1 ¶ Then the prophets, Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel unto them.

Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, Whose was upon them.

2 T hen Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, rose up and began to build the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

Then rose up Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak and began to build the house of God in Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

3 ¶ At the same time Tatnai, captain of this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions came to them and said thus unto them, Who has commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall?

Then Tattenai, governor on the west side of the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their companions came to them and said, Who authorized you to build this house and to restore this wall?

4 T hen we said unto them regarding this, These are the names of the men that make this building!

Then we told them the names of the men who were building this building.

5 F or the eyes of their God were upon the elders of the Jews, and they could not cause them to cease until the matter came to Darius, and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so the enemy could not make them stop until the matter came before Darius and an answer was returned by letter concerning it.

6 T he copy of the letter that Tatnai, captain of this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions, the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius, the king:

This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor on this side of the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the Apharsachites who were on this side of the River, sent to Darius the king.

7 t hey sent a letter unto him, in which was written thus; Unto Darius, the king, all peace.

They wrote: To Darius the king: All peace.

8 B e it known unto the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is being built with stones of marble, and the timbers are laid in the walls, and this work is going fast and prospers in their hands.

Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, with timber laid in the walls; this work goes on with diligence and care and prospers in their hands.

9 T hen we asked the elders and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house and to found these walls?

Then we asked those elders, Who authorized you to build this house and restore these walls?

10 W e asked their names also, to notify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.

We asked their names also, that we might record the names of the men at their head and notify you.

11 A nd thus they returned us answer, saying, We are servants of the God of heaven and earth and rebuild the house that was built many years ago, which the great king of Israel built and founded.

They replied, We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, rebuilding the house which was erected and finished many years ago by a great king of Israel.

12 B ut after our fathers raged against the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.

But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 B ut in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, the same King Cyrus made a decree to rebuild this house of God.

14 A nd the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and had brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus, the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto Sheshbazzar, whom he had made captain;

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and delivered to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.

15 a nd said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place.

And King Cyrus said to him, Go, take these vessels to Jerusalem and carry them into the temple, and let the house of God be built upon its site.

16 T hen the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God which was in Jerusalem, and since that time until now it is being built, and it is not yet finished.

Then came this Sheshbazzar and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem; and since that time until now it has been in the process of being rebuilt and is not completed yet.

17 N ow, therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be a search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus, the king, to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and let the king send unto us his will concerning this matter.

So now, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon to see if it is true that King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.