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

2 Then116 rose6965 up Zerubbabel2217 the son1247 of Shealtiel,7597 and Jeshua3443 the son1247 of Jozadak,3136 and began8271 to build1124 the house1005 of God426 which1768 is at Jerusalem:3390 and with them were the prophets5029 of God426 helping5582 them.

3 At the same time2166 came858 to them Tatnai,8674 governor6347 on this side5675 the river,5103 and Shetharboznai 8370and their companions,3675 and said560 thus3652 to them, Who4479 has commanded7761 2942 you to build1124 this1836 house,1005 and to make3635 up this1836 wall?846

4 Then116 said560 we to them after this3660 manner, What4479 are the names8036 of the men1400 that make1124 this1836 building?1147

5 But the eye5870 of their God426 was on the elders7868 of the Jews,3062 that they could not cause them to cease,989 till5705 the matter2941 came1946 to Darius:1868 and then116 they returned8421 answer8421 by letter5407 concerning5922 this1836 matter.

6 The copy6573 of the letter104 that Tatnai,8674 governor6347 on this side5675 the river,5103 and Shetharboznai 8370and his companions3675 the Apharsachites,671 which1768 were on this side5675 the river,5103 sent7972 to Darius1868 the king:4430

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

8 Be it known3046 to the king,4430 that we went236 into the province4083 of Judea,3061 to the house1005 of the great7229 God,426 which1931 is built1124 with great1560 stones,69 and timber636 is laid7760 in the walls,3797 and this1791 work5673 goes5648 fast629 on, and prospers6744 in their hands.3028

9 Then116 asked7593 we those479 elders,7868 and said560 to them thus,3660 Who4479 commanded7761 2942 you to build1124 this1836 house,1005 and to make3635 up these1836 walls?846

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

11 And thus3660 they returned8421 us answer,6600 saying,560 We are the servants5649 of the God426 of heaven8065 and earth,772 and build1124 the house1005 that was built1124 these1836 many7690 years8140 ago,6928 which a great7229 king4430 of Israel3479 built1124 and set3635 up.

12 But after4481 that our fathers2 had provoked7265 the God426 of heaven8065 to wrath,7265 he gave3052 them into the hand3028 of Nebuchadnezzar5020 the king4430 of Babylon,895 the Chaldean,3777 who destroyed5642 this1836 house,1005 and carried1541 the people5972 away1541 into Babylon.895

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

14 And the vessels3984 also638 of gold1722 and silver3702 of the house1005 of God,426 which1768 Nebuchadnezzar5020 took5312 out of the temple1965 that was in Jerusalem,3390 and brought2987 them into the temple1965 of Babylon,895 those1994 did Cyrus3567 the king4430 take5312 out of the temple1965 of Babylon,895 and they were delivered3052 to one, whose name8036 was Sheshbazzar,8339 whom1768 he had made7761 governor;6347

15 And said560 to him, Take5376 these412 vessels,3984 go,236 carry5182 them into the temple1965 that is in Jerusalem,3390 and let the house1005 of God426 be built1124 in his place.870

16 Then116 came858 the same1791 Sheshbazzar,8339 and laid3052 the foundation787 of the house1005 of God426 which1768 is in Jerusalem:3390 and since4481 that time116 even until5704 now3705 has it been in building,1124 and yet it is not finished.8000

17 Now3705 therefore, if2006 it seem good2869 to the king,4430 let there be search1240 made in the king's4430 treasure1596 house,1005 which1768 is there8536 at Babylon,895 whether2006 it be so, that a decree2942 was made7761 of Cyrus3567 the king4430 to build1124 this1791 house1005 of God426 at Jerusalem,3390 and let the king4430 send7972 his pleasure7470 to us concerning5922 this1836 matter.1836