[1] Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of
the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. [2] There was
found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a
scroll, and therein was thus written for a record: [3] In the first year of
Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God
at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer
sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid; the height of
it sixty cubits, and the breadth of it sixty cubits; [4] with three courses
of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given
out of the king`s house. [5] Also let the gold and silver vessels of the
house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at
Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the
temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them
in the house of God. [6] Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the
River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are
beyond the River, be you far from there: [7] let the work of this house of
God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build
this house of God in its place. [8] Moreover I make a decree what you shall
do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that
of the king`s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be
given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. [9] That
which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt
offerings to the God of heaven; [also] wheat, salt, wine, and oil,
according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given
them day by day without fail; [10] that they may offer sacrifices of sweet
savor to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his
sons. [11] Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word,
let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and
fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this: [12] and
the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and
peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter [the same], to destroy this
house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be
done with all diligence. [13] Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River,
Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king had
sent, did accordingly with all diligence. [14] The elders of the Jews built
and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah
the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment
of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and
Artaxerxes king of Persia. [15] This house was finished on the third day of
the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the
king. [16] The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of
God with joy. [17] They offered at the dedication of this house of God one
hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering
for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of
Israel. [18] They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in
their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is
written in the book of Moses. [19] The children of the captivity kept the
Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month. [20] For the priests
and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure:
and they killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for
their brothers the priests, and for themselves. [21] The children of Israel
who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated
themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek
Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate, [22] and kept the feast of unleavened bread
seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the
heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work
of the house of God, the God of Israel.
