gezezra 5

Now the prophets Haggai, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

At that time Tattenai the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions came to them, and spoke thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?

Then we asked them their names, saying, Who are the men who are building this city?

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they did not stop them, until the report should reach Darius and an answer be returned by letter concerning this matter; and then they sent a messenger about this affair.

This is the copy of the letter which Tattenai the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the officials who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.

They sent him a report, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace.

Be it known to our lord the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, and found it being built with great stones, and timber laid in the walls; and this work is being done with diligence and prospers in their hands.

Then we asked their elders, saying to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?

We also asked them their names, that we might write them down for your information, namely the names of the men who are at their head.

And they returned us this answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who destroyed this house and carried the people away to Babylon.

But in the first year of Cyrus the king, King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

And also the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem and put in the temple of his kingdom, these King Cyrus took out of the temple of his kingdom and gave to one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed keeper of his treasury and governor;

and he said to him, Take these vessels and go, and put them in the temple in Jerusalem, in its place.

Then this same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and from that time until now it has been in building, and is not yet finished.

Now therefore, if it please the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house there in Babylon, to know whether it is so, that a decree was made by King Cyrus to build this house of God in Jerusalem; and let our lord the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.