1 Now when the adversaries6862 of Judah3063 and Benjamin1144 heard8085 that the children1121 of the captivity1473 built1129 the temple1964 to the LORD3068 God430 of Israel;3478

2 Then they came5066 to Zerubbabel,2216 and to the chief7218 of the fathers,1 and said559 to them, Let us build1129 with you: for we seek1875 your God,430 as you do; and we do sacrifice2076 to him since the days3117 of Esarhaddon634 king4428 of Assur,804 which brought5927 us up here.

3 But Zerubbabel,2216 and Jeshua,3442 and the rest7605 of the chief7218 of the fathers1 of Israel,3478 said559 to them, You have nothing3808 to do with us to build1129 an house1004 to our God;430 but we ourselves587 together3162 will build1129 to the LORD3068 God430 of Israel,3478 as king4428 Cyrus3566 the king4428 of Persia6539 has commanded6680 us.

4 Then the people5971 of the land776 weakened7503 the hands3027 of the people5971 of Judah,3063 and troubled1089 them in building,1129

5 And hired7936 counsellors3289 against5921 them, to frustrate656 their purpose,6098 all3605 the days3117 of Cyrus3566 king4428 of Persia,6539 even until5704 the reign4438 of Darius1867 king4428 of Persia.6539

6 And in the reign4438 of Ahasuerus,325 in the beginning8462 of his reign,4438 wrote3789 they to him an accusation7855 against5921 the inhabitants3427 of Judah3063 and Jerusalem.3389

7 And in the days3117 of Artaxerxes783 wrote3789 Bishlam,1312 Mithredath,4990 Tabeel,2870 and the rest7605 of their companions,3675 to Artaxerxes783 king4430 of Persia;6539 and the writing3791 of the letter5406 was written3789 in the Syrian762 tongue,762 and interpreted8638 in the Syrian762 tongue.762

8 Rehum7348 the chancellor1169 2942 and Shimshai8124 the scribe5613 wrote3790 a letter104 against5922 Jerusalem3390 to Artaxerxes783 the king4430 in this3660 sort:3660

9 Then116 wrote Rehum7348 the chancellor,1169 2942 and Shimshai8124 the scribe,5613 and the rest7606 of their companions;3675 the Dinaites,1784 the Apharsathchites,671 the Tarpelites,2967 the Apharsites,670 the Archevites,756 the Babylonians,896 the Susanchites,7801 the Dehavites,1723 and the Elamites,5962

10 And the rest7606 of the nations524 whom1768 the great7229 and noble3358 Asnapper620 brought1541 over,1541 and set3488 in the cities5892 of Samaria,8115 and the rest7606 that are on this side5675 the river,5103 and at such3706 a time.

11 This1836 is the copy6573 of the letter104 that they sent7972 to him, even to Artaxerxes783 the king;4430 Your servants5649 the men606 on this side5675 the river,5103 and at such3706 a time.

12 Be it known3046 to the king,4430 that the Jews3062 which1768 came5559 up from you to us are come858 to Jerusalem,3390 building1124 the rebellious4779 and the bad873 city,7149 and have set3635 up the walls7791 thereof, and joined2338 the foundations.787

13 Be it known3046 now3705 to the king,4430 that, if2006 this1791 city7149 be built,1124 and the walls7791 set3635 up again, then will they not pay5415 toll,4061 tribute,1093 and custom,1983 and so you shall damage5142 the revenue674 of the kings.4430

14 Now3705 because3606 we have maintenance4415 from the king's4430 palace,1964 and it was not meet749 for us to see2370 the king's4430 dishonor,6173 therefore5921 1836 have we sent7972 and certified3046 the king;4430

15 That search1240 may be made in the book5609 of the records1799 of your fathers:2 so shall you find7912 in the book5609 of the records,1799 and know3046 that this1791 city7149 is a rebellious4779 city,7149 and hurtful5142 to kings4430 and provinces,4083 and that they have moved5648 sedition849 within4481 the same1459 of old5957 time:3118 for which1836 cause was this1791 city7149 destroyed.2718

16 We certify3046 the king4430 that, if2006 this1791 city7149 be built1124 again, and the walls7791 thereof set3635 up, by this1836 means6903 you shall have383 no3809 portion2508 on this side5675 the river.5103

17 Then sent7972 the king4430 an answer6600 to Rehum7348 the chancellor,1169 2942 and to Shimshai8124 the scribe,5613 and to the rest7606 of their companions3675 that dwell3488 in Samaria,8115 and to the rest7606 beyond5675 the river,5103 Peace,8001 and at such3706 a time.

18 The letter5407 which1768 you sent7972 to us has been plainly6568 read7123 before6925 me.

19 And I commanded,7761 2942 and search1240 has been made, and it is found7912 that this1791 city7149 of old5957 time3118 has made insurrection5376 against5922 kings,4430 and that rebellion4776 and sedition849 have been made5648 therein.

20 There have1934 been1934 mighty8624 kings4430 also over5922 Jerusalem,3390 which have ruled7990 over all3606 countries beyond5675 the river;5103 and toll,4061 tribute,1093 and custom,1983 was paid3052 to them.

21 Give7761 you now3705 commandment2942 to cause these479 men1400 to cease,989 and that this1791 city7149 be not built,1124 until5704 another commandment2941 shall be given7761 from me.

22 Take2095 heed2095 now that you fail7960 not to do5648 this:1836 why4101 should damage2257 grow7680 to the hurt5142 of the kings?4430

23 Now116 when4481 1768 the copy6573 of king4430 Artaxerxes'783 letter5407 was read7123 before6925 Rehum,7348 and Shimshai8124 the scribe,5613 and their companions,3675 they went236 up in haste924 to Jerusalem3390 to the Jews,3062 and made them to cease989 by force153 and power.2429

24 Then116 ceased989 the work5673 of the house1005 of God426 which1768 is at Jerusalem.3390 So it ceased1934 989 to the second8648 year8140 of the reign4437 of Darius1868 king4430 of Persia.6540