1 Now|strong="H3588" when|strong="H3588" the|strong="H8085" adversaries|strong="H6862" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H1121" Benjamin|strong="H1144" heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H8085" children|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H8085" captivity|strong="H1473" were|strong="H3478" building|strong="H1129" a|strong="H3068" temple|strong="H1964" unto|strong="H3068" Jehovah|strong="H3068", the|strong="H8085" God|strong="H3068" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478";
2 then|strong="H4428" they|strong="H1992" drew|strong="H5066" near|strong="H5066" to|strong="H5927" Zerubbabel|strong="H2216", and|strong="H4428" to|strong="H5927" the|strong="H3588" heads|strong="H7218" of|strong="H4428" fathers’ houses, and|strong="H4428" said unto|strong="H2076" them|strong="H1992", Let|strong="H3808" us|strong="H3588" build|strong="H1129" with|strong="H5973" you|strong="H3588"; for|strong="H3588" we|strong="H3068" seek|strong="H1875" your|strong="H3588" God|strong="H3808", as|strong="H3117" ye|strong="H3117" do; and|strong="H4428" we|strong="H3068" sacrifice|strong="H2076" unto|strong="H2076" him|strong="H5973" since|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3588" days|strong="H3117" of|strong="H4428" Esar-haddon king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria, who|strong="H1992" brought|strong="H5927" us|strong="H3588" up|strong="H5927" hither|strong="H5066".
3 But|strong="H3588" Zerubbabel|strong="H2216", and|strong="H3478" Jeshua|strong="H3442", and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3588" rest|strong="H7605" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3588" heads|strong="H7218" of|strong="H4428" fathers’ houses of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478", said unto|strong="H3068" them|strong="H6680", Ye|strong="H1129" have|strong="H3068" nothing|strong="H3808" to|strong="H3478" do|strong="H3068" with|strong="H1004" us|strong="H3588" in|strong="H3478" building|strong="H1129" a|strong="H3068" house|strong="H1004" unto|strong="H3068" our|strong="H3068" God|strong="H3068"; but|strong="H3588" we|strong="H3068" ourselves|strong="H1129" together|strong="H3162" will|strong="H3068" build|strong="H1129" unto|strong="H3068" Jehovah|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3588" God|strong="H3068" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478", as|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4428" Cyrus|strong="H3566" the|strong="H3588" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Persia|strong="H6539" hath|strong="H3068" commanded|strong="H6680" us|strong="H3588".
4 Then|strong="H1961" the|strong="H1129" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H3027" the|strong="H1129" land weakened|strong="H7503" the|strong="H1129" hands|strong="H3027" of|strong="H3027" the|strong="H1129" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H3027" Judah|strong="H3063", and|strong="H3063" troubled them|strong="H3027" in|strong="H1129" building|strong="H1129",
5 and|strong="H4428" hired|strong="H7936" counselors|strong="H3289" against|strong="H5921" them|strong="H5921", to|strong="H5704" frustrate|strong="H6565" their|strong="H3605" purpose|strong="H6098", all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" days|strong="H3117" of|strong="H4428" Cyrus|strong="H3566" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Persia|strong="H6539", even|strong="H5704" until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H3605" reign|strong="H4438" of|strong="H4428" Darius|strong="H1867" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Persia|strong="H6539".
6 And|strong="H3063" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H5921" reign|strong="H4438" of|strong="H3427" Ahasuerus, in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H5921" beginning|strong="H8462" of|strong="H3427" his|strong="H5921" reign|strong="H4438", wrote|strong="H3789" they|strong="H5921" an|strong="H3427" accusation|strong="H7855" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" inhabitants|strong="H3427" of|strong="H3427" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3063" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
7 And|strong="H4428" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" days|strong="H3117" of|strong="H4428" Artaxerxes wrote|strong="H3789" Bishlam|strong="H1312", Mithredath|strong="H4990", Tabeel|strong="H2870", and|strong="H4428" the|strong="H5921" rest|strong="H7605" of|strong="H4428" his|strong="H5921" companions|strong="H3674", unto|strong="H3117" Artaxerxes king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Persia|strong="H6539"; and|strong="H4428" the|strong="H5921" writing|strong="H3791" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H5921" letter|strong="H5406" was|strong="H3117" written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" Syrian character, and|strong="H4428" set forth in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" Syrian tongue.
