1 Now when the adversaries|strong="H6862" of Judah|strong="H3063" and Benjamin|strong="H1144" heard|strong="H8085" that the children|strong="H1121" of the captivity|strong="H1473" builded|strong="H1129" the temple|strong="H1964" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478";
2 Then they came|strong="H5066" to Zerubbabel|strong="H2216", and to the chief|strong="H7218" of the fathers|strong="H0001", and said|strong="H0559" unto them, Let us build|strong="H1129" with you: for we seek|strong="H1875" your God|strong="H0430", as ye do; and we do sacrifice|strong="H2076" unto him since the days|strong="H3117" of Esar-haddon|strong="H0634" king|strong="H4428" of Assur|strong="H0804", which brought us up hither|strong="H5927".
3 But Zerubbabel|strong="H2216", and Jeshua|strong="H3442", and the rest|strong="H7605" of the chief|strong="H7218" of the fathers|strong="H0001" of Israel|strong="H3478", said|strong="H0559" unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build|strong="H1129" an house|strong="H1004" unto our God|strong="H0430"; but we ourselves together|strong="H3162" will build|strong="H1129" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478", as king|strong="H4428" Cyrus|strong="H3566" the king|strong="H4428" of Persia|strong="H6539" hath commanded|strong="H6680" us.
4 Then the people|strong="H5971" of the land|strong="H0776" weakened|strong="H7503" the hands|strong="H3027" of the people|strong="H5971" of Judah|strong="H3063", and troubled|strong="H0926" them in building|strong="H1129",
5 And hired|strong="H7936" counsellors|strong="H3289" against them, to frustrate|strong="H6565" their purpose|strong="H6098", all the days|strong="H3117" of Cyrus|strong="H3566" king|strong="H4428" of Persia|strong="H6539", even until the reign|strong="H4438" of Darius|strong="H1867" king|strong="H4428" of Persia|strong="H6539".
6 And in the reign|strong="H4438" of Ahasuerus|strong="H0325", in the beginning|strong="H8462" of his reign|strong="H4438", wrote|strong="H3789" they unto him an accusation|strong="H7855" against the inhabitants|strong="H3427" of Judah|strong="H3063" and Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
7 And in the days|strong="H3117" of Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" wrote|strong="H3789" Bishlam|strong="H1312", Mithredath|strong="H4990", Tabeel|strong="H2870", and the rest|strong="H7605" of their companions|strong="H3674", unto Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" king|strong="H4428" of Persia|strong="H6539"; and the writing|strong="H3791" of the letter|strong="H5406" was written|strong="H3789" in the Syrian tongue|strong="H0762", and interpreted|strong="H8638" in the Syrian tongue|strong="H0762".
8 Rehum|strong="H7348" the chancellor|strong="H1169" and Shimshai|strong="H8124" the scribe|strong="H5613" wrote|strong="H3790" a|strong="H2298" letter|strong="H0104" against|strong="H5922" Jerusalem|strong="H3390" to Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" the king|strong="H4430" in this sort|strong="H3660":
9 Then|strong="H0116" wrote Rehum|strong="H7348" the chancellor|strong="H1169", and Shimshai|strong="H8124" the scribe|strong="H5613", and the rest|strong="H7606" of their companions|strong="H3675"; the Dinaites|strong="H1784", the Apharsathchites|strong="H0671", the Tarpelites|strong="H2967", the Apharsites|strong="H0670", the Archevites|strong="H0756", the Babylonians|strong="H0896", the Susanchites|strong="H7801", the Dehavites|strong="H1723", and the Elamites|strong="H5962",
10 And the rest|strong="H7606" of the nations|strong="H0524" whom|strong="H1768" the great|strong="H7229" and noble|strong="H3358" Asnappar|strong="H0620" brought over|strong="H1541", and set|strong="H3488" in the cities|strong="H7149" of Samaria|strong="H8115", and the rest|strong="H7606" that are on this side|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103", and at such a time|strong="H3706".
11 This|strong="H1836" is the copy|strong="H6573" of the letter|strong="H0104" that|strong="H1768" they sent|strong="H7972" unto him|strong="H5922", even unto Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" the king|strong="H4430"; Thy servants|strong="H5649" the men|strong="H0606" on this side|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103", and at such a time|strong="H3706".
12 Be it|strong="H1934" known|strong="H3046" unto the king|strong="H4430", that the Jews|strong="H3062" which|strong="H1768" came up|strong="H5559" from|strong="H4481" thee|strong="H3890" to us|strong="H5922" are come|strong="H0858" unto Jerusalem|strong="H3390", building|strong="H1124" the rebellious|strong="H4779" and the bad|strong="H0873" city|strong="H7149", and have set up|strong="H3635" the walls|strong="H7792" thereof, and joined|strong="H2338" the foundations|strong="H0787".
