1 Now when the adversaries{H6862} of Judah{H3063} and Benjamin{H1144} heard{H8085}{(H8799)} that the children{H1121} of the captivity{H1473} builded{H1129}{(H8802)} the temple{H1964} unto the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478};

2 Then they came{H5066}{(H8799)} to Zerubbabel{H2216}, and to the chief{H7218} of the fathers{H1}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Let us build{H1129}{(H8799)} with you: for we seek{H1875}{(H8799)} your God{H430}, as ye do; and we do sacrifice{H2076}{(H8802)} unto him since the days{H3117} of Esarhaddon{H634} king{H4428} of Assur{H804}, which brought us up hither{H5927}{(H8688)}.

3 But Zerubbabel{H2216}, and Jeshua{H3442}, and the rest{H7605} of the chief{H7218} of the fathers{H1} of Israel{H3478}, said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build{H1129}{(H8800)} an house{H1004} unto our God{H430}; but we ourselves together{H3162} will build{H1129}{(H8799)} unto the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, as king{H4428} Cyrus{H3566} the king{H4428} of Persia{H6539} hath commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} us.

4 Then the people{H5971} of the land{H776} weakened{H7503}{(H8764)} the hands{H3027} of the people{H5971} of Judah{H3063}, and troubled{H926}{(H8764)}{(H8675)}{H1089}{(H8764)} them in building{H1129}{(H8800)},

5 And hired{H7936}{(H8802)} counsellors{H3289}{(H8802)} against them, to frustrate{H6565}{(H8687)} their purpose{H6098}, all the days{H3117} of Cyrus{H3566} king{H4428} of Persia{H6539}, even until the reign{H4438} of Darius{H1867} king{H4428} of Persia{H6539}.

6 And in the reign{H4438} of Ahasuerus{H325}, in the beginning{H8462} of his reign{H4438}, wrote{H3789}{(H8804)} they unto him an accusation{H7855} against the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem{H3389}.

7 And in the days{H3117} of Artaxerxes{H783} wrote{H3789}{(H8804)} Bishlam{H1312}, Mithredath{H4990}, Tabeel{H2870}, and the rest{H7605} of their companions{H3674}, unto Artaxerxes{H783} king{H4428} of Persia{H6539}; and the writing{H3791} of the letter{H5406} was written{H3789}{(H8803)} in the Syrian tongue{H762}, and interpreted{H8638}{(H8794)} in the Syrian tongue{H762}.

8 Rehum{H7348} the chancellor{H1169}{H2942} and Shimshai{H8124} the scribe{H5613} wrote{H3790}{(H8754)} a{H2298} letter{H104} against{H5922} Jerusalem{H3390} to Artaxerxes{H783} the king{H4430} in this sort{H3660}:

9 Then{H116} wrote Rehum{H7348} the chancellor{H1169}{H2942}, and Shimshai{H8124} the scribe{H5613}, and the rest{H7606} of their companions{H3675}; the Dinaites{H1784}, the Apharsathchites{H671}, the Tarpelites{H2967}, the Apharsites{H670}, the Archevites{H756}, the Babylonians{H896}, the Susanchites{H7801}, the Dehavites{H1723}, and the Elamites{H5962},

10 And the rest{H7606} of the nations{H524} whom{H1768} the great{H7229} and noble{H3358} Asnappar{H620} brought over{H1541}{(H8684)}, and set{H3488}{(H8684)}{H1994} in the cities{H7149} of Samaria{H8115}, and the rest{H7606} that are on this side{H5675} the river{H5103}, and at such a time{H3706}.

11 This{H1836} is the copy{H6573} of the letter{H104} that{H1768} they sent{H7972}{(H8754)} unto him{H5922}, even unto Artaxerxes{H783} the king{H4430}; Thy servants{H5649} the men{H606} on this side{H5675} the river{H5103}, and at such a time{H3706}.

12 Be it{H1934}{(H8748)} known{H3046}{(H8752)} unto the king{H4430}, that the Jews{H3062} which{H1768} came up{H5559}{(H8760)} from{H4481} thee{H3890} to us{H5922} are come{H858}{(H8754)} unto Jerusalem{H3390}, building{H1124}{(H8750)} the rebellious{H4779} and the bad{H873} city{H7149}, and have set up{H3635}{(H8806)}{(H8675)}{H3635}{(H8720)} the walls{H7792} thereof, and joined{H2338}{(H8681)} the foundations{H787}.

