1 Then116 Darius1868 the king4430 made7761 a decree,2942 and search1240 was made in the house1005 of the rolls,5609 where8536 the treasures1596 were laid5182 up in Babylon.895

2 And there was found7912 at Achmetha,307 in the palace1002 that is in the province4082 of the Medes,4074 a roll,4040 and therein1459 was a record1799 thus3652 written:3790

3 In the first2298 year8140 of Cyrus3567 the king4430 the same Cyrus3567 the king4430 made7761 a decree2942 concerning the house1005 of God426 at Jerusalem,3390 Let the house1005 be built,1124 the place870 where1768 they offered1684 sacrifices,1685 and let the foundations787 thereof be strongly laid;5446 the height7312 thereof three score8361 cubits,521 and the breadth6613 thereof three score8361 cubits;521

4 With three8532 rows5073 of great1560 stones,69 and a row5073 of new2323 timber:636 and let the expenses5313 be given3052 out of the king's4430 house:1005

5 And also638 let the golden1722 and silver3702 vessels3984 of the house1005 of God,426 which1768 Nebuchadnezzar5020 took5312 forth5312 out of the temple1965 which is at Jerusalem,3390 and brought2987 to Babylon,895 be restored,8421 and brought1946 again1946 to the temple1965 which1768 is at Jerusalem,3390 every one to his place,870 and place5182 them in the house1005 of God.426

6 Now3705 therefore, Tatnai,8674 governor6347 beyond5675 the river,5103 Shetharboznai,8370 and your companions3675 the Apharsachites,671 which1768 are beyond5675 the river,5103 be you far7352 from there:8536

7 Let the work5673 of this1791 house1005 of God426 alone;7662 let the governor6347 of the Jews3062 and the elders7868 of the Jews3062 build1124 this1791 house1005 of God426 in his place.870

8 Moreover I make7761 a decree2942 what3964 1768 you shall do5648 to the elders7868 of these479 Jews3062 for the building1124 of this1791 house1005 of God:426 that of the king's4430 goods,5232 even of the tribute4061 beyond5675 the river,5103 immediately629 expenses5313 be given3052 to these479 men,1400 that they be not hindered.989

9 And that which they have need2818 of, both young1123 bullocks,8450 and rams,1798 and lambs,563 for the burnt5928 offerings of the God426 of heaven,8065 wheat,2591 salt,4416 wine,2562 and oil,4887 according to the appointment3983 of the priests3549 which1768 are at Jerusalem,3390 let it be given3052 them day3118 by day3118 without fail:7960

10 That they may offer7127 sacrifices of sweet5208 smells5208 to the God426 of heaven,8065 and pray6739 for the life2417 of the king,4430 and of his sons.1123

11 Also I have made7761 a decree,2942 that whoever3605 shall alter8133 this1836 word,6600 let timber636 be pulled5256 down from his house,1005 and being set2211 up, let him be hanged4223 thereon;5921 and let his house1005 be made5648 a dunghill5122 for this.1836

12 And the God426 that has caused his name8036 to dwell7932 there8536 destroy4049 all3606 kings4430 and people,5972 that shall put7972 to their hand3028 to alter8133 and to destroy2255 this1791 house1005 of God426 which1768 is at Jerusalem.3390 I Darius1868 have made7761 a decree;2942 let it be done5648 with speed.629

13 Then116 Tatnai,8674 governor6347 on this side5675 the river,5103 Shetharboznai,8370 and their companions,3675 according6903 to that which1768 Darius1868 the king4430 had sent,7972 so3660 they did speedily.629

14 And the elders7868 of the Jews3062 built,1124 and they prospered6744 through the prophesying5017 of Haggai2292 the prophet5029 and Zechariah2148 the son1247 of Iddo.5714 And they built,1124 and finished3635 it, according4481 to the commandment2941 of the God426 of Israel,3479 and according to the commandment2942 of Cyrus,3567 and Darius,1868 and Artaxerxes783 king4430 of Persia.6540

15 And this1836 house1005 was finished3319 on5705 the third8531 day3118 of the month3393 Adar,144 which1768 was in the sixth8353 year8140 of the reign4437 of Darius1868 the king.4430

16 And the children1121 of Israel,3479 the priests,3549 and the Levites,3879 and the rest7606 of the children1121 of the captivity,1547 kept5648 the dedication2597 of this1836 house1005 of God426 with joy.2305

17 And offered7127 at the dedication2597 of this1836 house1005 of God426 an hundred3969 bullocks,8450 two hundred3969 rams,1798 four703 hundred3969 lambs;563 and for a sin2409 offering for all3606 Israel,3479 twelve8648 6236 he goats,5796 according to the number4510 of the tribes7625 of Israel.3479

18 And they set6966 the priests3549 in their divisions,6392 and the Levites3879 in their courses,4255 for the service5673 of God,426 which1768 is at Jerusalem;3390 as it is written3792 in the book5609 of Moses.4872

19 And the children1121 of the captivity1473 kept6213 the passover6453 on the fourteenth702 6240 day of the first7223 month.2320

20 For the priests3548 and the Levites3881 were purified2891 together,259 all3605 of them were pure,2889 and killed7819 the passover6453 for all3605 the children1121 of the captivity,1473 and for their brothers251 the priests,3548 and for themselves.1992

21 And the children1121 of Israel,3478 which were come7725 again7725 out of captivity,1473 and all3605 such as had separated6395 themselves to them from the filthiness2932 of the heathen1471 of the land,776 to seek1875 the LORD3068 God430 of Israel,3478 did eat,398

22 And kept6213 the feast2282 of unleavened4682 bread seven7651 days3117 with joy:8057 for the LORD3068 had made them joyful,8055 and turned5437 the heart3820 of the king4428 of Assyria804 to them, to strengthen2388 their hands3027 in the work4399 of the house1004 of God,430 the God430 of Israel.3478