Chapter 6

Then Darius the king made⁵⁷ a decree, and search⁶⁷ was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up⁸⁹ in Babylon.

And there was found⁷⁷ at Achmetha, in the palace that [is] in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein [was] a record thus written:⁶³

In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made⁵⁷ a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded,⁸³ the place where they offered⁶² sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid;²¹ the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

[With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given⁷⁹ out of the king's house:

And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth⁸⁵ out of the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, and brought⁸⁵ unto Babylon, be restored,⁸⁸ and brought⁶⁰ again unto the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, [every one] to his place, and place⁸⁸ [them] in the house of God.

Now [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river, be ye⁵⁷ far from thence:

Let the work of this house of God alone;⁵⁹ let the governor of the Jews and the elders⁶¹ of the Jews build⁶⁰ this house of God in his place.

Moreover I make⁶³ a decree what ye shall do⁶⁰ to the elders⁶¹ of these Jews for the building⁵⁸ of this house of God: that of the king's goods, [even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be⁶⁰ given⁸⁰ unto these men, that they be not hindered.⁵⁸

And that which they have need of,⁶¹ both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which [are] at Jerusalem, let it be⁶⁰ given⁸⁰ them day by day without fail:

That they may offer^{60 7127 89} sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray⁷¹ for the life of the king, and of his sons.

Also I have made⁶³ a decree, that whosoever ⁶⁰⁶ shall alter⁸⁸ this word, let timber be pulled down⁷⁹ from his house, and being set up,⁶³ let him be hanged⁷⁹ thereon; and let his house be made⁷⁹ a dunghill for this.

And the God that hath caused his name to dwell⁶⁷ there destroy⁷⁰ all kings and people, that shall put⁶⁰ to their hand to alter⁸⁶ [and] to destroy⁶⁸ this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made⁵⁷ a decree; let it be done⁷⁹ with speed.

Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent,⁵⁷ so they did⁵⁷ speedily.

And the elders⁶¹ of the Jews builded,⁶¹ and they prospered⁸⁹ through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded,⁵⁷ and finished¹²² [it], according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

And this house was finished¹²² on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept⁵⁷ the dedication of this house of God with joy,

And offered⁸⁵ at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering ²⁴⁰⁹ for all Israel, twelve ⁶²³⁶ he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

And they set⁸⁵ 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.

And the children of the captivity kept⁴ the passover upon the fourteenth ⁶²⁴⁰ [day] of the first month.

For the priests and the Levites were purified⁹⁸ together, all of them [were] pure, and killed⁴ the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

And the children of Israel, which were come again⁶ out of captivity, and all such as had separated¹² themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek² the LORD God of Israel, did eat,⁴

And kept⁴ the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful,¹⁴ and turned⁵² the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen¹⁵ their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.