1 A nd prophesied have the prophets, (Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo) unto the Jews who in Judah and in Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel -- unto them.

When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them,

2 T hen have Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, risen, and begun to build the house of God, that in Jerusalem, and with them are the prophets of God supporting them.

then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.

3 A t that time come to them hath Tatnai, governor beyond the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and thus they are saying to them, `Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?'

At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “ Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?”

4 T hen thus we have said to them, `What the names of the men who are building this building?'

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

5 A nd the eye of their God hath been upon the elders of the Jews, and they have not caused them to cease till the matter goeth to Darius, and then they send back a letter concerning this thing.

But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it. Adversaries Write to Darius

6 T he copy of a letter that Tatnai, governor beyond the river, hath sent, and Shethar-Boznai and his companions, the Apharsachites who beyond the river, unto Darius the king.

This is the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.

7 A letter they have sent unto him, and thus is it written in it:

They sent a report to him in which it was written thus: “To Darius the king, all peace.

8 ` To Darius the king, all peace! be it known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the great house of God, and it is built rolled stones, and wood is placed in the walls, and this work is done speedily, and prospering in their hand.

Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with huge stones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is going on with great care and is succeeding in their hands.

9 T hen we have asked of these elders, thus we have said to them, Who hath made for you a decree this house to build, and this wall to finish?

Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?’

10 A nd also their names we have asked of them, to let thee know, that we might write the names of the men who at their head.

We also asked them their names so as to inform you, and that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head.

11 ` And thus they have returned us word, saying, We servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built many years before this, that a great king of Israel built and finished:

Thus they answered us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

12 b ut after that our fathers made the God of heaven angry, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the Chaldean, and this house he destroyed, and the people he removed to Babylon;

But because 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 temple and deported the people to Babylon.

13 b ut in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,

However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

14 a nd also, the vessels of the house of God, of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar had taken forth out of the temple that in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, them hath Cyrus the king brought forth out of the temple of Babylon, and they have been given to, Sheshbazzar his name, whom he made governor,

Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.

15 a nd said to him, These vessels lift up, go, put them down in the temple that in Jerusalem, and the house of God is builded on its place.

He said to him, “Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem and let the house of God be rebuilt in its place.”

16 T hen hath this Sheshbazzar come -- he hath laid the foundations of the house of God that in Jerusalem, and from thence even till now it hath been building, and is not finished.

Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not yet completed.’

17 ` And now, if to the king it be good, let search be made in the treasure-house of the king, that there in Babylon, whether it be that of Cyrus the king there was made a decree to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and the will of the king concerning this thing he doth send unto us.'

“Now if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”