1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who brought us here."

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel said to them, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, king of Persia, has commanded us."

But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.

Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius, king of Persia.

And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And during the reign of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote to Artaxerxes, king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.

And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

8 Rehum, the commander, and Shimshai, the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows:

Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9 Then Rehum, the commander, Shimshai, the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials, the Tarpelites, the Apharsathchites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,

Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the region beyond the River—now,

And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

11 this is a copy of the letter they sent to him: "To King Artaxerxes: From your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and now.

This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.

12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding the rebellious and wicked city, completing the walls and repairing its foundations.

Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

13 Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, they will not pay tribute, taxes, or customs, and the king’s treasury will suffer.

Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

14 Now, because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, we are sending this message to inform the king.

Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

15 So let a search be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that rebellion has been stirred up in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

16 We are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, then you will have no control over the region beyond the River.

We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

17 The king sent this reply: To Rehum, the commander, Shimshai, the scribe, and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and the rest of the region beyond the River: Greetings. And now,

Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

18 The letter you sent to us has been read and clearly understood before me.

The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19 I gave the order, and a search was made. It was found that this city has a long history of revolting against kings and engaging in rebellion and sedition.

And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

20 Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the entire region beyond the River, and taxes, tribute, and customs were paid to them.

There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

21 Now give orders to stop these men and prevent this city from being rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.

Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

22 Be diligent in carrying out this command, so that no damage may increase and harm the interests of the kings.

Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

23 As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they quickly went to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force and power.

Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a halt, and it remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.

Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.