(KJV) Ezra 5¹

⥃Temple Rebuilding Resumes ^{[ Haggai 1:1–11 ]}

[1] Then the prophets, Haggai² the prophet, and Zechariah³ the son of Iddo⁴, prophesied unto the Jews that [were] in Judah and Jerusalem in the name⁵ of the God of Israel, [even] unto them.⁶ [2] Then rose up⁷ Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua⁸ the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets⁹ of God helping them.

[3] At the same time came to them Tatnai¹⁰, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you¹¹ to build this house, and to make up this wall? [4] Then said we unto them after this manner, What are¹² the names of the men that make this building¹³? [5] But the eye¹⁴ of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they¹⁵ could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned¹⁶ answer by letter concerning this [matter].

⥃Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

[6] [¶]The copy¹⁷ of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar–boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites¹⁸, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:¹⁹ [7] They sent a letter unto him, wherein²⁰ was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace²¹. [8] Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province²² of Judea, to the house of the great God²³, which is builded with great stones²⁴, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. [9] Then asked we those elders, [and] said unto them thus, Who commanded²⁵ you to build this house, and to make up these walls? [10] We asked²⁶ their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that [were] the chief of them. [11] And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are²⁷ the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great²⁸ king of Israel builded and set up. [12] But after²⁹ that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave³⁰ them into the hand³¹ of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.³² [13] But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.³³ [14] And the vessels³⁴ also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king³⁵ take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto [one], whose name [was] Sheshbazzar³⁶, whom³⁷ he had made governor³⁸; [15] And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that [is] in Jerusalem, and let the house³⁹ of God be builded in his place. [16] Then came the same Sheshbazzar⁴⁰, [and] laid⁴¹ the foundation of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and [yet] it is not finished⁴². [17] Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be⁴³ search made in the king’s treasure house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it be [so], that a decree⁴⁴ was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter. ⁴⁵