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Ezra 4
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1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel;
1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people who had returned from exile were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
2then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ houses, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither.
2they went to Zerubbabel and the family leaders. They said, 'Let us help you build, because we worship your God just as you do. We have been sacrificing to him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.'
3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the family leaders of Israel answered, 'You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.'
4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
4Then the local people began to discourage the people of Judah and made them afraid to keep building.
5and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
5They even hired officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia, until King Darius of Persia took the throne.
6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
6At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, these enemies wrote a formal accusation against the people living in Judah and Jerusalem.
7And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue.
7Later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their colleagues wrote a letter to the king. It was written in Aramaic script and translated into the Aramaic language.
8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
8Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
9then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
9It was from Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary, and the rest of their associates—the judges, officials, and local leaders from Erech, Babylon, Susa (that is, the Elamites),
10and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth.
10and the other nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in the province west of the Euphrates River.
11This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.
11This is a copy of the letter they sent him: 'To King Artaxerxes, from your servants in the province west of the Euphrates River:
12Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
12The king should know that the Jews who came from you have arrived in Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.
13Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings.
13In addition, the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will stop paying their taxes, tribute, and tolls. This will eventually result in a loss for the royal treasury.
14Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
14Now, since we are loyal to the palace and it is not right for us to watch the king be insulted, we are sending this information to the king.
15that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste.
15We suggest that a search be made in the records of your ancestors. You will find in those records that this city is a rebellious city, causing trouble for kings and provinces. It has a history of revolts from ancient times, which is why the city was destroyed.
16We certify the king that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by this means thou shalt have no portion beyond the River.
16We are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will have nothing left in the province west of the Euphrates River.'
17Thensent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
17The king sent this reply: 'To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary, and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates River: Greetings.
18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
18The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
19And I decreed, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
19I gave orders to search the records, and it was discovered that Jerusalem has a long history of rebelling against kings and being a place of revolt and sedition.
20There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid unto them.
20Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, and taxes, tribute, and tolls were paid to them.
21Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.
21Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop their work. This city is not to be rebuilt until I give the command.
22And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
22Be careful not to be lazy about this. Why should we let the damage increase and hurt the royal interests?'
23Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
23As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the secretary, and their associates, they rushed to Jerusalem and used force to make the Jews stop their work.