1 Then|strong="H0116" Darius|strong="H1868" the king|strong="H4430" made|strong="H7761" a decree|strong="H2942", and search|strong="H1240" was made in the house|strong="H1005" of the rolls|strong="H5609", where|strong="H8536" the treasures|strong="H1596" were laid up|strong="H5182" in Babylon|strong="H0895".
2 And there was found|strong="H7912" at Achmetha|strong="H0307", in the palace|strong="H1001" that is in the province|strong="H4083" of the Medes|strong="H4076", a|strong="H2298" roll|strong="H4040", and therein|strong="H1459" was a record|strong="H1799" thus|strong="H3652" written|strong="H3790":
3 In the first|strong="H2298" year|strong="H8140" of Cyrus|strong="H3567" the king|strong="H4430" the same Cyrus|strong="H3567" the king|strong="H4430" made|strong="H7761" a decree|strong="H2942" concerning the house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426" at Jerusalem|strong="H3390", Let the house|strong="H1005" be builded|strong="H1124", the place|strong="H0870" where they offered|strong="H1684" sacrifices|strong="H1685", and let the foundations|strong="H0787" thereof be strongly laid|strong="H5446"; the height|strong="H7314" thereof threescore|strong="H8361" cubits|strong="H0521", and the breadth|strong="H6613" thereof threescore|strong="H8361" cubits|strong="H0521";
4 With three|strong="H8532" rows|strong="H5073" of great|strong="H1560" stones|strong="H0069", and a row|strong="H5073" of new|strong="H2323" timber|strong="H0636": and let the expenses|strong="H5313" be given|strong="H3052" out of|strong="H4481" the king’s|strong="H4430" house|strong="H1005":
5 And also|strong="H0638" let the golden|strong="H1722" and silver|strong="H3702" vessels|strong="H3984" of the house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426", which Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020" took forth|strong="H5312" out of|strong="H4481" the temple|strong="H1965" which is at Jerusalem|strong="H3390", and brought|strong="H2987" unto Babylon|strong="H0895", be restored|strong="H8421", and brought again|strong="H1946" unto the temple|strong="H1965" which is at Jerusalem|strong="H3390", every one to his place|strong="H0870", and place|strong="H5182" them in the house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426".
6 Now|strong="H3705" therefore, Tatnai|strong="H8674", governor|strong="H6347" beyond|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103", Shethar-boznai|strong="H8370", and your companions|strong="H3675" the Apharsachites|strong="H0671", which are beyond|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103", be ye|strong="H1934" far|strong="H7352" from|strong="H4481" thence|strong="H8536":
7 Let the work|strong="H5673" of this|strong="H1791" house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426" alone|strong="H7662"; let the governor|strong="H6347" of the Jews|strong="H3062" and the elders|strong="H7868" of the Jews|strong="H3062" build|strong="H1124" this|strong="H1791" house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426" in|strong="H5922" his place|strong="H0870".
8 Moreover I|strong="H4481" make|strong="H7761" a decree|strong="H2942" what|strong="H3964" ye shall do|strong="H5648" to|strong="H5974" the elders|strong="H7868" of these|strong="H0479" Jews|strong="H3062" for the building|strong="H1124" of this|strong="H1791" house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426": that of the king’s|strong="H4430" goods|strong="H5232", even of|strong="H1768" the tribute|strong="H4061" beyond|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103", forthwith|strong="H0629" expenses|strong="H5313" be|strong="H1934" given|strong="H3052" unto these|strong="H0479" men|strong="H1400", that they be not|strong="H3809" hindered|strong="H0989".
9 And that which|strong="H4101" they have need of|strong="H2818", both young|strong="H1123" bullocks|strong="H8450", and rams|strong="H1798", and lambs|strong="H0563", for the burnt offerings|strong="H5928" of the God|strong="H0426" of heaven|strong="H8065", wheat|strong="H2591", salt|strong="H4416", wine|strong="H2562", and oil|strong="H4887", according to the appointment|strong="H3983" of the priests|strong="H3549" which are at Jerusalem|strong="H3390", let it be|strong="H1934" given|strong="H3052" them day|strong="H3118" by day|strong="H3118" without|strong="H3809" fail|strong="H7960":
10 That they may offer|strong="H1934" sacrifices of sweet savours|strong="H5208" unto the God|strong="H0426" of heaven|strong="H8065", and pray|strong="H6739" for the life|strong="H2417" of the king|strong="H4430", and of his sons|strong="H1123".
11 Also|strong="H4481" I have made|strong="H7761" a decree|strong="H2942", that whosoever|strong="H3606" shall alter|strong="H8133" this|strong="H1836" word|strong="H6600", let timber|strong="H0636" be pulled down|strong="H5256" from|strong="H4481" his house|strong="H1005", and being set up|strong="H2211", let him be hanged|strong="H4223" thereon|strong="H5922"; and let his house|strong="H1005" be made|strong="H5648" a dunghill|strong="H5122" for|strong="H5922" this|strong="H1836".
