1Now when the adversaries6862 of Judah3063 and Benjamin1144 heard8085 that the children1121 of the captivity1473 builded1129 the temple1964 unto the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478;
2Then they came5066 to Zerubbabel2216, and to the chief7218 of the fathers1, and said559 unto them, Let us build1129 with you: for we seek1875 your God430, as ye do; and we do sacrifice2076 unto him since the days3117 of Esarhaddon634 king4428 of Assur804, which brought us up hither5927.
3But Zerubbabel2216, and Jeshua3442, and the rest7605 of the chief7218 of the fathers1 of Israel3478, said559 unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build1129 an house1004 unto our God430; but we ourselves together3162 will build1129 unto the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478, as king4428 Cyrus3566 the king4428 of Persia6539 hath commanded6680 us.
4Then the people5971 of the land776 weakened7503 the hands3027 of the people5971 of Judah3063, and troubled926 1089 them in building1129,
5And hired7936 counsellors3289 against them, to frustrate6565 their purpose6098, all the days3117 of Cyrus3566 king4428 of Persia6539, even until the reign4438 of Darius1867 king4428 of Persia6539.
6And in the reign4438 of Ahasuerus325, in the beginning8462 of his reign4438, wrote3789 they unto him an accusation7855 against the inhabitants3427 of Judah3063 and Jerusalem3389.
7And in the days3117 of Artaxerxes783 wrote3789 Bishlam1312, Mithredath4990, Tabeel2870, and the rest7605 of their companions3674, unto Artaxerxes783 king4428 of Persia6539; and the writing3791 of the letter5406 was written3789 in the Syrian tongue762, and interpreted8638 in the Syrian tongue762.
8Rehum7348 the chancellor1169 2942 and Shimshai8124 the scribe5613 wrote3790 a2298 letter104 against5922 Jerusalem3390 to Artaxerxes783 the king4430 in this sort3660:
9Then116 wrote Rehum7348 the chancellor1169 2942, and Shimshai8124 the scribe5613, and the rest7606 of their companions3675; the Dinaites1784, the Apharsathchites671, the Tarpelites2967, the Apharsites670, the Archevites756, the Babylonians896, the Susanchites7801, the Dehavites1723, and the Elamites5962,
10And the rest7606 of the nations524 whom1768 the great7229 and noble3358 Asnappar620 brought over1541, and set3488 1994 in the cities7149 of Samaria8115, and the rest7606 that are on this side5675 the river5103, and at such a time3706.
11This1836 is the copy6573 of the letter104 that1768 they sent7972 unto him5922, even unto Artaxerxes783 the king4430; Thy servants5649 the men606 on this side5675 the river5103, and at such a time3706.
12Be it1934 known3046 unto the king4430, that the Jews3062 which1768 came up5559 from4481 thee3890 to us5922 are come858 unto Jerusalem3390, building1124 the rebellious4779 and the bad873 city7149, and have set up3635 3635 the walls7792 thereof, and joined2338 the foundations787.
13Be it known3046 1934 now3705 unto the king4430, that, if2006 this1791 city7149 be builded1124, and the walls7792 set up3635 again, then will they not3809 pay5415 toll4061, tribute1093, and custom1983, and so thou shalt endamage5142 the revenue674 of the kings4430.
14Now3705 because6903 3606 we have1768 maintenance4415 4416 from the king's palace1965, and it was not3809 meet749 for us to see2370 the king's4430 dishonour6173, therefore5922 1836 have we sent7972 and certified3046 the king4430;
15That search1240 may be made in the book5609 of the records1799 of thy fathers2: so shalt thou find7912 in the book5609 of the records1799, and know3046 that this1791 city7149 is a rebellious4779 city7149, and hurtful5142 unto kings4430 and provinces4083, and that they have moved5648 sedition849 within the same1459 of4481 old5957 time3118: for5922 which1836 cause was this1791 city7149 destroyed2718.
16We586 certify3046 the king4430 that, if2006 this1791 city7149 be builded1124 again, and the walls7792 thereof set up3635, by this1836 means6903 thou shalt have383 no3809 portion2508 on this side5675 the river5103.
17Then sent7972 the king4430 an answer6600 unto5922 Rehum7348 the chancellor1169 2942, and to Shimshai8124 the scribe5613, and to the rest7606 of their companions3675 that dwell3488 in Samaria8115, and unto the rest7606 beyond5675 the river5103, Peace8001, and at such a time3706.
18The letter5407 which ye sent7972 unto us5922 hath been plainly6568 read7123 before6925 me.
19And I4481 commanded7761 2942, and search1240 hath been made, and it is found7912 that this1791 city7149 of4481 old5957 time3118 hath made insurrection5376 against5922 kings4430, and that rebellion4776 and sedition849 have been made5648 therein.
20There have been1934 mighty8624 kings4430 also over5922 Jerusalem3390, which have ruled7990 over all3606 countries beyond5675 the river5103; and toll4061, tribute1093, and custom1983, was paid3052 unto them.
21Give7761 ye now3705 commandment2942 to cause989 these479 men1400 to cease989, and that this1791 city7149 be not3809 builded1124, until5705 another commandment2941 shall be given7761 from me4481.
22Take heed1934 2095 now that ye fail7960 not to do5922 5648 this1836: why4101 should damage2257 grow7680 to the hurt5142 of the kings4430?
23Now116 when4481 1768 the copy6573 of king4430 Artaxerxes'783 letter5407 was read7123 before6925 Rehum7348, and Shimshai8124 the scribe5613, and their companions3675, they went up236 in haste924 to Jerusalem3390 unto5922 the Jews3062, and made them1994 to cease989 by force153 and power2429.
24Then116 ceased989 the work5673 of the house1005 of God426 which is at Jerusalem3390. So it ceased1934 989 unto5705 the second8648 year8140 of the reign4437 of Darius1868 king4430 of Persia6540.