1 Then{H116} Darius{H1868} the king{H4430} made{H7761}{(H8754)} a decree{H2942}, and search{H1240}{(H8745)} was made in the house{H1005} of the rolls{H5609}, where{H8536} the treasures{H1596} were laid up{H5182}{(H8683)} in Babylon{H895}.

2 And there was found{H7912}{(H8728)} at Achmetha{H307}, in the palace{H1001} that is in the province{H4083} of the Medes{H4076}, a{H2298} roll{H4040}, and therein{H1459} was a record{H1799} thus{H3652} written{H3790}{(H8752)}:

3 In the first{H2298} year{H8140} of Cyrus{H3567} the king{H4430} the same Cyrus{H3567} the king{H4430} made{H7761}{(H8754)} a decree{H2942} concerning the house{H1005} of God{H426} at Jerusalem{H3390}, Let the house{H1005} be builded{H1124}{(H8731)}, the place{H870} where they offered{H1684}{(H8751)} sacrifices{H1685}, and let the foundations{H787} thereof be strongly laid{H5446}{(H8775)}; the height{H7314} thereof threescore{H8361} cubits{H521}, and the breadth{H6613} thereof threescore{H8361} cubits{H521};

4 With three{H8532} rows{H5073} of great{H1560} stones{H69}, and a row{H5073} of new{H2323} timber{H636}: and let the expenses{H5313} be given{H3052}{(H8725)} out of{H4481} the king's{H4430} house{H1005}:

5 And also{H638} let the golden{H1722} and silver{H3702} vessels{H3984} of the house{H1005} of God{H426}, which Nebuchadnezzar{H5020} took forth{H5312}{(H8684)} out of{H4481} the temple{H1965} which is at Jerusalem{H3390}, and brought{H2987}{(H8684)} unto Babylon{H895}, be restored{H8421}{(H8681)}, and brought again{H1946}{(H8748)} unto the temple{H1965} which is at Jerusalem{H3390}, every one to his place{H870}, and place{H5182}{(H8681)} them in the house{H1005} of God{H426}.

6 Now{H3705} therefore, Tatnai{(H8674)}, governor{H6347} beyond{H5675} the river{H5103}, Shetharboznai{H8370}, and your companions{H3675} the Apharsachites{H671}, which are beyond{H5675} the river{H5103}, be ye{H1934}{(H8754)} far{H7352} from{H4481} thence{H8536}:

7 Let the work{H5673} of this{H1791} house{H1005} of God{H426} alone{H7662}{(H8747)}; let the governor{H6347} of the Jews{H3062} and the elders{H7868}{(H8750)} of the Jews{H3062} build{H1124}{(H8748)} this{H1791} house{H1005} of God{H426} in{H5922} his place{H870}.

8 Moreover I{H4481} make{H7761}{(H8752)} a decree{H2942} what{H3964} ye shall do{H5648}{(H8748)} to{H5974} the elders{H7868}{(H8750)} of these{H479} Jews{H3062} for the building{H1124}{(H8749)} 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}, forthwith{H629} expenses{H5313} be{H1934}{(H8748)} given{H3052}{(H8727)} unto these{H479} men{H1400}, that they be not{H3809} hindered{H989}{(H8749)}.

9 And that which{H4101} they have need of{H2818}{(H8750)}, both young{H1123} bullocks{H8450}, and rams{H1798}, and lambs{H563}, for the burnt offerings{H5928} of the God{H426} of heaven{H8065}, wheat{H2591}, salt{H4416}, wine{H2562}, and oil{H4887}, according to the appointment{H3983} of the priests{H3549} which are at Jerusalem{H3390}, let it be{H1934}{(H8748)} given{H3052}{(H8727)} them day{H3118} by day{H3118} without{H3809} fail{H7960}:

10 That they may offer{H1934}{(H8748)}{H7127}{(H8683)} sacrifices of sweet savours{H5208} unto the God{H426} of heaven{H8065}, and pray{H6739}{(H8743)} for the life{H2417} of the king{H4430}, and of his sons{H1123}.