13 Be it known{H3046}{(H8752)}{H1934}{(H8748)} now{H3705} unto the king{H4430}, that, if{H2006} this{H1791} city{H7149} be builded{H1124}{(H8731)}, and the walls{H7792} set up{H3635}{(H8720)} again, then will they not{H3809} pay{H5415}{(H8748)} toll{H4061}, tribute{H1093}, and custom{H1983}, and so thou shalt endamage{H5142}{(H8681)} the revenue{H674} of the kings{H4430}.

14 Now{H3705} because{H6903}{H3606} we have{H1768} maintenance{H4415}{(H8754)}{H4416} from the king's palace{H1965}, and it was not{H3809} meet{H749}{(H8750)} for us to see{H2370}{(H8749)} the king's{H4430} dishonour{H6173}, therefore{H5922}{H1836} have we sent{H7972}{(H8754)} and certified{H3046}{(H8684)} the king{H4430};

15 That search{H1240}{(H8741)} may be made in the book{H5609} of the records{H1799} of thy fathers{H2}: so shalt thou find{H7912}{(H8681)} in the book{H5609} of the records{H1799}, and know{H3046}{(H8748)} that this{H1791} city{H7149} is a rebellious{H4779} city{H7149}, and hurtful{H5142}{(H8683)} unto kings{H4430} and provinces{H4083}, and that they have moved{H5648}{(H8751)} sedition{H849} within the same{H1459} of{H4481} old{H5957} time{H3118}: for{H5922} which{H1836} cause was this{H1791} city{H7149} destroyed{H2718}{(H8717)}.

16 We{H586} certify{H3046}{(H8683)} the king{H4430} that, if{H2006} this{H1791} city{H7149} be builded{H1124}{(H8731)} again, and the walls{H7792} thereof set up{H3635}{(H8720)}, by this{H1836} means{H6903} thou shalt have{H383} no{H3809} portion{H2508} on this side{H5675} the river{H5103}.

17 Then sent{H7972}{(H8754)} the king{H4430} an answer{H6600} unto{H5922} Rehum{H7348} the chancellor{H1169}{H2942}, and to Shimshai{H8124} the scribe{H5613}, and to the rest{H7606} of their companions{H3675} that dwell{H3488}{(H8750)} in Samaria{H8115}, and unto the rest{H7606} beyond{H5675} the river{H5103}, Peace{H8001}, and at such a time{H3706}.

18 The letter{H5407} which ye sent{H7972}{(H8754)} unto us{H5922} hath been plainly{H6568}{(H8744)} read{H7123}{(H8752)} before{H6925} me.

19 And I{H4481} commanded{H7761}{(H8752)}{H2942}, and search{H1240}{(H8745)} hath been made, and it is found{H7912}{(H8684)} that this{H1791} city{H7149} of{H4481} old{H5957} time{H3118} hath made insurrection{H5376}{(H8723)} against{H5922} kings{H4430}, and that rebellion{H4776} and sedition{H849} have been made{H5648}{(H8727)} therein.

20 There have been{H1934}{(H8754)} mighty{H8624} kings{H4430} also over{H5922} Jerusalem{H3390}, which have ruled{H7990} over all{H3606} countries beyond{H5675} the river{H5103}; and toll{H4061}, tribute{H1093}, and custom{H1983}, was paid{H3052}{(H8727)} unto them.

21 Give{H7761}{(H8747)} ye now{H3705} commandment{H2942} to cause{H989} these{H479} men{H1400} to cease{H989}{(H8749)}, and that this{H1791} city{H7149} be not{H3809} builded{H1124}{(H8731)}, until{H5705} another commandment{H2941} shall be given{H7761}{(H8725)} from me{H4481}.

22 Take heed{H1934}{(H8747)}{H2095}{(H8750)} now that ye fail{H7960} not to do{H5922}{H5648}{(H8749)} this{H1836}: why{H4101} should damage{H2257} grow{H7680}{(H8748)} to the hurt{H5142}{(H8682)} of the kings{H4430}?

23 Now{H116} when{H4481}{H1768} the copy{H6573} of king{H4430} Artaxerxes{H783}' letter{H5407} was read{H7123}{(H8752)} before{H6925} Rehum{H7348}, and Shimshai{H8124} the scribe{H5613}, and their companions{H3675}, they went up{H236}{(H8754)} in haste{H924} to Jerusalem{H3390} unto{H5922} the Jews{H3062}, and made them{H1994} to cease{H989}{(H8754)} by force{H153} and power{H2429}.

24 Then{H116} ceased{H989}{(H8754)} the work{H5673} of the house{H1005} of God{H426} which is at Jerusalem{H3390}. So it ceased{H1934}{(H8754)}{H989}{(H8750)} unto{H5705} the second{H8648} year{H8140} of the reign{H4437} of Darius{H1868} king{H4430} of Persia{H6540}.