Ezra 4

1Now when the adversaries of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 heardH8085 that the children of the captivity were buildingH1129 a templeH1964 unto Jehovah, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478; 2then they drewH5066 near to ZerubbabelH2216, and to the headsH7218 of fathers’H1 houses, and saidH559 unto them, Let us buildH1129 with you; for we seekH1875 your GodH430, as ye do; and we sacrificeH2076 unto him since the daysH3117 of Esar-haddon kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, who broughtH5927 us up hither. 3But ZerubbabelH2216, and JeshuaH3442, and the restH7605 of the headsH7218 of fathers’H1 housesH1004 of IsraelH3478, saidH559 unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in buildingH1129 a houseH1004 unto our GodH430; but we ourselves togetherH3162 will buildH1129 unto Jehovah, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, as kingH4428 CyrusH3566 the kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 hath commandedH6680 us. 4Then the peopleH5971 of the landH776 weakened the handsH3027 of the peopleH5971 of JudahH3063, and troubled them in buildingH1129, 5and hiredH7936 counsellors against them, to frustrate their purposeH6098, all the daysH3117 of CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539, even until the reignH4438 of DariusH1867 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539. 6And in the reignH4438 of AhasuerusH325, in the beginning of his reignH4438, wroteH3789 they an accusation against the inhabitantsH3427 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

7And in the daysH3117 of ArtaxerxesH783 wroteH3789 Bishlam, MithredathH4990, TabeelH2870, and the restH7605 of his companions, unto ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539; and the writingH3789 of the letter was writtenH3789 in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue. 8RehumH7348 the chancellor and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wrote a letterH104 against JerusalemH3390 to ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430 in this sort: 9thenH116 wrote RehumH7348 the chancellor, and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and the restH7606 of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, 10and the restH7606 of the nationsH524 whom the greatH7229 and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the cityH7149 of SamariaH8115, and in the restH7606 of the country beyond the RiverH5103, and so forth.

11This is the copyH6573 of the letterH104 that they sent unto ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430: Thy servantsH5649 the menH606 beyond the RiverH5103, and so forth. 12Be it knownH3046 unto the kingH4430, that the JewsH3062 that cameH858 up from thee are comeH858 to us unto JerusalemH3390; they are buildingH1124 the rebellious and the bad cityH7149, and have finishedH3635 the wallsH7792, and repaired the foundationsH787. 13Be it knownH3046 nowH3705 unto the kingH4430, that, if this cityH7149 be builded, and the wallsH7792 finishedH3635, they will not pay tributeH4061, custom, or tollH1983, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kingsH4430. 14NowH3705 because we eat the saltH4416 of the palaceH1965, and it is not meet for us to seeH2370 the king’sH4430 dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the kingH4430; 15that searchH1240 may be madeH3046 in the bookH5609 of the records of thy fathersH2: so shalt thou findH7912 in the bookH5609 of the records, and knowH3046 that this cityH7149 is a rebellious cityH7149, and hurtful unto kingsH4430 and provincesH4083, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this cityH7149 laid waste. 16We certify the kingH4430 that, if this cityH7149 be builded, and the wallsH7792 finishedH3635, by this means thou shalt have no portionH2508 beyond the RiverH5103.

17Thensent the kingH4430 an answer unto RehumH7348 the chancellor, and to ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and to the restH7606 of their companions that dwell in SamariaH8115, and in the restH7606 of the country beyond the RiverH5103: PeaceH8001, and so forth. 18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly readH7123 before me. 19And I decreed, and searchH1240 hath been made, and it is foundH7912 that this cityH7149 of old time hath made insurrection against kingsH4430, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20There have been mighty kingsH4430 also over JerusalemH3390, who have ruled over all the country beyond the RiverH5103; and tributeH4061, custom, and tollH1983, was paid unto them. 21MakeH7761 ye nowH3705 a decreeH2942 to cause these menH1400 to ceaseH989, and that this cityH7149 be not builded, until a decreeH2942 shall be madeH7761 by me. 22And take heed that ye be not slack herein: whyH4101 should damage grow to the hurt of the kingsH4430?

23ThenH116 when the copyH6573 of kingH4430 Artaxerxes’ letter was readH7123 before RehumH7348, and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and their companions, they went in haste to JerusalemH3390 unto the JewsH3062, and made them to ceaseH989 by force and power. 24ThenH116 ceasedH989 the workH5673 of the houseH1005 of GodH426 which is at JerusalemH3390; and it ceasedH989 until the second yearH8140 of the reignH4437 of DariusH1868 kingH4430 of PersiaH6540.