1 ¶ Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of
the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 And 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:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree
[concerning] the house of YAHUAH 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;
4 [With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the
expenses be given out of the king's house:
5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of YAHUAH, 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 YAHUAH.
6 Now [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your
companions the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river, be ye far from
thence:
7 Let the work of this house of YAHUAH alone; let the governor of the Jews and
the elders of the Jews build this house of YAHUAH in his place.
8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the
building of this house of YAHUAH: that of the king's goods, [even] of the
tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they
be not hindered.
9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs,
for the burnt offerings of YAHUAH of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil,
according to the appointment of the priests which [are] at Jerusalem, let it be
given them day by day without fail:
10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto YAHUAH of heaven, and
pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber
be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and
let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12 And YAHUAH that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and
people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of
YAHUAH which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with
speed.
13 ¶ Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their
companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did
speedily.
14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they
builded, and finished [it], according to the commandment of YAHUAH of IsraYAH,
and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of
Persia.
15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in
the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16 And the children of IsraYAH the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of YAHUAH with joy,
17 And offered at the dedication of this house of YAHUAH an hundred
bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all
IsraYAH, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of IsraYAH.
18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their
courses, for the service of YAHUAH, which [is] at Jerusalem; as it is written in
the book of Moses.
19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth [day]
of the first month.
20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them [were]
pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for
their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
21 And the children of IsraYAH, which were come again out of captivity, and all
such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of
the land, to seek YAHUAH YAHUAH of IsraYAH, did eat,
22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for YAHUAH had
made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to
strengthen their hands in the work of the house of YAHUAH, the YAHUAH of
YisraYAH.