Ezra 5

1Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel prophesied they unto them.

1Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo began to prophesy to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.

2Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

2So Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak started rebuilding the house of God in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were right there helping them.

3At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

3But at that time, Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, along with Shethar-bozenai and their officials, went to them and asked, 'Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple and finish its walls?'

4Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.

4They also asked us for the names of the men who were leading the construction project.

5But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

5However, God was watching over the Jewish elders, so the officials did not stop the work until a report could reach King Darius and a written reply was sent back.

6The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king;

6This is a copy of the letter sent to King Darius by Tattenai the governor, Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow officials from the region west of the Euphrates River.

7they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.

7The report they sent said: 'To King Darius: All peace.

8Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands.

8'Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones and with timber being set into the walls. The work is being done carefully and is moving along quickly under their leadership.

9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?

9'We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish these walls?"

10We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.

10'We also asked for their names so that we could list the leaders for your information.

11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.

11'This is the answer they gave us: "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel finished.

12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

12'But because our ancestors made the God of heaven angry, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, the king of Babylon. He destroyed this temple and took the people away to Babylon as captives.

13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.

13'However, in the first year that Cyrus was king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

14And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

14'King Cyrus also took the gold and silver items from the temple of Babylon—items that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and put in the Babylonian temple. Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed as governor.

15and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.

15'Cyrus told him, "Take these items, go put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site."

16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed.

16'So Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that time until now the construction has been going on, but it is not yet finished.'

17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

17'Therefore, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon. See if King Cyrus really did issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then, let the king send us his decision on this matter.'