1Then116 Darius1868 the king4430 made7761 a decree2942, and search1240 was made in the house1005 of the rolls5609, where8536 the treasures1596 were laid up5182 in Babylon895.
2And there was found7912 at Achmetha307, in the palace1001 that is in the province4083 of the Medes4076, a2298 roll4040, and therein1459 was a record1799 thus3652 written3790:
3In the first2298 year8140 of Cyrus3567 the king4430 the same Cyrus3567 the king4430 made7761 a decree2942 concerning the house1005 of God426 at Jerusalem3390, Let the house1005 be builded1124, the place870 where they offered1684 sacrifices1685, and let the foundations787 thereof be strongly laid5446; the height7314 thereof threescore8361 cubits521, and the breadth6613 thereof threescore8361 cubits521;
4With three8532 rows5073 of great1560 stones69, and a row5073 of new2323 timber636: and let the expenses5313 be given3052 out of4481 the king's4430 house1005:
5And also638 let the golden1722 and silver3702 vessels3984 of the house1005 of God426, which Nebuchadnezzar5020 took forth5312 out of4481 the temple1965 which is at Jerusalem3390, and brought2987 unto Babylon895, be restored8421, and brought again1946 unto the temple1965 which is at Jerusalem3390, every one to his place870, and place5182 them in the house1005 of God426.
6Now3705 therefore, Tatnai8674, governor6347 beyond5675 the river5103, Shetharboznai8370, and your companions3675 the Apharsachites671, which are beyond5675 the river5103, be ye1934 far7352 from4481 thence8536:
7Let the work5673 of this1791 house1005 of God426 alone7662; let the governor6347 of the Jews3062 and the elders7868 of the Jews3062 build1124 this1791 house1005 of God426 in5922 his place870.
8Moreover I4481 make7761 a decree2942 what3964 ye shall do5648 to5974 the elders7868 of these479 Jews3062 for the building1124 of this1791 house1005 of God426: that of the king's4430 goods5232, even of1768 the tribute4061 beyond5675 the river5103, forthwith629 expenses5313 be1934 given3052 unto these479 men1400, that they be not3809 hindered989.
9And that which4101 they have need of2818, both young1123 bullocks8450, and rams1798, and lambs563, for the burnt offerings5928 of the God426 of heaven8065, wheat2591, salt4416, wine2562, and oil4887, according to the appointment3983 of the priests3549 which are at Jerusalem3390, let it be1934 given3052 them day3118 by day3118 without3809 fail7960:
10That they may offer1934 7127 sacrifices of sweet savours5208 unto the God426 of heaven8065, and pray6739 for the life2417 of the king4430, and of his sons1123.
11Also4481 I have made7761 a decree2942, that whosoever3606 606 shall alter8133 this1836 word6600, let timber636 be pulled down5256 from4481 his house1005, and being set up2211, let him be hanged4223 thereon5922; and let his house1005 be made5648 a dunghill5122 for5922 this1836.
12And the God426 that hath caused his name8036 to dwell7932 there8536 destroy4049 all3606 kings4430 and people5972, that shall put7972 to their hand3028 to alter8133 and to destroy2255 this1791 house1005 of God426 which is at Jerusalem3390. I576 Darius1868 have made7761 a decree2942; let it be done5648 with speed629.
13Then116 Tatnai8674, governor6347 on this side5675 the river5103, Shetharboznai8370, and their companions3675, according6903 to that which Darius1868 the king4430 had sent7972, so3660 they did5648 speedily629.
14And the elders7868 of the Jews3062 builded1124, and they prospered6744 through the prophesying5017 of Haggai2292 the prophet5029 and Zechariah2148 the son1247 of Iddo5714. And they builded1124, and finished3635 it, according4481 to the commandment2941 of the God426 of Israel3479, and according to the commandment2942 of Cyrus3567, and Darius1868, and Artaxerxes783 king4430 of Persia6540.
15And this1836 house1005 was finished3319 on5705 the third8532 day3118 of the month3393 Adar144, which was1932 in the sixth8353 year8140 of the reign4437 of Darius1868 the king4430.
16And the children1123 of Israel3479, the priests3549, and the Levites3879, and the rest7606 of the children1123 of the captivity1547, kept5648 the dedication2597 of this1836 house1005 of God426 with joy2305,
17And offered7127 at the dedication2597 of this1836 house1005 of God426 an hundred3969 bullocks8450, two hundred3969 rams1798, four703 hundred3969 lambs563; and for a sin offering2402 2409 for5922 all3606 Israel3479, twelve8648 6236 he6841 goats5796, according to the number4510 of the tribes7625 of Israel3479.
18And they set6966 the priests3549 in their divisions6392, and the Levites3879 in their courses4255, for5922 the service5673 of God426, which is at Jerusalem3390; as it is written3792 in the book5609 of Moses4873.
19And the children1121 of the captivity1473 kept6213 the passover6453 upon the fourteenth702 6240 day of the first7223 month2320.
20For the priests3548 and the Levites3881 were purified2891 together259, all of them were pure2889, and killed7819 the passover6453 for all the children1121 of the captivity1473, and for their brethren251 the priests3548, and for themselves.
21And the children1121 of Israel3478, which were come again7725 out of captivity1473, and all such as had separated914 themselves unto them from the filthiness2932 of the heathen1471 of the land776, to seek1875 the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478, did eat398,
22And kept6213 the feast2282 of unleavened bread4682 seven7651 days3117 with joy8057: for the LORD3068 had made them joyful8055, and turned5437 the heart3820 of the king4428 of Assyria804 unto them, to strengthen2388 their hands3027 in the work4399 of the house1004 of God430, the God430 of Israel3478.