Then{H116} Darius{H1868} the king{H4430} made{H7761} a decree,{H2942} and search{H1240} was made in the house{H1005} of the archives,{H5609} where{H8536} the treasures{H1596} were laid up{H5182} in Babylon.{H895}

And there was found{H7912} at Achmetha,{H307} in the palace{H1001} that is in the province{H4083} of Media,{H4076} a{H2298} roll,{H4040} and therein{H1459} was thus{H3652} written{H3790} for a record:{H1799}

In the first{H2298} year{H8140} of Cyrus{H3567} the king,{H4430} Cyrus{H3567} the king{H4430} made{H7761} a decree:{H2942} Concerning the house{H1005} of God{H426} at Jerusalem,{H3390} let the house{H1005} be builded,{H1124} the place{H870} where they offer{H1684} sacrifices,{H1685} and let the foundations{H787} thereof be strongly laid;{H5446} the height{H7314} thereof threescore{H8361} cubits,{H521} and the breadth{H6613} thereof threescore{H8361} cubits;{H521}

with three{H8532} courses{H5073} of great{H1560} stones,{H69} and a course{H5073} of new{H2323} timber:{H636} and let the expenses{H5313} be given{H3052} out of{H4481} the king's{H4430} house.{H1005}

And also{H638} let the gold{H1722} and silver{H3702} vessels{H3984} of the house{H1005} of God,{H426} which Nebuchadnezzar{H5020} took forth{H5312} out of{H4481} the temple{H1965} which is at Jerusalem,{H3390} and brought{H2987} unto Babylon,{H895} be restored,{H8421} and brought again{H1946} unto the temple{H1965} which is at Jerusalem,{H3390} every one to its place;{H870} and thou shalt put{H5182} them in the house{H1005} of God.{H426}

Now{H3705} therefore, Tattenai, governor{H6347} beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} Shethar-bozenai,{H8370} and your companions{H3675} the Apharsachites,{H671} who are beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} be ye{H1934} far{H7352} from{H4481} thence:{H8536}

let the work{H5673} of this{H1791} house{H1005} of God{H426} alone;{H7662} let the governor{H6347} of the Jews{H3062} and the elders{H7868} of the Jews{H3062} build{H1124} this{H1791} house{H1005} of God{H426} in{H5922} its place.{H870}

Moreover I{H4481} make{H7761} a decree{H2942} what{H3964} ye shall do{H5648} to{H5974} these{H479} elders{H7868} of the Jews{H3062} for the building{H1124} of this{H1791} house{H1005} of God:{H426} that of the king's{H4430} goods,{H5232} even of{H1768} the tribute{H4061} beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} expenses{H5313} be{H1934} given{H3052} with all diligence{H629} unto these{H479} men,{H1400} that they be not{H3809} hindered.{H989}

And that which{H4101} they have need of,{H2818} both young{H1123} bullocks,{H8450} and rams,{H1798} and lambs,{H563} for burnt-offerings{H5928} to the God{H426} of heaven;{H8065} [also] wheat,{H2591} salt,{H4416} wine,{H2562} and oil,{H4887} according to the word of the priests{H3549} that are{H1934} at Jerusalem,{H3390} let it be{H1934} given{H3052} them day{H3118} by day{H3118} without{H3809} fail;{H7960}

that they may offer{H1934} sacrifices of sweet savor{H5208} unto the God{H426} of heaven,{H8065} and pray{H6739} for the life{H2417} of the king,{H4430} and of his sons.{H1123}

Also{H4481} I have made{H7761} a decree,{H2942} that whosoever{H3606} shall alter{H8133} this{H1836} word,{H6600} let a beam{H636} be pulled out{H5256} from{H4481} his house,{H1005} and let him be lifted up{H2211} and fastened{H4223} thereon;{H5922} and let his house{H1005} be made{H5648} a dunghill{H5122} for{H5922} this:{H1836}

and the God{H426} that hath caused his name{H8036} to dwell{H7932} there{H8536} overthrow all{H3606} kings{H4430} and peoples{H5972} that shall put{H7972} forth their hand{H3028} to alter{H8133} [the same], to destroy{H2255} this{H1791} house{H1005} of God{H426} which is{H576} at Jerusalem.{H3390} I{H576} Darius{H1868} have made{H7761} a decree;{H2942} let it be done{H5648} with all diligence.{H629}

Then{H116} Tattenai, the governor{H6347} beyond{H5675} the River,{H5103} Shethar-bozenai,{H8370} and their companions,{H3675} because{H3660} that Darius{H1868} the king{H4430} had sent,{H7972} did{H5648} accordingly{H6903} with all diligence.{H629}

And the elders{H7868} of the Jews{H3062} builded{H1124} and prospered,{H6744} through the prophesying{H5017} of Haggai{H2292} the prophet{H5029} and Zechariah{H2148} the son{H1247} of Iddo.{H5714} And they builded{H1124} and finished{H3635} it, according{H4481} to the commandment{H2941} of the God{H426} of Israel,{H3479} and according to the decree{H2942} of Cyrus,{H3567} and Darius,{H1868} and Artaxerxes{H783} king{H4430} of Persia.{H6540}

And this{H1836} house{H1005} was finished{H3319} on{H5705} the third{H8532} day{H3118} of the month{H3393} Adar,{H144} which was{H1932} in the sixth{H8353} year{H8140} of the reign{H4437} of Darius{H1868} the king.{H4430}

And the children{H1123} of Israel,{H3479} the priests,{H3549} and the Levites,{H3879} and the rest{H7606} of the children{H1123} of the captivity,{H1547} kept{H5648} the dedication{H2597} of this{H1836} house{H1005} of God{H426} with joy.{H2305}

And they offered{H7127} at the dedication{H2597} of this{H1836} house{H1005} of God{H426} a hundred{H3969} bullocks,{H8450} two hundred{H3969} rams,{H1798} four{H703} hundred{H3969} lambs;{H563} and for a sin-offering{H2402} for{H5922} all{H3606} Israel,{H3479} twelve{H8648} he -{H6841} goats,{H5796} according to the number{H4510} of the tribes{H7625} of Israel.{H3479}

And they set{H6966} the priests{H3549} in their divisions,{H6392} and the Levites{H3879} in their courses,{H4255} for{H5922} the service{H5673} of God,{H426} which is at Jerusalem;{H3390} as it is written{H3792} in the book{H5609} of Moses.{H4873}

And the children{H1121} of the captivity{H1473} kept{H6213} the passover{H6453} upon the fourteenth{H702} [day] of the first{H7223} month.{H2320}

For the priests{H3548} and the Levites{H3881} had purified{H2891} themselves together;{H259} all of them were pure:{H2889} and they killed{H7819} the passover{H6453} for all the children{H1121} of the captivity,{H1473} and for their brethren{H251} the priests,{H3548} and for themselves.

And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} that were come again{H7725} out of the captivity,{H1473} and all such as had separated{H914} themselves unto them from the filthiness{H2932} of the nations{H1471} of the land,{H776} to seek{H1875} Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} did eat,{H398}

and kept{H6213} the feast{H2282} of unleavened bread{H4682} seven{H7651} days{H3117} with joy:{H8057} for Jehovah{H3068} had made them joyful,{H8055} and had turned{H5437} the heart{H3820} of the king{H4428} of Assyria{H804} unto them, to strengthen{H2388} their hands{H3027} in the work{H4399} of the house{H1004} of God,{H430} the God{H430} of Israel.{H3478}