8 Rehum|strong="H7348" the|strong="H5922" chancellor|strong="H1169" and|strong="H4430" Shimshai|strong="H8124" the|strong="H5922" scribe|strong="H5613" wrote|strong="H3790" a|strong="H3068" letter against|strong="H5922" Jerusalem|strong="H3390" to|strong="H5922" Artaxerxes the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430" in|strong="H5922" this|strong="H5922" sort|strong="H3660":
9 then|strong="H1768" wrote Rehum|strong="H7348" the|strong="H1768" chancellor|strong="H1169", and|strong="H5613" Shimshai|strong="H8124" the|strong="H1768" scribe|strong="H5613", and|strong="H5613" the|strong="H1768" rest|strong="H7606" of|strong="H1768" their companions|strong="H3675", the|strong="H1768" Dinaites|strong="H1784", and|strong="H5613" the|strong="H1768" Apharsathchites, the|strong="H1768" Tarpelites|strong="H2967", the|strong="H1768" Apharsites, the|strong="H1768" Erechites, the|strong="H1768" Babylonians, the|strong="H1768" Shushanchites, the|strong="H1768" Dehavites, the|strong="H1768" Elamites|strong="H5962",
10 and|strong="H7229" the|strong="H5675" rest|strong="H7606" of|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5675" nations whom|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5675" great|strong="H7229" and|strong="H7229" noble|strong="H3358" Osnappar brought over|strong="H1541", and|strong="H7229" set|strong="H3488" in|strong="H3488" the|strong="H5675" city|strong="H7149" of|strong="H1768" Samaria|strong="H8115", and|strong="H7229" in|strong="H3488" the|strong="H5675" rest|strong="H7606" of the country beyond|strong="H5675" the|strong="H5675" River|strong="H5103", and|strong="H7229" so|strong="H1768" forth.
11 This|strong="H1836" is|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5922" copy|strong="H6573" of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" letter that|strong="H1768" they|strong="H1768" sent|strong="H7972" unto|strong="H5922" Artaxerxes the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430": Thy|strong="H5922" servants|strong="H5649" the|strong="H5922" men beyond|strong="H5675" the|strong="H5922" River|strong="H5103", and|strong="H4430" so|strong="H1768" forth.
12 Be|strong="H1934" it|strong="H5922" known|strong="H3046" unto|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430", that|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5922" Jews|strong="H3062" that|strong="H1768" came|strong="H5559" up|strong="H3635" from|strong="H4481" thee|strong="H5922" are|strong="H1768" come to|strong="H5922" us|strong="H5922" unto|strong="H5922" Jerusalem|strong="H3390"; they|strong="H1768" are|strong="H1768" building|strong="H1124" the|strong="H5922" rebellious|strong="H4779" and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" bad city|strong="H7149", and|strong="H4430" have|strong="H1934" finished|strong="H3635" the|strong="H5922" walls|strong="H7792", and|strong="H4430" repaired the|strong="H5922" foundations.
13 Be|strong="H1934" it|strong="H1934" known|strong="H3046" now|strong="H3705" unto|strong="H5142" the|strong="H1768" king|strong="H4430", that|strong="H1768", if|strong="H2006" this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" be|strong="H1934" built|strong="H1124", and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H1768" walls|strong="H7792" finished|strong="H3635", they|strong="H1768" will|strong="H1768" not|strong="H3809" pay|strong="H5415" tribute|strong="H4061", custom|strong="H1093", or|strong="H2006" toll|strong="H1983", and|strong="H4430" in|strong="H4430" the|strong="H1768" end it|strong="H1934" will|strong="H1768" be|strong="H1934" hurtful|strong="H5142" unto|strong="H5142" the|strong="H1768" kings|strong="H4430".
14 Now|strong="H3705" because|strong="H6903" we|strong="H3068" eat the|strong="H3606" salt|strong="H4416" of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H3606" palace|strong="H1965", and|strong="H4430" it|strong="H5922" is|strong="H1768" not|strong="H3809" meet for|strong="H5922" us|strong="H5922" to|strong="H5922" see|strong="H2370" the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430"’s dishonor|strong="H6173", therefore|strong="H3606" have|strong="H1768" we|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H7972" and|strong="H4430" certified|strong="H3046" the|strong="H3606" king|strong="H4430";
15 that|strong="H1768" search|strong="H1240" may be|strong="H7149" made|strong="H5648" in|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" book|strong="H5609" of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5922" records|strong="H1799" of|strong="H4481" thy|strong="H5922" fathers: so|strong="H1768" shalt thou|strong="H1768" find|strong="H7912" in|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" book|strong="H5609" of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5922" records|strong="H1799", and|strong="H4430" know|strong="H3046" that|strong="H1768" this|strong="H1836" city|strong="H7149" is|strong="H1768" a|strong="H3068" rebellious|strong="H4779" city|strong="H7149", and|strong="H4430" hurtful|strong="H5142" unto|strong="H5922" kings|strong="H4430" and|strong="H4430" provinces|strong="H4083", and|strong="H4430" that|strong="H1768" they|strong="H1768" have|strong="H1768" moved|strong="H5648" sedition within|strong="H1459" the|strong="H5922" same|strong="H1459" of|strong="H4481" old|strong="H5957" time|strong="H3118"; for|strong="H5922" which|strong="H1768" cause was|strong="H4430" this|strong="H1836" city|strong="H7149" laid|strong="H2718" waste|strong="H2718".
