1Then the prophets5029, Haggai2292 the prophet5029, and Zechariah2148 the son1247 of Iddo5714, prophesied5013 unto5922 the Jews3062 that were in Judah3061 and Jerusalem3390 in the name8036 of the God426 of Israel3479, even unto5922 them.
2Then116 rose up6966 Zerubbabel2217 the son1247 of Shealtiel7598, and Jeshua3443 the son1247 of Jozadak3136, and began8271 to build1124 the house1005 of God426 which is at Jerusalem3390: and with them5974 were the prophets5029 of God426 helping5583 them.
3At the same time2166 came858 to them Tatnai8674, governor6347 on this side5675 the river5103, and Shetharboznai8370, and their companions3675, and said560 thus3652 unto them5922, Who4479 hath commanded7761 2942 you to build1124 this1836 house1005, and to make up3635 this1836 wall846?
4Then116 said560 we unto them after this manner3660, What4479 are581 the names8036 of the men1400 that make1124 this1836 building1147?
5But the eye5870 of their God426 was1934 upon5922 the elders7868 of the Jews3062, that they could not3809 cause989 them1994 to cease989, till5705 the matter2941 came1946 to Darius1868: and then116 they returned answer8421 by letter5407 concerning5922 this1836 matter.
6The copy6573 of the letter104 that Tatnai8674, governor6347 on this side5675 the river5103, and Shetharboznai8370, and his companions3675 the Apharsachites671, which were on this side5675 the river5103, sent7972 unto5922 Darius1868 the king4430:
7They sent7972 a letter6600 unto5922 him, wherein1459 was written3790 thus1836; Unto Darius1868 the king4430, all3606 peace8001.
8Be it known1934 3046 unto the king4430, that we went236 into the province4083 of Judea3061, to the house1005 of the great7229 God426, which is builded1124 with great1560 stones69, and timber636 is laid7761 in the walls3797, and this1791 work5673 goeth5648 fast629 on, and prospereth6744 in their hands3028.
9Then116 asked7593 we those479 elders7868, and said560 unto them thus3660, Who4479 commanded7761 2942 you to build1124 this1836 house1005, and to make up3635 these1836 walls846?
10We asked7593 their names8036 also638, to certify3046 thee, that we might write3790 the names8036 of the men1400 that were the chief7217 of them.
11And thus3660 they returned8421 us answer6600, saying560, We586 are1994 the servants5649 of the God426 of heaven8065 and earth772, and build1124 the house1005 that was1934 builded1124 these1836 many7690 years8140 ago6928, which a great7229 king4430 of Israel3479 builded1124 and set up3635.
12But3861 after4481 that our fathers2 had provoked7265 the God426 of heaven8065 unto wrath7265, he gave3052 them1994 into the hand3028 of Nebuchadnezzar5020 the king4430 of Babylon895, the Chaldean3679, who destroyed5642 this1836 house1005, and carried1541 the people5972 away1541 into Babylon895.
13But1297 in the first2298 year8140 of Cyrus3567 the king4430 of Babylon895 the same king4430 Cyrus3567 made7761 a decree2942 to build1124 this1836 house1005 of God426.
14And the vessels3984 also638 of1768 gold1722 and silver3702 of the house1005 of God426, which Nebuchadnezzar5020 took5312 out of4481 the temple1965 that was in Jerusalem3390, and brought2987 them into the temple1965 of Babylon895, those1994 did Cyrus3567 the king4430 take5312 out of4481 the temple1965 of Babylon895, and they were delivered3052 unto one, whose name8036 was Sheshbazzar8340, whom he had made7761 governor6347;
15And said560 unto him, Take5376 these412 vessels3984, go236, carry5182 them1994 into the temple1965 that is in Jerusalem3390, and let the house1005 of God426 be builded1124 in5922 his place870.
16Then116 came858 the same1791 Sheshbazzar8340, and laid3052 the foundation787 of the house1005 of God426 which is in Jerusalem3390: and since4481 that time116 even until5705 now3705 hath it been in building1124, and yet it is not3809 finished8000.
17Now3705 therefore, if2006 it seem good2869 to5922 the king4430, let there be search1240 made in the king's4430 treasure1596 house1005, which is there8536 at Babylon895, whether2006 it be383 so, that a decree2942 was made7761 of4481 Cyrus3567 the king4430 to build1124 this1791 house1005 of God426 at Jerusalem3390, and let the king4430 send7972 his pleasure7470 to us concerning5922 this matter1836.