1 Then the prophets{H5029}, Haggai{H2292} the prophet{H5029}, and Zechariah{H2148} the son{H1247} of Iddo{H5714}, prophesied{H5013}{(H8724)} unto{H5922} the Jews{H3062} that were in Judah{H3061} and Jerusalem{H3390} in the name{H8036} of the God{H426} of Israel{H3479}, even unto{H5922} them.

2 Then{H116} rose up{H6966}{(H8754)} Zerubbabel{H2217} the son{H1247} of Shealtiel{H7598}, and Jeshua{H3443} the son{H1247} of Jozadak{H3136}, and began{H8271}{(H8745)} to build{H1124}{(H8749)} the house{H1005} of God{H426} which is at Jerusalem{H3390}: and with them{H5974} were the prophets{H5029} of God{H426} helping{H5583}{(H8683)} them.

3 At the same time{H2166} came{H858}{(H8754)} to them Tatnai{(H8674)}, governor{H6347} on this side{H5675} the river{H5103}, and Shetharboznai{H8370}, and their companions{H3675}, and said{H560}{(H8750)} thus{H3652} unto them{H5922}, Who{H4479} hath commanded{H7761}{(H8754)}{H2942} you to build{H1124}{(H8749)} this{H1836} house{H1005}, and to make up{H3635}{(H8805)} this{H1836} wall{H846}?

4 Then{H116} said{H560}{(H8754)} we unto them after this manner{H3660}, What{H4479} are{H581} the names{H8036} of the men{H1400} that make{H1124}{(H8750)} this{H1836} building{H1147}?

5 But the eye{H5870} of their God{H426} was{H1934}{(H8754)} upon{H5922} the elders{H7868}{(H8750)} of the Jews{H3062}, that they could not{H3809} cause{H989} them{H1994} to cease{H989}{(H8754)}, till{H5705} the matter{H2941} came{H1946}{(H8748)} to Darius{H1868}: and then{H116} they returned answer{H8421}{(H8681)} by letter{H5407} concerning{H5922} this{H1836} matter.

6 The copy{H6573} of the letter{H104} that Tatnai{(H8674)}, governor{H6347} on this side{H5675} the river{H5103}, and Shetharboznai{H8370}, and his companions{H3675} the Apharsachites{H671}, which were on this side{H5675} the river{H5103}, sent{H7972}{(H8754)} unto{H5922} Darius{H1868} the king{H4430}:

7 They sent{H7972}{(H8754)} a letter{H6600} unto{H5922} him, wherein{H1459} was written{H3790}{(H8752)} thus{H1836}; Unto Darius{H1868} the king{H4430}, all{H3606} peace{H8001}.

8 Be it known{H1934}{(H8748)}{H3046}{(H8752)} unto the king{H4430}, that we went{H236}{(H8754)} into the province{H4083} of Judea{H3061}, to the house{H1005} of the great{H7229} God{H426}, which is builded{H1124}{(H8732)} with great{H1560} stones{H69}, and timber{H636} is laid{H7761}{(H8727)} in the walls{H3797}, and this{H1791} work{H5673} goeth{H5648}{(H8727)} fast{H629} on, and prospereth{H6744}{(H8683)} in their hands{H3028}.

9 Then{H116} asked{H7593}{(H8754)} we those{H479} elders{H7868}{(H8750)}, and said{H560}{(H8754)} unto them thus{H3660}, Who{H4479} commanded{H7761}{(H8754)}{H2942} you to build{H1124}{(H8749)} this{H1836} house{H1005}, and to make up{H3635}{(H8805)} these{H1836} walls{H846}?

10 We asked{H7593}{(H8754)} their names{H8036} also{H638}, to certify{H3046}{(H8682)} thee, that we might write{H3790}{(H8748)} the names{H8036} of the men{H1400} that were the chief{H7217} of them.

11 And thus{H3660} they returned{H8421}{(H8684)} us answer{H6600}, saying{H560}{(H8749)}, We{H586} are{H1994} the servants{H5649} of the God{H426} of heaven{H8065} and earth{H772}, and build{H1124}{(H8750)} the house{H1005} that was{H1934}{(H8754)} builded{H1124}{(H8752)} these{H1836} many{H7690} years{H8140} ago{H6928}, which a great{H7229} king{H4430} of Israel{H3479} builded{H1124}{(H8754)} and set up{H3635}{(H8806)}.

12 But{H3861} after{H4481} that our fathers{H2} had provoked{H7265} the God{H426} of heaven{H8065} unto wrath{H7265}{(H8684)}, he gave{H3052}{(H8754)} them{H1994} into the hand{H3028} of Nebuchadnezzar{H5020} the king{H4430} of Babylon{H895}, the Chaldean{H3679}, who destroyed{H5642}{(H8754)} this{H1836} house{H1005}, and carried{H1541} the people{H5972} away{H1541}{(H8684)} into Babylon{H895}.

13 But{H1297} in the first{H2298} year{H8140} of Cyrus{H3567} the king{H4430} of Babylon{H895} the same king{H4430} Cyrus{H3567} made{H7761}{(H8754)} a decree{H2942} to build{H1124}{(H8749)} this{H1836} house{H1005} of God{H426}.

14 And the vessels{H3984} also{H638} of{H1768} gold{H1722} and silver{H3702} of the house{H1005} of God{H426}, which Nebuchadnezzar{H5020} took{H5312}{(H8684)} out of{H4481} the temple{H1965} that was in Jerusalem{H3390}, and brought{H2987}{(H8684)} them into the temple{H1965} of Babylon{H895}, those{H1994} did Cyrus{H3567} the king{H4430} take{H5312}{(H8684)} out of{H4481} the temple{H1965} of Babylon{H895}, and they were delivered{H3052}{(H8753)} unto one, whose name{H8036} was Sheshbazzar{H8340}, whom he had made{H7761}{(H8754)} governor{H6347};

15 And said{H560}{(H8754)} unto him, Take{H5376}{(H8747)} these{H412} vessels{H3984}, go{H236}{(H8747)}, carry{H5182}{(H8680)} them{H1994} into the temple{H1965} that is in Jerusalem{H3390}, and let the house{H1005} of God{H426} be builded{H1124}{(H8731)} in{H5922} his place{H870}.

16 Then{H116} came{H858}{(H8754)} the same{H1791} Sheshbazzar{H8340}, and laid{H3052}{(H8754)} the foundation{H787} of the house{H1005} of God{H426} which is in Jerusalem{H3390}: and since{H4481} that time{H116} even until{H5705} now{H3705} hath it been in building{H1124}{(H8732)}, and yet it is not{H3809} finished{H8000}{(H8752)}.

17 Now{H3705} therefore, if{H2006} it seem good{H2869} to{H5922} the king{H4430}, let there be search{H1240}{(H8721)} made in the king's{H4430} treasure{H1596} house{H1005}, which is there{H8536} at Babylon{H895}, whether{H2006} it be{H383} so, that a decree{H2942} was made{H7761}{(H8752)} of{H4481} Cyrus{H3567} the king{H4430} to build{H1124}{(H8749)} this{H1791} house{H1005} of God{H426} at Jerusalem{H3390}, and let the king{H4430} send{H7972}{(H8748)} his pleasure{H7470} to us concerning{H5922} this matter{H1836}.