I Esdras - Chapter 6

1Esdr 6:1
Now in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and
Zacharias the son of Addo, the prophets, prophesied unto the
Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of
Israel, which was upon them.

1Esdr 6:2
Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the
son of Josedec, and began to build the house of the Lord at
Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping
them.

1Esdr 6:3
At the same time came unto them Sisinnes the governor of
Syria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and
said unto them,

1Esdr 6:4
By whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof,
and perform all the other things? and who are the workmen that
perform these things?

1Esdr 6:5
Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because
the Lord had visited the captivity;

1Esdr 6:6
And they were not hindered from building, until such time as
signification was given unto Darius concerning them, and an
answer received.

1Esdr 6:7
The copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and
Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, rulers in
Syria and Phenice, wrote and sent unto Darius; To king Darius,
greeting:

1Esdr 6:8
Let all things be known unto our lord the king, that being
come into the country of Judea, and entered into the city of
Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the
Jews that were of the captivity

1Esdr 6:9
Building an house unto the Lord, great and new, of hewn and
costly stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.

1Esdr 6:10
And those works are done with great speed, and the work goeth
on prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence
is it made.

1Esdr 6:11
Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment
build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?

1Esdr 6:12
Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto
thee by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers,
and we required of them the names in writing of their principal
men.

1Esdr 6:13
So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord
which made heaven and earth.

1Esdr 6:14
And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a
king of Israel great and strong, and was finished.

1Esdr 6:15
But when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, and sinned
against the Lord of Israel which is in heaven, he gave them over
into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the
Chaldees;

1Esdr 6:16
Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away
the people captives unto Babylon.

1Esdr 6:17
But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the
country of Babylon Cyrus the king wrote to build up this house.

1Esdr 6:18
And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that
Nabuchodonosor had carried away out of the house at Jerusalem,
and had set them in his own temple those Cyrus the king brought
forth again out of the temple at Babylon, and they weree
delivered to Zorobabel and to Sabassarus the ruler,

1Esdr 6:19
With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels,
and put them in the temple at Jerusalem; and that the temple of
the Lord should be built in his place.

1Esdr 6:20
Then the same Sanabassarus, being come hither, laid the
foundations of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; and from that
time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.

1Esdr 6:21
Now therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be
made among the records of king Cyrus:

1Esdr 6:22
And if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord
at Jerusalem hath been done with the consent of king Cyrus, and
if our lord the king be so minded, let him signify unto us
thereof.

1Esdr 6:23
Then commanded king Darius to seek among the records at
Babylon: and so at Ecbatane the palace, which is in the country
of Media, there was found a roll wherein these things were
recorded.

1Esdr 6:24
In the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded
that the house of the Lord at Jerusalem should be built again,
where they do sacrifice with continual fire:

1Esdr 6:25
Whose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty
cubits, with three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood
of that country; and the expences thereof to be given out of the
house of king Cyrus:

1Esdr 6:26
And that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of
gold and silver, that Nabuchodonosor took out of the house at
Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, should be restored to the
house at Jerusalem, and be set in the place where they were
before.

1Esdr 6:27
And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and
Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their companions, and those
which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should be
careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the
servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the elders of
the Jews, to build the house of the Lord in that place.

1Esdr 6:28
I have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and
that they look diligently to help those that be of the captivity
of the Jews, till the house of the e Lord be finished:

1Esdr 6:29
And out of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion
carefully to be given these men for the sacrifices of the Lord,
that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and
lambs;

1Esdr 6:30
And also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually
every year without further question, according as the priests
that be in Jerulem shall signify to be daily spent:

1Esdr 6:31
That offerings may be made to the most high God for the king
and for his children, and that they may pray for their lives.

1Esdr 6:32
And he commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or
make light of any thing afore spoken or written, out of his own
house should a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all
his goods seized for the king.

1Esdr 6:33
The Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly
destroy every king and nation, that stretcheth out his hand to
hinder or endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.

1Esdr 6:34
I Darius the king have ordained that according unto these
things it be done with diligence.