Ezra 5
1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo,
prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the
God of Israel [prophesied they] unto them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak,
and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were
the prophets of God, helping them.
3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and
Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a
decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
4 Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were
making this building.
5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not
make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should
be returned by letter concerning it.
6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and
Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the
River, sent unto Darius the king;
7 they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king,
all peace.
8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the
house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid
in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their
hands.
9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to
build this house, and to finish this wall?
10 We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the
names of the men that were at the head of them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of
heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years
ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave
them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who
destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree
to build this house of God.
14 And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into
the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of
Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he
had made governor;
15 and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is
in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God
which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in
building, and yet it is not completed.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the
king's treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a
decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and
let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.