Ezra

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

1Two prophets spoke to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says. Their names were Haggai and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. They spoke in the name of the God of Israel.

2Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

2So Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak got up. They began to build God's house in Jerusalem again. God's prophets were right there helping them.

3At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

3Just then Tattenai came to see them. He was the governor of the land west of the Euphrates River. Shethar-bozenai and their helpers came too. They asked, "Who told you that you could build this temple and finish this wall?"

Note"On this side the river" in the old wording means the land west of the Euphrates River. That was one big region of the Persian empire.

4Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

4They also asked, "What are the names of the men doing this building work?"

5But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

5But God was watching over the leaders of the Jews. So no one made them stop working. The question went to King Darius instead. Later a letter came back with his answer.

6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

6Here is the letter that was sent to King Darius. It came from Tattenai, the governor of the land west of the river. Shethar-bozenai and their helpers, the officials there, sent it too.

7They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

7This is what the letter said: "To King Darius. We wish you every peace.

8Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

8"The king should know that we went to the province of Judah. We went to the house of the great God. The people are building it with big stones. They are setting heavy wooden beams into the walls. The work is going well and moving fast.

Note"Prospereth in their hands" is old English for "is going well for them."

9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

9"So we asked their leaders this question: "Who told you that you could build this temple and finish these walls?"

10We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

10"We asked their names too, so we could write them down for you. That way you would know who their leaders are.

11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

11"This is the answer they gave us: "We serve the God of heaven and earth. We are building the temple again. It was built many years ago by a great king of Israel, who finished it.

12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

12"But our fathers made the God of heaven angry. So he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar knocked down this temple. He took the people away to Babylon.

13But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

13"But in his first year as king, Cyrus king of Babylon gave an order. He said this house of God should be built again.

14And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

14"Nebuchadnezzar had taken the gold and silver bowls and cups from God's house in Jerusalem. He had put them in the temple in Babylon. King Cyrus took them back out again. He gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he made governor.

15And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

15"Cyrus said to him, "Take these bowls and cups. Carry them to the temple in Jerusalem. And let God's house be built again on the same spot."

16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

16"So Sheshbazzar came and laid the base of God's house in Jerusalem. From that time until now, people have been building it. But it is still not finished."

17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

17"So now, if it pleases the king, please have someone look. Search the king's records kept in Babylon. See if King Cyrus really did give this order to build God's house in Jerusalem. Then send us word about what you decide."

NoteThe "king's treasure house" was where Persian kings kept both valuables and important written records, like old orders and laws.