴⁴² the son of Jozadak, and began⁶⁷ to build⁵⁸ the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets of God helping⁸⁹ them.

At the same time came⁵⁷ to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said⁶¹ thus unto them, Who hath commanded^{57 2942} you to build⁵⁸ this house, and to make up¹²³ this wall?

Then said⁵⁷ we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make⁶¹ this building?

But the eye of their God was⁵⁷ upon the elders⁶¹ of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease,⁵⁷ till the matter came⁶⁰ to Darius: and then they returned answer⁸⁸ by letter concerning this [matter].

The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent⁵⁷ unto Darius the king:

They sent⁵⁷ a letter unto him, wherein was written⁶³ thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

Be it⁶⁰ known⁶³ unto the king, that we went⁵⁷ into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded⁸⁴ with great stones, and timber is laid⁸⁰ in the walls, and this work goeth⁸⁰ fast on, and prospereth⁸⁹ in their hands.

Then asked⁵⁷ we those elders,⁶¹ [and] said⁵⁷ unto them thus, Who commanded^{57 2942} you to build⁵⁸ this house, and to make up¹²³ these walls?

We asked⁵⁷ their names also, to certify⁸⁶ thee, that we might write⁶⁰ the names of the men that [were] the chief of them.

And thus they returned⁸⁵ us answer, saying,⁵⁸ We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build⁶¹ the house that was⁵⁷ builded⁶³ these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded⁵⁷ and set up.¹²²

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath,⁸⁵ he gave⁵⁷ them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed⁵⁷ this house, and carried the people away⁸⁵ into Babylon.

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] king Cyrus made⁵⁷ a decree to build⁵⁸ this house of God.

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out⁸⁵ of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought⁸⁵ them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out⁸⁵ of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered⁶⁴ unto [one], whose name [was] Sheshbazzar, whom he had made⁵⁷ governor;

And said⁵⁷ unto him, Take⁵⁹ these vessels, go,⁵⁹ carry⁸⁷ them into the temple that [is] in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded⁸³ in his place.

Then came⁵⁷ the same Sheshbazzar, [and] laid⁵⁷ the foundation of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building,⁸⁴ and [yet] it is not finished.⁶³

Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be search⁷⁵ made in the king's treasure house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it be [so], that a decree was made⁶³ of Cyrus the king to build⁵⁸ this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send⁶⁰ his pleasure to us concerning this matter.