Ezra 4

1And the adversaries of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 heardH8085 that the children of the captivity were buildingH1129 the templeH1964 to Jehovah the 1GodH430 of IsraelH3478; 2and they cameH5927 to ZerubbabelH2216 and to the chiefH7218 fathersH1, and saidH559 to them, We would buildH1129 with you; for we seekH1875 your 2GodH430, as ye; and we have sacrificedH2076 to him since the daysH3117 of Esar-haddon kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, who broughtH5927 us up hither. 3But ZerubbabelH2216 and JeshuaH3442 and the restH7605 of the chiefH7218 fathersH1 of IsraelH3478 saidH559 to them, Ye have nothing to do with us to buildH1129 a houseH1004 to our 3GodH430, but we alone will buildH1129 to Jehovah the 4GodH430 of IsraelH3478, as kingH4428 CyrusH3566, the kingH4428 of PersiaH6539, has commandedH6680 us. 4And the peopleH5971 of the landH776 weakened the handsH3027 of the peopleH5971 of JudahH3063, and troubled them in buildingH1129; 5and they 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, they wroteH3789 an accusation against the inhabitantsH3427 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389. 7And in the daysH3117 of ArtaxerxesH783, Bishlam, MithredathH4990, TabeelH2870, and the restH7605 of his companions, wroteH3789 to ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539; and the writingH3789 of the letter was writtenH3789 in AramaicH762, and interpreted in AramaicH762. 8RehumH7348 the chancellor and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wrote a letterH104 against JerusalemH3390 to ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430 after this sort: 9RehumH7348 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 peoples whom the greatH7229 and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the cities of SamariaH8115, and the restH7606 [of the country] on this side the riverH5103, and so forth. 11This is the copyH6573 of the letterH104 that they sent to him: To ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430: Thy servantsH5649 the menH606 on this side the riverH5103, and so forth. 12Be it knownH3046 to the kingH4430 that the JewsH3062 who cameH858 up from thee unto us have comeH858 to JerusalemH3390; they are buildingH1124 the rebellious and the bad cityH7149, and they complete the wallsH7792 and join up the foundationsH787. 13Be it knownH3046 therefore unto the kingH4430, that, if this cityH7149 be builtH1124 and the wallsH7792 be completed, they will not pay tributeH4061, tax, and tollH1983, and in the end it will bring damage to the kingsH4430. 14NowH3705, since we eat the saltH4416 of the palaceH1965, and it is not right for us to seeH2370 the king's injury, therefore have we sent and informed the kingH4430; 15that searchH1240 may be madeH3046 in the bookH5609 of the annals of thy fathersH2: so shalt thou findH7912 in the bookH5609 of the annals and knowH3046 that this cityH7149 is a rebellious cityH7149, which has done damage to kingsH4430 and provincesH4083, and that they have raised sedition within the same of old time, for which cause this cityH7149 was destroyed. 16We inform the kingH4430 that if this cityH7149 be builtH1124 and its wallsH7792 be completed, by this means thou shalt have no portionH2508 on this side the riverH5103. 17The kingH4430 sent an answer to RehumH7348 the chancellor, and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and the restH7606 of their companions that dwell in SamariaH8115, and the other places beyond the riverH5103: PeaceH8001, and so forth. 18The letter that ye sent to us has been readH7123 before me distinctly. 19And I gave orders, and searchH1240 has been made, and it has been foundH7912 that this cityH7149 of old time has made insurrection against the kingsH4430, and that rebellion and sedition have been raised therein. 20And there have been mighty kingsH4430 over JerusalemH3390, who have ruled over all beyond the riverH5103; and tributeH4061, tax, and tollH1983 were paid to them. 21NowH3705 give order to makeH7761 these menH1400 to ceaseH989, and that this cityH7149 be not builtH1124, until the order shall be given from me; 22and take heed that ye fail not to do this: whyH4101 should harm grow to the damage of the kingsH4430? 23As soon as the copyH6573 of kingH4430 Artaxerxes' letter was readH7123 before RehumH7348, and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and their companions, they went up in haste to JerusalemH3390 to the JewsH3062, and made them ceaseH989 by force and power. 24ThenH116 ceasedH989 the workH5673 of the houseH1005 of 5GodH426 which is at JerusalemH3390; and it ceasedH989 until the second yearH8140 of the reignH4437 of DariusH1868 kingH4430 of PersiaH6540.