12 And the God|strong="H0426" that hath caused his name|strong="H8036" to dwell|strong="H7932" there|strong="H8536" destroy|strong="H4049" all|strong="H3606" kings|strong="H4430" and people|strong="H5972", that shall put|strong="H7972" to their hand|strong="H3028" to alter|strong="H8133" and to destroy|strong="H2255" this|strong="H1791" house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426" which is at Jerusalem|strong="H3390". I|strong="H0576" Darius|strong="H1868" have made|strong="H7761" a decree|strong="H2942"; let it be done|strong="H5648" with speed|strong="H0629".
13 Then|strong="H0116" Tatnai|strong="H8674", governor|strong="H6347" on this side|strong="H5675" the river|strong="H5103", Shethar-boznai|strong="H8370", and their companions|strong="H3675", according|strong="H6903" to that which Darius|strong="H1868" the king|strong="H4430" had sent|strong="H7972", so|strong="H3660" they did|strong="H5648" speedily|strong="H0629".
14 And the elders|strong="H7868" of the Jews|strong="H3062" builded|strong="H1124", and they prospered|strong="H6744" through the prophesying|strong="H5017" of Haggai|strong="H2292" the prophet|strong="H5029" and Zechariah|strong="H2148" the son|strong="H1247" of Iddo|strong="H5714". And they builded|strong="H1124", and finished|strong="H3635" it, according|strong="H4481" to the commandment|strong="H2941" of the God|strong="H0426" of Israel|strong="H3479", and according to the commandment|strong="H2942" of Cyrus|strong="H3567", and Darius|strong="H1868", and Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" king|strong="H4430" of Persia|strong="H6540".
15 And this|strong="H1836" house|strong="H1005" was finished|strong="H3319" on|strong="H5705" the third|strong="H8532" day|strong="H3118" of the month|strong="H3393" Adar|strong="H0144", which was|strong="H1932" in the sixth|strong="H8353" year|strong="H8140" of the reign|strong="H4437" of Darius|strong="H1868" the king|strong="H4430".
16 And the children|strong="H1123" of Israel|strong="H3479", the priests|strong="H3549", and the Levites|strong="H3879", and the rest|strong="H7606" of the children|strong="H1123" of the captivity|strong="H1547", kept|strong="H5648" the dedication|strong="H2597" of this|strong="H1836" house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426" with joy|strong="H2305",
17 And offered|strong="H7127" at the dedication|strong="H2597" of this|strong="H1836" house|strong="H1005" of God|strong="H0426" an hundred|strong="H3969" bullocks|strong="H8450", two hundred|strong="H3969" rams|strong="H1798", four|strong="H0703" hundred|strong="H3969" lambs|strong="H0563"; and for a sin offering|strong="H2402" for|strong="H5922" all|strong="H3606" Israel|strong="H3479", twelve|strong="H8648" he|strong="H6841" goats|strong="H5796", according to the number|strong="H4510" of the tribes|strong="H7625" of Israel|strong="H3479".
18 And they set|strong="H6966" the priests|strong="H3549" in their divisions|strong="H6392", and the Levites|strong="H3879" in their courses|strong="H4255", for|strong="H5922" the service|strong="H5673" of God|strong="H0426", which is at Jerusalem|strong="H3390"; as it is written|strong="H3792" in the book|strong="H5609" of Moses|strong="H4873".
19 And the children|strong="H1121" of the captivity|strong="H1473" kept|strong="H6213" the passover|strong="H6453" upon the fourteenth|strong="H0702" day of the first|strong="H7223" month|strong="H2320".
20 For the priests|strong="H3548" and the Levites|strong="H3881" were purified|strong="H2891" together|strong="H0259", all of them were pure|strong="H2889", and killed|strong="H7819" the passover|strong="H6453" for all the children|strong="H1121" of the captivity|strong="H1473", and for their brethren|strong="H0251" the priests|strong="H3548", and for themselves.
21 And the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478", which were come again|strong="H7725" out of captivity|strong="H1473", and all such as had separated|strong="H0914" themselves unto them from the filthiness|strong="H2932" of the heathen|strong="H1471" of the land|strong="H0776", to seek|strong="H1875" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478", did eat|strong="H0398",
22 And kept|strong="H6213" the feast|strong="H2282" of unleavened bread|strong="H4682" seven|strong="H7651" days|strong="H3117" with joy|strong="H8057": for the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* had made them joyful|strong="H8055", and turned|strong="H5437" the heart|strong="H3820" of the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804" unto them, to strengthen|strong="H2388" their hands|strong="H3027" in the work|strong="H4399" of the house|strong="H1004" of God|strong="H0430", the God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478".