1 Then the prophets,5029 Haggai2292 the prophet,5029 and Zechariah2148 the son1247 of Iddo,5714 prophesied5013 unto5922 the Jews3062 that1768 were in Judah3061 and Jerusalem3390 in the name8036 of the God426 of Israel,3479 even unto5922 them.

2 Then116 rose up6966 Zerubbabel2217 the son1247 of Shealtiel,7598 and Jeshua3443 the son1247 of Jozadak,3136 and began8271 to build1124 the house1005 of God426 which1768 is at Jerusalem:3390 and with5974 them were the prophets5029 of1768 God426 helping5583 them.

3 At the same time2166 came858 to5922 them Tatnai,8674 governor6347 on this side5675 the river,5103 and Shethar-boznai,8370 and their companions,3675 and said560 thus3652 unto them, Who4479 hath commanded7761 2942 you to build1124 this1836 house,1005 and to make up3635 this1836 wall?846

4 Then116 said560 we unto them after this manner,3660 What4479 are the names8036 of the men1400 that1768 make1124 this1836 building?1147

5 But the eye5870 of their God426 was1934 upon5922 the elders7868 of the Jews,3062 that they could not3809 cause them1994 to cease,989 till5705 the matter2941 came1946 to Darius:1868 and then116 they returned answer8421 by letter5407 concerning5922 this1836 matter.

6 The copy6573 of the letter104 that1768 Tatnai,8674 governor6347 on this side5675 the river,5103 and Shethar-boznai,8370 and his companions3675 the Apharsachites,671 which1768 were on this side5675 the river,5103 sent7972 unto5922 Darius1868 the king: 4430

7 They sent7972 a letter6600 unto5922 him, wherein1459 was written3790 thus;1836 Unto Darius1868 the king,4430 all3606 peace.8001

8 Be1934 it known3046 unto the king,4430 that1768 we went236 into the province4083 of Judea,3061 to the house1005 of the great7229 God,426 which1932 is built1124 with great1560 stones,69 and timber636 is laid7761 in the walls,3797 and this1791 work5673 goeth5648 fast on,629 and prospereth6744 in their hands.3028

9 Then116 asked7593 we those479 elders,7868 and said560 unto them thus,3660 Who4479 commanded7761 2942 you to build1124 this1836 house,1005 and to make up3635 these1836 walls?846

10 We asked7593 their names8036 also,638 to certify3046 thee, that1768 we might write3790 the names8036 of the men1400 that1768 were the chief7217 of them.

11 And thus3660 they returned8421 us answer,6600 saying,560 We586 are the servants5649 of1768 the God426 of heaven8065 and earth,772 and build1124 the house1005 that1768 was1934 built1124 these1836 many7690 years8140 ago,4481 6928 which a great7229 king4430 of Israel3479 built1124 and set up.3635

12 But3861 after4481 that1768 our fathers2 had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath,7265 426 8065 he gave3052 them1994 into the hand3028 of Nebuchadnezzar5020 the king4430 of Babylon,895 the Chaldean,3679 who destroyed5642 this1836 house,1005 and carried the people away1541 5972 into Babylon.895

13 But1297 in the first2298 year8140 of Cyrus3567 the king4430 of1768 Babylon895 the same king4430 Cyrus3567 made7761 a decree2942 to build1124 this1836 house1005 of God.426

14 And the vessels3984 also638 of1768 gold1722 and silver3702 of1768 the house1005 of God,426 which1768 Nebuchadnezzar5020 took5312 out of4481 the temple1965 that1768 was in Jerusalem,3390 and brought2987 them1994 into the temple1965 of1768 Babylon,895 those1994 did Cyrus3567 the king4430 take5312 out of4481 the temple1965 of1768 Babylon,895 and they were delivered3052 unto one, whose name8036 was Sheshbazzar,8340 whom1768 he had made7761 governor;6347

15 And said560 unto him, Take5376 these459 vessels,3984 go,236 carry5182 them1994 into the temple1965 that1768 is in Jerusalem,3390 and let the house1005 of God426 be built1124 in5922 his place.870

16 Then116 came858 the same1791 Sheshbazzar,8340 and laid3052 the foundation787 of1768 the house1005 of God426 which1768 is in Jerusalem:3390 and since4481 that time116 even until5705 now3705 hath it been in building,1124 and yet it is not3809 finished.8000

17 Now3705 therefore, if2006 it seem good2869 to5922 the king,4430 let there be search made1240 in the king's4430 treasure1596 house,1005 which1768 is there8536 at Babylon,895 whether2006 it be383 so, that1768 a decree2942 was made7761 of4481 Cyrus3567 the king4430 to build1124 this1791 house1005 of God426 at Jerusalem,3390 and let the king4430 send7972 his pleasure7470 to5922 us concerning5922 this matter.1836