1
ThenDarius the kingmade a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls,[a]where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2
And there was found at Achmetha,[b] in the palace that is in the province of the Medes,aroll, and therein was a recordthuswritten:
3
In the firstyear of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the kingmade a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offeredsacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescorecubits, and the breadth thereof threescorecubits;
4
With threerows of greatstones, and a row of newtimber: and let the expenses be given out of the king'shouse:
5
And also let the golden and silvervessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again[c] unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
6
Now therefore, Tatnai,governorbeyond the river,Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be yefarfromthence:
7
Let the work of thishouse of Godalone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jewsbuildthishouse of Godin his place.
8
Moreover Imake[d] a decreewhat ye shall doto the elders of theseJews for the building of thishouse of God: that of the king'sgoods, even of the tributebeyond the river,forthwithexpensesbegiven unto thesemen, that they be nothindered.
9
And that which they have need of, both youngbullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven,wheat,salt,wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it begiven them day by daywithoutfail:
10
That they may offer* sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11
Also I have made a decree, that whosoevershallalterthisword, let timber be pulled downfrom his house, and being set up, let him be hangedthereon; and let his house be made a dunghillforthis.
12
And the God that hath caused his name to dwelltheredestroyallkings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroythishouse of God which is at Jerusalem.IDarius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
13
ThenTatnai,governor on this side the river,Shetharboznai, and their companions,according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they didspeedily.
14
And the elders of the Jewsbuilded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment[e] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxesking of Persia.
15
And thishouse was finishedon the thirdday of the monthAdar, which was in the sixthyear of the reign of Darius the king.
16
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity,kept the dedication of thishouse of God with joy,
17
And offered at the dedication of thishouse of God an hundredbullocks, two hundredrams,fourhundredlambs; and for a sin offering*forallIsrael,twelve*hegoats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18
And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses,for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
19
And the children of the captivitykept the passover upon the fourteenthday of the firstmonth.
20
For the priests and the Levites were purifiedtogether, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
21
And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORDGod of Israel, did eat,
22
And kept the feast of unleavened breadsevendays with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.