2
Then rose upZerubbabel 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 Godhelping them.
3
At the same timecame to them Tatnai,governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and saidthus unto them,Who hath commanded* you to buildthishouse, and to make upthiswall?
5
But the eye of their Godwasupon the elders of the Jews, that they could notcausethem to cease, till the mattercame to Darius: and then they returned answer by letterconcerningthis matter.
6
The copy of the letter that Tatnai,governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river,sentuntoDarius the king:
8
Be it known* unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the greatGod, which is builded with greatstones, and timber is laid in the walls, and thisworkgoethfast on, and prospereth in their hands.
11
And thus they returned us answer,saying, Weare the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that wasbuildedthesemanyyearsago, which a greatking of Israelbuilded and set up.
12
Butafter that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gavethem into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyedthishouse, and carried the peopleaway into Babylon.
14
And the vesselsalsoofgold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzartook out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon,those did Cyrus the kingtake out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had madegovernor;
16
Thencame the sameSheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even untilnow hath it been in building, and yet it is notfinished.
17
Now therefore, if it seem goodto the king, let there be search made in the king'streasurehouse, which is there at Babylon,whether it be so, that a decree was madeofCyrus the king to buildthishouse of God at Jerusalem, and let the kingsend his pleasure to us concerning this matter.