Then the prophets, Haggai
the prophet
, and Zechariah
the son
of Iddo
, prophesied
unto
the Jews
that were in Judah
and Jerusalem
in the name
of the God
of Israel
, even unto
them.
Then rose up
Zerubbabel
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 God
helping
them.
At the same time came
to them Tatnai
, governor
on this side
the river
, and Shetharboznai
, and their companions
, and said
thus
unto them
, Who
hath commanded
you to build
this
house
, and to make up
this
wall
?
Then said
we unto them after this manner
, What
are
the names
of the men
that make
this
building
?
But the eye of their God
was
upon
the elders
of the Jews
, that they could not
cause
them
to cease
, till
the matter
came
to Darius
: and then
they returned answer
by letter
concerning
this
matter .
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
, sent
unto
Darius
the king
:
They sent a letter
unto
him, wherein
was written
thus
; Unto Darius
the king
, all
peace
.
Be it known unto the king
, that we went
into the province
of Judea
, to the house
of the great
God
, which is builded
with great
stones
, and timber
is laid
in the walls
, and this
work
goeth
fast
on, and prospereth
in their hands
.
Then asked
we those
elders
, and said
unto them thus
, Who
commanded
you to build
this
house
, and to make up
these
walls
?
We asked their names
also
, to certify
thee, that we might write
the names
of the men
that were the chief
of them.
And thus they returned
us answer
, saying
, We
are
the servants
of the God
of heaven
and earth
, and build
the house
that was
builded
these
many
years
ago
, which a great
king
of Israel
builded
and set up
.
But after
that our fathers
had provoked
the God
of heaven
unto wrath
, he gave
them
into the hand
of Nebuchadnezzar
the king
of Babylon
, the Chaldean
, who destroyed
this
house
, and carried
the people
away
into Babylon
.
But in the first
year
of Cyrus
the king
of Babylon
the same king
Cyrus
made
a decree
to build
this
house
of God
.
And the vessels also
of
gold
and silver
of the house
of God
, which Nebuchadnezzar
took
out of
the temple
that was in Jerusalem
, and brought
them into the temple
of Babylon
, those
did Cyrus
the king
take
out of
the temple
of Babylon
, and they were delivered
unto one , whose name
was Sheshbazzar
, whom he had made
governor
;
And said unto him, Take
these
vessels
, go
, carry
them
into the temple
that is in Jerusalem
, and let the house
of God
be builded
in
his place
.
Then came
the same
Sheshbazzar
, and laid
the foundation
of the house
of God
which is in Jerusalem
: and since
that time
even until
now
hath it been in building
, and yet it is not
finished
.
Now therefore, if
it seem good
to
the king
, let there be search
made in the king's
treasure
house
, which is there
at Babylon
, whether
it be
so , that a decree
was made
of
Cyrus
the king
to build
this
house
of God
at Jerusalem
, and let the king
send
his pleasure
to us concerning
this matter
.