Ezra 5

1 And he prophesied Haggai (prophet the *Q(K)*) and Zechariah [the] son of Iddo (prophets the *Q(k)*) to Jews the who [were] in Judah and in Jerusalem in [the] name of [the] God of Israel [who was] over them.

Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel.

2 Then they arose Zerubbabel [the] son of Shealtiel and Jeshua [the] son of Jozadak and they began to build [the] house of God which [is] in Jerusalem and [were] with them (prophets the *Q(k)*) of God supporting them.

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

3 At it time the he came to them Tattenai [the] governor of [the] region beyond river the and Shethar-Bozenai and associates their and as follows [they were] saying to them who? did he make for you a decree house the this to build and structure the this to finish.

At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?”

4 Then as follows we said to them what? [are] they [the] names of men the who this building the [are] building.

They also asked for the names of the men who were making this building.

5 And [the] eye of God their it was on [the] elders of Jews the and not they made cease them until report the to Darius it will come and then they will send back letter the concerning this.

But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

6 copy of Letter the which he sent Tattenai - [the] governor of [the] region beyond river the and Shethar-Bozenai and associates his officials the who [were] in [the] region beyond river the to Darius king the.

The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows.

7 Word the they sent to him and according to this it was written in midst its to Darius king the peace the all.

They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.

8 Known - let it be to king the that we went to Judea province the to [the] house of God the great and it [is] being built stone of rolling and timber [is] being set in walls the and work the this diligently [is] being done and [is] prospering in hand their.

Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.

9 Then we asked to elders the these as follows we said to them who? did he make for you a decree house the this to build and structure the this to finish.

Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”

10 And also names their we asked (to them *LA(bh)*) to make known to you that we will write [the] name of men the who [are] at heads their.

We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.

11 And as follows word the they sent back to us to say we they [are] servants his of [the] God of heavens the and earth the and [we are] building house the which it was built from [the] former time of this years many and a king of Israel great he built it and he finished it.

Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.

12 But from that they enraged fathers our [the] God of heavens the he gave them in [the] hand of Nebuchadnezzar [the] king of Babylon (Chaldean the *Q(k)*) and house the this he destroyed it and people the he took into exile to Babylon.

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

13 Nevertheless in year one of Cyrus king the of Babylon Cyrus king the he made a decree [the] house of God this to build.

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

14 And also vessels the of [the] house of God of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar he had brought out from temple the which [was] in Jerusalem and he carried them to temple the of Babylon he brought out them Cyrus king the from temple the of Babylon and they were given to Sheshbazzar name his whom governor he had made him.

The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.

15 And he said to him - (these *Q(K)*) vessels the take! go! deposit! them in temple the which [is] in Jerusalem and [the] house of God let it be built on place its.

He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’

16 Then Sheshbazzar this he came he laid foundations the of [the] house of God which [is] in Jerusalem and from then and until now [it is] being built and not [it is] finished.

Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.

17 And now if to king the [it is] good let it be searched in [the] house of treasures the of king the there which [are] in Babylon whether there [is] that from Cyrus king the it was made [is] a decree to build [the] house of God this in Jerusalem and [the] will of king the concerning this let him send to us.

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