1
Then Darius the king made a decree, and caused a search to be made in the record-offices, where the treasure is stored in Babylon.
2
And there was found in the city, in the palace, a volume, and this was the record written in it.
3
In the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the holy house of God that was in Jerusalem, Let the house be built, and the place where they sacrifice the sacrifices. (Also he appointed its elevation, in height sixty cubits; its breadth of sixty cubits.)
4
And three strong layers of stone, and one layer of timber; and the expense shall be paid out of the house of the king.
5
And the silver and the gold vessels of the house of God, which Nabuchodonosor carried off from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried to Babylon, let them even be given, and be carried to the temple that is in Jerusalem, and put in the place where they were set in the house of God.
6
Now, ye rulers beyond the river, Satharbuzanai, and their fellow-servants the Apharsachaeans, who on the other side of the river, give , keeping far from that place.
7
Now let alone the work of the house of God: let the rulers of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build that house of God on its place.
8
Also a decree has been made by me, if haply ye may do somewhat in concert with the elders of the Jews for the building of that house of God: to wit, out of the king's property, the tributes beyond the river, let there be money to defray the expenses carefully granted to those men, so that they be not hindered.