Ezra 4:1-15

1NowH3588 when the adversaries of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 heardH8085 that the childrenH1121 of the captivity builded a templeH1964 unto the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478;

2then they drewH5066 nearH5066 to ZerubbabelH2216, and to the headsH7218 of fathers’H1 houses, and saidH559 unto them, LetH3808 usH413 buildH1129 with youH3588: for weH587 seekH1875 your GodH430, as ye do; and weH587 do sacrificeH2076 unto him sinceH3588 the daysH3117 of EsarhaddonH634 kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, which broughtH5927 usH413 upH5927 hither.

3But ZerubbabelH2216, and JeshuaH3442, and the restH7605 of the headsH7218 of fathers’H1 housesH1004 of IsraelH3478, saidH559 unto them, Ye have nothingH3808 to doH6680 with usH3588 to buildH1129 an houseH1004 unto our GodH430; but weH587 ourselvesH587 togetherH3162 will buildH1129 unto the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, as kingH4428 CyrusH3566 the kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 hath commandedH6680 usH3588.

4Then the peopleH5971 of the landH776 weakened the handsH3027 of the peopleH5971 of JudahH3063, and troubled them in buildingH1129,

5and hiredH7936 counsellors againstH5921 them, to frustrate their purposeH6098, allH3605 the daysH3117 of CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539, evenH5704 untilH5704 the reignH4438 of DariusH1867 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539.

6And in the reignH4438 of AhasuerusH325, in the beginningH8462 of his reignH4438, wroteH3789 they an accusationH7855 againstH5921 the inhabitantsH3427 of JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

7And in the daysH3117 of ArtaxerxesH783 wroteH3789 BishlamH1312, MithredathH4990, TabeelH2870, and the restH7605 of his companions, unto ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539; and the writingH3789 of the letterH3791 was writtenH3789 in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue.

8RehumH7348 the chancellor and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wroteH3790 a letterH104 againstH5922 JerusalemH3390 to ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430 in this sort:

9then 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 BabyloniansH896, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the ElamitesH5962,

10and the restH7606 of the nationsH524 whomH1768 the greatH7229 and noble OsnapparH620 brought over, and set in the cityH7149 of SamariaH8115, and in the restH7606 of the country beyondH5675 the riverH5103, and soH1768 forth.

11This is the copyH6573 of the letterH104 that they sentH7972 unto ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430; Thy servantsH5649 the menH606 beyondH5675 the riverH5103, and soH1768 forth.

12Be it knownH3046 unto the kingH4430, that the JewsH3062 whichH1768 cameH858 upH5559 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, ifH2006 this cityH7149 be builded, and the wallsH7792 finishedH3635, they will notH3809 payH5415 tributeH4061, customH1093, or tollH1983, and in the end it will endamage the kingsH4430.

14NowH3705 becauseH6903 weH1768 eat the saltH4416 of the palaceH1965, and it is notH3809 meet for us to seeH2370 the king’sH4430 dishonour, therefore have weH1768 sentH7972 and certified the kingH4430;

15that searchH1240 may be madeH3046 in the bookH5609 of the records of thy fathersH2: soH1768 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 withinH1459 the same of old time: for whichH1768 cause was this cityH7149 laidH2718 wasteH2718.