13 Be it known|strong="H3046" now|strong="H3705" unto the king|strong="H4430", that, if|strong="H2006" this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" be builded|strong="H1124", and the walls|strong="H7792" set up|strong="H3635" again, then will they not|strong="H3809" pay|strong="H5415" toll|strong="H4061", tribute|strong="H1093", and custom|strong="H1983", and so thou shalt endamage|strong="H5142" the revenue|strong="H0674" of the kings|strong="H4430".
14 Now|strong="H3705" because|strong="H6903" we have|strong="H1768" maintenance|strong="H4415" from the king’s palace|strong="H1965", and it was not|strong="H3809" meet|strong="H0749" for us to see|strong="H2370" the king’s|strong="H4430" dishonour|strong="H6173", therefore|strong="H5922" have we sent|strong="H7972" and certified|strong="H3046" the king|strong="H4430";
15 That search|strong="H1240" may be made in the book|strong="H5609" of the records|strong="H1799" of thy fathers|strong="H0002": so shalt thou find|strong="H7912" in the book|strong="H5609" of the records|strong="H1799", and know|strong="H3046" that this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" is a rebellious|strong="H4779" city|strong="H7149", and hurtful|strong="H5142" unto kings|strong="H4430" and provinces|strong="H4083", and that they have moved|strong="H5648" sedition|strong="H0849" within the same|strong="H1459" of|strong="H4481" old|strong="H5957" time|strong="H3118": for|strong="H5922" which|strong="H1836" cause was this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" destroyed|strong="H2718".
16 We|strong="H0586" certify|strong="H3046" the king|strong="H4430" that, if|strong="H2006" this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" be builded|strong="H1124" again, and the walls|strong="H7792" thereof set up|strong="H3635", by this|strong="H1836" means|strong="H6903" thou shalt have|strong="H0383" no|strong="H3809" portion|strong="H2508" on this side|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103".
17 Then sent|strong="H7972" the king|strong="H4430" an answer|strong="H6600" unto|strong="H5922" Rehum|strong="H7348" the chancellor|strong="H1169", and to Shimshai|strong="H8124" the scribe|strong="H5613", and to the rest|strong="H7606" of their companions|strong="H3675" that dwell|strong="H3488" in Samaria|strong="H8115", and unto the rest|strong="H7606" beyond|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103", Peace|strong="H8001", and at such a time|strong="H3706".
18 The letter|strong="H5407" which ye sent|strong="H7972" unto us|strong="H5922" hath been plainly|strong="H6568" read|strong="H7123" before|strong="H6925" me.
19 And I|strong="H4481" commanded|strong="H7761", and search|strong="H1240" hath been made, and it is found|strong="H7912" that this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" of|strong="H4481" old|strong="H5957" time|strong="H3118" hath made insurrection|strong="H5376" against|strong="H5922" kings|strong="H4430", and that rebellion|strong="H4776" and sedition|strong="H0849" have been made|strong="H5648" therein.
20 There have been|strong="H1934" mighty|strong="H8624" kings|strong="H4430" also over|strong="H5922" Jerusalem|strong="H3390", which have ruled|strong="H7990" over all|strong="H3606" countries beyond|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103"; and toll|strong="H4061", tribute|strong="H1093", and custom|strong="H1983", was paid|strong="H3052" unto them.
21 Give|strong="H7761" ye now|strong="H3705" commandment|strong="H2942" to cause|strong="H0989" these|strong="H0479" men|strong="H1400" to cease|strong="H0989", and that this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" be not|strong="H3809" builded|strong="H1124", until|strong="H5705" another commandment|strong="H2941" shall be given|strong="H7761" from me|strong="H4481".
22 Take heed|strong="H1934" now that ye fail|strong="H7960" not to do|strong="H5922" this|strong="H1836": why|strong="H4101" should damage|strong="H2257" grow|strong="H7680" to the hurt|strong="H5142" of the kings|strong="H4430"?
23 Now|strong="H0116" when|strong="H4481" the copy|strong="H6573" of king|strong="H4430" Artaxerxes’|strong="H0783" letter|strong="H5407" was read|strong="H7123" before|strong="H6925" Rehum|strong="H7348", and Shimshai|strong="H8124" the scribe|strong="H5613", and their companions|strong="H3675", they went up|strong="H0236" in haste|strong="H0924" to Jerusalem|strong="H3390" unto|strong="H5922" the Jews|strong="H3062", and made them|strong="H1994" to cease|strong="H0989" by force|strong="H0153" and power|strong="H2429".
24 Then|strong="H0116" ceased|strong="H0989" the work|strong="H5673" of the house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426" which is at Jerusalem|strong="H3390". So it ceased|strong="H1934" unto|strong="H5705" the second|strong="H8648" year|strong="H8140" of the reign|strong="H4437" of Darius|strong="H1868" king|strong="H4430" of Persia|strong="H6540".