11 Also{H4481} I have made{H7761}{(H8752)} a decree{H2942}, that whosoever{H3606}{H606} shall alter{H8133}{(H8681)} this{H1836} word{H6600}, let timber{H636} be pulled down{H5256}{(H8725)} from{H4481} his house{H1005}, and being set up{H2211}{(H8752)}, let him be hanged{H4223}{(H8725)} thereon{H5922}; and let his house{H1005} be made{H5648}{(H8725)} a dunghill{H5122} for{H5922} this{H1836}.

12 And the God{H426} that hath caused his name{H8036} to dwell{H7932}{(H8745)} there{H8536} destroy{H4049}{(H8741)} all{H3606} kings{H4430} and people{H5972}, that shall put{H7972}{(H8748)} to their hand{H3028} to alter{H8133}{(H8682)} and to destroy{H2255}{(H8742)} this{H1791} house{H1005} of God{H426} which is at Jerusalem{H3390}. I{H576} Darius{H1868} have made{H7761}{(H8754)} a decree{H2942}; let it be done{H5648}{(H8725)} with speed{H629}.

13 Then{H116} Tatnai{(H8674)}, governor{H6347} on this side{H5675} the river{H5103}, Shetharboznai{H8370}, and their companions{H3675}, according{H6903} to that which Darius{H1868} the king{H4430} had sent{H7972}{(H8754)}, so{H3660} they did{H5648}{(H8754)} speedily{H629}.

14 And the elders{H7868}{(H8750)} of the Jews{H3062} builded{H1124}{(H8750)}, and they prospered{H6744}{(H8683)} through the prophesying{H5017} of Haggai{H2292} the prophet{H5029} and Zechariah{H2148} the son{H1247} of Iddo{H5714}. And they builded{H1124}{(H8754)}, and finished{H3635}{(H8806)} it, according{H4481} to the commandment{H2941} of the God{H426} of Israel{H3479}, and according to the commandment{H2942} of Cyrus{H3567}, and Darius{H1868}, and Artaxerxes{H783} king{H4430} of Persia{H6540}.

15 And this{H1836} house{H1005} was finished{H3319}{(H8806)} 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}.

16 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}{(H8754)} the dedication{H2597} of this{H1836} house{H1005} of God{H426} with joy{H2305},

17 And offered{H7127}{(H8684)} at the dedication{H2597} of this{H1836} house{H1005} of God{H426} an hundred{H3969} bullocks{H8450}, two hundred{H3969} rams{H1798}, four{H703} hundred{H3969} lambs{H563}; and for a sin offering{H2402}{(H8675)}{H2409} for{H5922} all{H3606} Israel{H3479}, twelve{H8648}{H6236} he{H6841} goats{H5796}, according to the number{H4510} of the tribes{H7625} of Israel{H3479}.

18 And they set{H6966}{(H8684)} 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}.

19 And the children{H1121} of the captivity{H1473} kept{H6213}{(H8799)} the passover{H6453} upon the fourteenth{H702}{H6240} day of the first{H7223} month{H2320}.

20 For the priests{H3548} and the Levites{H3881} were purified{H2891}{(H8694)} together{H259}, all of them were pure{H2889}, and killed{H7819}{(H8799)} the passover{H6453} for all the children{H1121} of the captivity{H1473}, and for their brethren{H251} the priests{H3548}, and for themselves.

21 And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, which were come again{H7725}{(H8802)} out of captivity{H1473}, and all such as had separated{H914}{(H8737)} themselves unto them from the filthiness{H2932} of the heathen{H1471} of the land{H776}, to seek{H1875}{(H8800)} the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, did eat{H398}{(H8799)},

22 And kept{H6213}{(H8799)} the feast{H2282} of unleavened bread{H4682} seven{H7651} days{H3117} with joy{H8057}: for the LORD{H3068} had made them joyful{H8055}{(H8765)}, and turned{H5437}{(H8689)} the heart{H3820} of the king{H4428} of Assyria{H804} unto them, to strengthen{H2388}{(H8763)} their hands{H3027} in the work{H4399} of the house{H1004} of God{H430}, the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}.