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This is the copy of the letterwhichTattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.
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"Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the greatGod, which is being built with hugestones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and thiswork is going on with greatcare and is succeeding in their hands.
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"Thus they answered* us, saying, 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was builtmanyyearsago, which a greatking of Israelbuilt and finished.
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'But because* our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyedthistemple and deported the people to Babylon.
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'Also the gold and silverutensils of the house of GodwhichNebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, theseKingCyrustook from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointedgovernor.
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'Then that Sheshbazzarcame and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from thenuntilnow it has been underconstruction and it is not yet completed.'
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"Nowif it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king'streasurehouse, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by KingCyrus to rebuildthishouse of God at Jerusalem; and let the kingsend to us his decisionconcerningthis matter."