Ezra Chapter 5

Ezra Chapter 5
1 Then Haggai a prophet and Zechariah
the son of Iddo a prophet prophesied
unto the Jews that were in Judah, and
Jerusalem, in the name of the God of
Israel, even unto them.
2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose, and
began to build the house of God at
Jerusalem, and with them were the
prophets of God, which helped them.
3 At the same time came to them Tatnai,
which was captain beyond the river, and
Shether-boznai and their companions,
and said thus unto them, Who hath given
you commandment to build this house,
and to lay the foundations of these
walls?
4 Then said we unto them after this
manner, What are the names of the men
that build this building?
5 But 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 answered by
letters there unto.
6 The copy of the letter, that Tatnai
captain beyond the river, and
Shetherboznai and his companions,
Apharsachites [Persians], (which were
beyond the river) sent unto king Darius.
7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein it
was written thus, Unto Darius the king,
all peace.
8 Be 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 beams are laid in
the walls, and this work is wrought
speedily, and prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those elders, and said
unto them thus, Who hath given you
commandment to build this house, and to
lay the foundation of these walls?
10 We asked their names also, that we
might certify thee , and that we might
write the names of the men that were
their rulers.
11 But they answered us thus, and said,
We are the servants of the God of
heaven and earth, and build the house
that was built of old and many years
ago, which a great king of Israel builded,
and founded it.
12 But after that our fathers had
provoked the God of heaven unto wrath,
he gave them over into the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the
Chaldean, and he destroyed this house,
and carried the people away captive
unto Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of
Babylon, king Cyrus made a decree to
build this house of God.
14 And the vessels 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 gave them unto one
Sheshbazzar by his name, whom he had
made captain.
15 And he said unto him, Take these
vessels and go thy way, and put them in
the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let
the house of God be built in his place.
16 Then 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, yet is it not finished.
17 Now therefore if it please the king,
let there be search made in the house of
the king's treasures, which is there in
Babylon, whether a decree hath been
made by king Cyrus, to build this house
of God in Jerusalem, and let the king
send his mind concerning this.