1 N ow those who hated Judah and Benjamin heard that the people had returned from Babylon and were building a house of worship to the Lord God of Israel.

And adversaries of Judah and Benjamin hear that the sons of the captivity are building a temple to Jehovah, God of Israel,

2 T hey came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the family groups and said to them, “Let us build with you. For we worship your God as you do. We have been giving gifts to Him since the days of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

and they draw nigh unto Zerubbabel, and unto heads of the fathers, and say to them, `Let us build with you; for, like you, we seek to your God, and we are not sacrificing since the days of Esar-Haddon king of Asshur, who brought us up hither.'

3 B ut Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the family groups of Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God. But we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus of Persia has told us to do.”

And Zerubbabel saith to them, also Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel, `Not for you, and for us, to build a house to our God; but we ourselves together do build to Jehovah God of Israel, as the king Cyrus, king of Persia, commanded us.'

4 T hen the people of the land made the hearts of the people of Judah weak, and made them afraid to go on building.

And it cometh to pass, the people of the land are making the hands of the people of Judah feeble, and troubling them in building,

5 T hey paid people to speak against them and to make trouble in their plans all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the rule of King Darius of Persia. People of the Land Do Not Want Jerusalem Built Up Again

and are hiring against them counsellors to make void their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even till the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 I n the beginning of Ahasuerus’ rule, people of the land wrote that the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem had done something wrong.

And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the commencement of his reign, they have written an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem;

7 D uring Artaxerxes’ rule, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their friends wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia. The letter was written in the Aramaic language.

and in the days of Artaxerxes have Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions written unto Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter is written in Aramaean, and interpreted in Aramaean.

8 R ehum the captain and Shimshai the writer wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes.

Rehum counsellor, and Shimshai scribe have written a letter concerning Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, thus:

9 I t was written by Rehum the captain and Shimshai the writer and the rest of their friends, the judges, the leaders and important men, the men of Erech, Babylon, Shusha (that is, the Elamites),

Then Rehum counsellor, and Shimshai scribe, and the rest of their companions, Dinaites, and Apharsathchites, Tarpelites, Apharsites, Archevites, Babylonians, Susanchites, (who are Elamites),

10 a nd the rest of the nations. The people of these nations were sent away by the great and honored Osnappar, and made their home in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the land on the other side of the Euphrates River. Now

and the rest of the nations that the great and honourable Asnapper removed and set in the city of Samaria, and the rest beyond the river, and at such a time:

11 t his is what they said in their letter to him: “To King Artaxerxes, your servants, the men in the land on the other side of the River,

This a copy of a letter that they have sent unto him, unto Artaxerxes the king: `Thy servants, men beyond the river, and at such a time;

12 l et it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to Jerusalem. They are building again the sinful city that is not willing to be ruled. They are finishing the walls and beginning the work on the buildings.

Be it known to the king, that the Jews who have come up from thee unto us, have come in to Jerusalem, the rebellious and base city they are building, and the walls they have finished, and the foundations they join.

13 N ow let it be known to the king that, if that city is built again and the walls are finished, they will not pay what should be paid to the king. The taxes paid to the king will be less.

`Now, be it known to the king, that if this city be builded, and the walls finished, toll, tribute, and custom they do not give; and at length the kings it doth cause loss.

14 W e are under the care of the king, and it is not right for us to see the king not being honored. So we have sent to let the king know.

Now, because that the salt of the palace our salt, and the nakedness of the king we have no patience to see, therefore we have sent and made known to the king;

15 L ook through the books kept by your fathers. You will find from these books that Jerusalem is not willing to be ruled, and that it is a danger to kings and lands. They have turned against kings in past times, and this is why that city was laid waste.

so that he doth seek in the book of the records of thy fathers, and thou dost find in the book of the records, and dost know, that this city a rebellious city, and causing loss kings and provinces, and makers of sedition in its midst from the days of old, therefore hath this city been wasted.

16 W e are letting the king know that, if that city is built again and the walls are finished, you will own nothing in the land on the other side of the River.”

We are making known to the king that, if this city be builded and the walls finished, by this means a portion beyond the river thou hast none.'

17 T he king sent an answer to Rehum the captain, Shimshai the writer, and to the rest of their friends who live in Samaria and in the rest of the land on the other side of the River. He wrote: “Peace.

An answer hath the king sent unto Rehum counsellor, and Shimshai scribe, and the rest of their companions who are dwelling in Samaria, and the rest beyond the river, `Peace, and at such a time:

18 T he letter you sent to us has been put into our language and read to me.

The letter that ye sent unto us, explained, hath been read before me,

19 I have had men look through the books. And it has been found that the city has turned against kings in past times, and that plans against kings have been made in it.

and by me a decree hath been made, and they sought, and have found that this city from the days of old against kings is lifting up itself, and rebellion and sedition is made in it,

20 P owerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem, who ruled over all the lands on the other side of the River, and taxes were paid to them.

and mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, even rulers over all beyond the river, and toll, tribute, and custom is given to them.

21 S o give word to these men to make them stop the work. This city may not be built again until I allow it.

`Now, make ye a decree to cause these men to cease, and this city is not builded, till by me a decree is made.

22 B e sure that you do this. Why should more trouble be given to the kings?”

And beware ye of negligence in doing this; why doth the hurt become great to the loss of the kings?'

23 W hen the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the writer and their friends, they went in a hurry to the Jews at Jerusalem and with their power made them stop.

Then from the time that a copy of the letter of king Artaxerxes is read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they have gone in haste to Jerusalem, unto the Jews, and caused them to cease by force and strength;

24 T hen the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped. It was stopped until the second year of the rule of Darius king of Persia.

then ceased the service of the house of God that in Jerusalem, and it ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.