Ezra 4:1-15

1Now when the adversariesH6862 of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 heardH8085 that the childrenH1121 of the captivityH1473 buildedH1129 the templeH1964 unto YhwhH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478;1 2Then they cameH5066 to ZerubbabelH2216, and to the chiefH7218 of the fathersH1, and saidH559 unto them, Let us buildH1129 with you: for we seekH1875 your GodH430, as ye do; and we do sacrificeH2076 unto him since the daysH3117 of Esar–haddonH634 kingH4428 of AssurH804, which brought us up hitherH5927. 3But ZerubbabelH2216, and JeshuaH3442, and the restH7605 of the chiefH7218 of the fathersH1 of IsraelH3478, saidH559 unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to buildH1129 an houseH1004 unto our GodH430; but we ourselves togetherH3162 will buildH1129 unto YhwhH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478, as kingH4428 CyrusH3566 the kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 hath commandedH6680 us. 4Then the peopleH5971 of the landH776 weakenedH7503 the handsH3027 of the peopleH5971 of JudahH3063, and troubledH1089H926 them in buildingH1129, 5And hiredH7936 counsellorsH3289 against them, to frustrateH6565 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 beginningH8462 of his reignH4438, wroteH3789 they unto him an accusationH7855 against the inhabitantsH3427 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.2

7And in the daysH3117 of ArtaxerxesH783 wroteH3789 BishlamH1312, MithredathH4990, TabeelH2870, and the restH7605 of their companionsH3674, unto ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539; and the writingH3791 of the letterH5406 was writtenH3789 in the Syrian tongueH762, and interpretedH8638 in the Syrian tongueH762.34 8RehumH7348 the chancellorH2942H1169 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wroteH3790 aH2298 letterH104 againstH5922 JerusalemH3390 to ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430 in this sortH3660:5 9ThenH116 wrote RehumH7348 the chancellorH2942H1169, and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and the restH7606 of their companionsH3675; the DinaitesH1784, the ApharsathchitesH671, the TarpelitesH2967, the ApharsitesH670, the ArchevitesH756, the BabyloniansH896, the SusanchitesH7801, the DehavitesH1723, and the ElamitesH5962,6 10And the restH7606 of the nationsH524 whomH1768 the greatH7229 and nobleH3358 AsnapparH620 brought overH1541, and setH1994H3488 in the citiesH7149 of SamariaH8115, and the restH7606 that are on this sideH5675 the riverH5103, and at such a timeH3706.7

11ThisH1836 is the copyH6573 of the letterH104 thatH1768 they sentH7972 unto himH5922, even unto ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430; Thy servantsH5649 the menH606 on this sideH5675 the riverH5103, and at such a timeH3706. 12Be itH1934 knownH3046 unto the kingH4430, that the JewsH3062 whichH1768 came upH5559 fromH4481 theeH3890 to usH5922 are comeH858 unto JerusalemH3390, buildingH1124 the rebelliousH4779 and the badH873 cityH7149, and have set upH3635 the wallsH7792 thereof, and joinedH2338 the foundationsH787.89 13Be it knownH1934H3046 nowH3705 unto the kingH4430, that, ifH2006 thisH1791 cityH7149 be buildedH1124, and the wallsH7792 set upH3635 again, then will they notH3809 payH5415 tollH4061, tributeH1093, and customH1983, and so thou shalt endamageH5142 the revenueH674 of the kingsH4430.1011 14NowH3705 becauseH3606H6903 we haveH1768 maintenanceH4416H4415 from the king’s palaceH1965, and it was notH3809 meetH749 for us to seeH2370 the king’sH4430 dishonourH6173, thereforeH1836H5922 have we sentH7972 and certifiedH3046 the kingH4430;12 15That searchH1240 may be made in the bookH5609 of the recordsH1799 of thy fathersH2: so shalt thou findH7912 in the bookH5609 of the recordsH1799, and knowH3046 that thisH1791 cityH7149 is a rebelliousH4779 cityH7149, and hurtfulH5142 unto kingsH4430 and provincesH4083, and that they have movedH5648 seditionH849 within the sameH1459 ofH4481 oldH5957 timeH3118: forH5922 whichH1836 cause was thisH1791 cityH7149 destroyedH2718.1314