Cyrus

22Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, God's word through Jeremiah came true. The LORD stirred up Cyrus to make an announcement. Cyrus sent it all through his kingdom and also wrote it down.

23Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

Cyrus, king of Persia, said this: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has told me to build him a house in Jerusalem, in Judah. Is anyone here one of his people? May the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up there."

1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

Cyrus was the king of Persia. In his first year as king, God moved his heart. This made true what God had said long ago through Jeremiah, a man who told people God's words. Cyrus sent a message all through his kingdom. He also wrote it down. This is what it said:

2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

"King Cyrus of Persia says this. The LORD, the God of heaven, gave me every kingdom on earth. He has told me to build him a house in Jerusalem, a city in Judah.

3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

Are any of God's people here? May God be with each one. Let him go to Jerusalem in Judah. Let him build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel. He is the God whose house is in Jerusalem.

4And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

Some of God's people may stay where they live now. Their neighbors should help them. Give them silver, gold, goods, and farm animals. Give gifts for God's house in Jerusalem too."

5Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin got ready to go. The priests and the Levites got ready too. Everyone whose heart God had stirred got ready. They would go build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

6And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

All their neighbors helped them. They gave silver and gold things. They gave goods, farm animals, and other valuable things. They gave many gifts on top of that.

7Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

King Cyrus also brought out the bowls and dishes from the LORD's house. King Nebuchadnezzar had taken them from Jerusalem long before. He had put them in the temple of his own gods.

8Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

Cyrus had his treasurer, Mithredath, bring them out. A treasurer is the man who takes care of the king's money. Mithredath counted them out for Sheshbazzar, the leader of Judah.

9And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

Here is the list. There were 30 gold dishes and 1,000 silver dishes. There were also 29 silver knives.

10Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.

There were 30 gold bowls. There were 410 matching silver bowls. There were 1,000 other things too.

11All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

All the gold and silver things added up to 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them along. He went with the people who traveled home from Babylon to Jerusalem.

7They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

They paid money to the stone workers and the wood workers. They gave food, drink, and olive oil to the men of Sidon and Tyre. Those men brought cedar logs down from Lebanon. The logs came by sea to the town of Joppa. King Cyrus of Persia had given them permission to do this.

8Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

They had come back to God's house in Jerusalem. In the second month of the next year, the work began. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, the priests, the Levites, and all who came home started it. Levites were men who helped the priests with temple work. They chose Levites who were twenty years old or older. These men would watch over the building work.

9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

So Jeshua worked with his sons and his brothers. Kadmiel and his sons worked with them. The sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers helped too. All of them were Levites. Together they watched over the workers on God's house.

10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

The builders laid the base of the temple. Then the priests put on their special clothes and took up trumpets. The Levites, the sons of Asaph, took up cymbals. Cymbals are round metal plates you clap together. They all stood ready to praise the LORD. They did it the way King David had told them long ago.

11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

They sang back and forth to each other, praising and thanking the LORD. They sang, "He is good. His faithful love for Israel lasts forever." Then all the people gave a huge shout of praise. They shouted because the base of the LORD's house was laid.

12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

Many older priests, Levites, and family leaders had seen the first temple. When they saw this new base, they cried out loud. But many other people shouted with joy.

13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

The noise was so loud that no one could tell the sounds apart. The happy shouts and the crying sounded like one big noise. People far away could hear it.

1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

Some people nearby did not like Judah and Benjamin. They heard that the people who had come home from far away were building a temple. A temple is a special house for worship. This one was for the LORD, the God of Israel.

2Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

So they came to Zerubbabel and to the leaders of the families. They said, "Let us build with you. We look for your God, just like you do. We have brought gifts to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here."

3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel said no. They said, "You have no part in building a house for our God. We will build it ourselves for the LORD, the God of Israel. King Cyrus of Persia told us to do it."

4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

So the people of that land tried to stop them. They made the people of Judah lose heart and feel afraid to build.

5And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

They paid officials to work against them and spoil their plans. They kept doing this all through the time of King Cyrus of Persia. It went on until Darius became king of Persia.

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

"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;

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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."

1Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

So King Darius gave an order. Workers searched the room in Babylon where old records were kept.

2And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:

They found a scroll at Achmetha, a fort in the land of Media. This is what it said:

3In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

In King Cyrus's first year, he gave an order about God's house in Jerusalem. He said to build it again as a place to offer sacrifices. Its base was to be laid strong. It was to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide.

4With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:

It was to have three layers of big cut stones and one layer of new wood. The king's treasury would pay for it all.

5And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

Also, the gold and silver bowls from God's house must be returned. Nebuchadnezzar had taken them from Jerusalem to Babylon. Each one must go back to its own place in God's house.

24Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

The LORD bought you back. He formed you before you were born. He says: I am the LORD. I made everything there is. I spread out the heavens by myself. I spread out the earth all alone.

25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

I ruin the signs that liars give. I make fortune tellers look foolish. I turn clever people around. I make their smart ideas silly.

26That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

I make my servant's words come true. I do what my messengers said I would do. I say about Jerusalem, "People will live there again." I say about the towns of Judah, "They will be built again. I will fix the broken places."

27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

I say to the deep water, "Dry up. I will dry up your rivers."

28That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

I say about Cyrus, "He is my shepherd. He will do everything I want." He will say about Jerusalem, "It will be built again." He will say about the temple, "Lay its foundation."

1Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, the king he chose for a job. "I have held your right hand. I will help you win over nations. I will take the strength away from kings. I will open the doors ahead of you, and the gates will not be shut."

2I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

"I will go ahead of you. I will make the rough places smooth. I will smash gates made of bronze. I will cut through bars made of iron."

3And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

"I will give you treasure hidden in dark and secret places. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I am the God of Israel, and I call you by your name."

4For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

"I call you by name for the sake of my servant Jacob. Israel is the people I chose. I gave you a name of honor, even though you do not know me."

5I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

"I am the LORD, and there is no other. There is no God but me. I make you strong for battle, even though you do not know me."

6That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

"Then people will know, from where the sun comes up to where it goes down. There is no God but me. I am the LORD, and there is no other."

7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

"I make the light, and I make the dark. I bring good times, and I bring hard times. I, the LORD, do all these things."

8Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

"Rain down, you heavens above. Let the sky pour down what is right. Let the ground open up so that saving help grows. Let goodness grow up with it. I, the LORD, have made this happen."

9Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Trouble comes to anyone who argues with God, who made him. He is only one clay pot among many clay pots. Does the clay ask the potter, "What are you making?" Does the pot say, "You have no hands"?

10Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

Trouble comes to the one who says to his father, "Why did you have a child?" Or who says to his mother, "Why did you give me birth?"

11Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

This is what the LORD says. He is the Holy One of Israel, and he made them. "How can you question me about my children? How can you tell me what to do with the things my hands have made?"

12I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

"I made the earth. I made people to live on it. My own hands spread out the heavens. I gave orders to all the stars."

13I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

"I will raise up Cyrus to do what is right. I will make all his paths straight. He will build my city again. He will set my captured people free. He will not do it for money or a prize," says the LORD, who rules over all the armies of heaven.