Ezra 4

1Now when the adversariesH6862 of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 heardH8085 that the childrenH1121 of the captivityH1473 were buildingH1129 the templeH1964 to the LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478;1 2Then they cameH5066 to ZerubbabelH2216, and to the headsH7218 of the fathersH1, and saidH559 to them, Let us buildH1129 with you: for we seekH1875 your GodH430, as ye do ; and we sacrificeH2076 to him since the daysH3117 of EsarhaddonH634 kingH4428 of AssurH804, who brought us up hereH5927. 3But ZerubbabelH2216, and JeshuaH3442, and the restH7605 of the headsH7218 of the fathersH1 of IsraelH3478, saidH559 to them, Ye have nothing to do with us to buildH1129 an houseH1004 to our GodH430; but we ourselves togetherH3162 will buildH1129 to the LORDH3068 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 troubledH926H1089 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, they wroteH3789 to 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, to ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539; and the writingH3791 of the letterH5406 was writtenH3789 in the Syrian languageH762, and interpretedH8638 in the Syrian languageH762.34 8RehumH7348 the chancellorH1169H2942 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wroteH3790 aH2298 letterH104 againstH5922 JerusalemH3390 to ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430 in this sortH3660:5 9ThenH116 wrote RehumH7348 the chancellorH1169H2942, 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 setH3488H1994 in the citiesH7149 of SamariaH8115, and the restH7606 that are on this sideH5675 of the riverH5103, and nowH3706.7 11thisH1836 is the copyH6573 of the letterH104 thatH1768 they sentH7972 to himH5922, even to ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430; Thy servantsH5649 the menH606 on this sideH5675 of the riverH5103, and nowH3706. 12let it beH1934 knownH3046 to the kingH4430, that the JewsH3062 whoH1768 cameH5559 fromH4481 theeH3890 to usH5922 are comeH858 to JerusalemH3390, buildingH1124 the rebelliousH4779 and the evilH873 cityH7149, and have set upH3635 the wallsH7792, and joinedH2338 the foundationsH787.89 13Be it knownH3046H1934 nowH3705 to the kingH4430, that, ifH2006 thisH1791 cityH7149 shall be builtH1124, and the wallsH7792 set upH3635 again, then they will notH3809 payH5415 tollH4061, tributeH1093, and customH1983, and so thou shalt diminishH5142 the revenueH674 of the kingsH4430.1011 14NowH3705 becauseH6903H3606 we haveH1768 maintenanceH4415H4416 from the king’s palaceH1965, and it was notH3809 goodH749 for us to seeH2370 the king’sH4430 dishonourH6173, thereforeH5922H1836 have we sentH7972 and informedH3046 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 to kingsH4430 and provincesH4083, and that they have movedH5648 seditionH849 within the sameH1459 from ofH4481 oldH5957H3118: forH5922 whichH1836 cause was thisH1791 cityH7149 destroyedH2718.1314 16WeH586 informH3046 the kingH4430 that, ifH2006 thisH1791 cityH7149 shall be builtH1124 again, and the wallsH7792 set upH3635, by thisH1836 meansH6903 thou shalt haveH383 noH3809 portionH2508 on this sideH5675 of the riverH5103.

17Then the kingH4430 sentH7972 an answerH6600 toH5922 RehumH7348 the chancellorH1169H2942, and to ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and to the restH7606 of their companionsH3675 that dwellH3488 in SamariaH8115, and to the restH7606 beyondH5675 the riverH5103, PeaceH8001, and nowH3706.15 18the letterH5407 which ye sentH7972 to usH5922 hath been plainlyH6568 readH7123 beforeH6925 me. 19And IH4481 commandedH7761H2942, and searchH1240 hath been made, and it is foundH7912 that thisH1791 cityH7149 from ofH4481 oldH5957H3118 hath made insurrectionH5376 againstH5922 kingsH4430, and that rebellionH4776 and seditionH849 have been madeH5648 in it.1617 20There have also beenH1934 mightyH8624 kingsH4430 overH5922 JerusalemH3390, who have ruledH7990 over allH3606 countries beyondH5675 the riverH5103; and tollH4061, tributeH1093, and customH1983, was paidH3052 to them. 21GiveH7761 ye nowH3705 commandmentH2942 to causeH989 theseH479 menH1400 to ceaseH989, and that thisH1791 cityH7149 be notH3809 builtH1124, untilH5705 another commandmentH2941 shall be givenH7761 from meH4481.18 22Take heedH1934H2095 now that ye failH7960 not to doH5922H5648 thisH1836: whyH4101 should damageH2257 growH7680 to the harmH5142 of the kingsH4430? 23NowH116 whenH4481H1768 the copyH6573 of kingH4430 ArtaxerxesH783’ letterH5407 was readH7123 beforeH6925 RehumH7348, and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613, and their companionsH3675, they went upH236 in hasteH924 to JerusalemH3390 toH5922 the JewsH3062, and made themH1994 to ceaseH989 by forceH153 and powerH2429.19 24ThenH116 ceasedH989 the workH5673 of the houseH1005 of GodH426 which is at JerusalemH3390. So it ceasedH1934H989 untilH5705 the secondH8648 yearH8140 of the reignH4437 of DariusH1868 kingH4430 of PersiaH6540.