16 We|strong="H1768" certify|strong="H3046" the|strong="H5675" king|strong="H4430" that|strong="H1768", if|strong="H2006" this|strong="H1836" city|strong="H7149" be|strong="H3809" built|strong="H1124", and|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5675" walls|strong="H7792" finished|strong="H3635", by this|strong="H1836" means|strong="H6903" thou|strong="H2006" shalt have|strong="H1768" no|strong="H3809" portion|strong="H2508" beyond|strong="H5675" the|strong="H5675" River|strong="H5103".
17 Then sent|strong="H7972" the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430" an|strong="H4430" answer|strong="H6600" unto|strong="H5922" Rehum|strong="H7348" the|strong="H5922" chancellor|strong="H1169", and|strong="H4430" to|strong="H5922" Shimshai|strong="H8124" the|strong="H5922" scribe|strong="H5613", and|strong="H4430" to|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" rest|strong="H7606" of|strong="H4430" their companions|strong="H3675" that|strong="H1768" dwell|strong="H3488" in|strong="H5922" Samaria|strong="H8115", and|strong="H4430" in|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" rest|strong="H7606" of the country beyond|strong="H5675" the|strong="H5922" River|strong="H5103": Peace|strong="H8001", and|strong="H4430" so|strong="H1768" forth.
18 The|strong="H5922" letter|strong="H5407" which|strong="H1768" ye sent|strong="H7972" unto|strong="H5922" us|strong="H5922" hath been plainly|strong="H6568" read|strong="H7123" before|strong="H6925" me|strong="H5922".
19 And|strong="H4430" I|strong="H4481" decreed, and|strong="H4430" search|strong="H1240" hath|strong="H4430" been made|strong="H5648", and|strong="H4430" it|strong="H5922" is|strong="H1768" found|strong="H7912" that|strong="H1768" this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" of|strong="H4481" old|strong="H5957" time|strong="H3118" hath|strong="H4430" made|strong="H5648" insurrection|strong="H5376" against|strong="H5922" kings|strong="H4430", and|strong="H4430" that|strong="H1768" rebellion|strong="H4776" and|strong="H4430" sedition have|strong="H7761" been made|strong="H5648" therein.
20 There have|strong="H1934" been|strong="H1934" mighty|strong="H8624" kings|strong="H4430" also|strong="H4430" over|strong="H5922" Jerusalem|strong="H3390", who have|strong="H1934" ruled|strong="H7990" over|strong="H5922" all|strong="H3606" the country beyond|strong="H5675" the|strong="H3606" River|strong="H5103"; and|strong="H4430" tribute|strong="H4061", custom|strong="H1093", and|strong="H4430" toll|strong="H1983", was|strong="H1934" paid|strong="H3052" unto|strong="H5922" them|strong="H5922".
21 Make|strong="H7761" ye|strong="H7761" now|strong="H3705" a|strong="H3068" decree|strong="H2942" to|strong="H2942" cause these|strong="H4481" men|strong="H1400" to|strong="H2942" cease, and|strong="H7149" that|strong="H2942" this|strong="H1791" city|strong="H7149" be|strong="H3809" not|strong="H3809" built|strong="H1124", until|strong="H5705" a|strong="H3068" decree|strong="H2942" shall be|strong="H3809" made|strong="H7761" by|strong="H4481" me|strong="H4481".
22 And|strong="H4430" take|strong="H1934" heed|strong="H1934" that|strong="H5922" ye|strong="H1934" be|strong="H1934" not slack herein: why|strong="H4101" should|strong="H4101" damage|strong="H5142" grow|strong="H7680" to|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" hurt|strong="H2257" of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" kings|strong="H4430"?
23 Then|strong="H1768" when|strong="H1768" the|strong="H5922" copy|strong="H6573" of|strong="H4481" king|strong="H4430" Artaxerxes’ letter|strong="H5407" was|strong="H4430" read|strong="H7123" before|strong="H6925" Rehum|strong="H7348", and|strong="H4430" Shimshai|strong="H8124" the|strong="H5922" scribe|strong="H5613", and|strong="H4430" their companions|strong="H3675", they|strong="H1768" went|strong="H5613" in|strong="H5922" haste to|strong="H5922" Jerusalem|strong="H3390" unto|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" Jews|strong="H3062", and|strong="H4430" made|strong="H7123" them|strong="H1994" to|strong="H5922" cease by|strong="H6925" force and|strong="H4430" power|strong="H2429".
24 Then|strong="H1768" ceased|strong="H1934" the|strong="H1768" work|strong="H5673" of|strong="H1005" the|strong="H1768" house|strong="H1005" of|strong="H1005" God which|strong="H1768" is|strong="H1768" at|strong="H5705" Jerusalem|strong="H3390"; and|strong="H4430" it|strong="H1934" ceased|strong="H1934" until|strong="H5705" the|strong="H1768" second|strong="H8648" year|strong="H8140" of|strong="H1005" the|strong="H1768" reign|strong="H4437" of|strong="H1005" Darius|strong="H1868" king|strong="H4430" of|strong="H1005" Persia|strong="H6540".