1
Then king Darius gave orders, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2
And there was found at Achmetha in the fortress that is in the province of Media a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
3
In the first year of king Cyrus, king Cyrus made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem: Let the house be built for a place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be solidly laid; its height sixty cubits, its breadth sixty cubits,
4
[with] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
5
and also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple that is at Jerusalem, in their place; and thou shalt put [them] in the house of God.
6
Therefore Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
7
let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.
8
Moreover, I give orders what ye shall do to these elders of the Jews, for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, of the tribute beyond the river, expenses be diligently given to these men, that they be not hindered.