Ezra 4

1 and to hear: hear enemy Judah and Benjamin for son: type of [the] captivity to build temple to/for LORD God Israel

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

2 and to approach: approach to(wards) Zerubbabel and to(wards) head: leader [the] father and to say to/for them to build with you for like/as you to seek to/for God your (and to/for him *Q(K)*) we to sacrifice from day Esarhaddon Esarhaddon king Assyria [the] to ascend: establish [obj] us here

they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

3 and to say to/for them Zerubbabel and Jeshua and remnant head: leader [the] father to/for Israel not to/for you and to/for us to/for to build house: temple to/for God our for we unitedness to build to/for LORD God Israel like/as as which to command us [the] king Cyrus king Persia

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

4 and to be people [the] land: country/planet to slacken hand people Judah (and to dismay *Q(K)*) [obj] them to/for to build

Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.

5 and to hire upon them to advise to/for to break counsel their all day Cyrus king Persia and till royalty Darius king Persia

They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 and in/on/with royalty Ahasuerus in/on/with beginning royalty his to write accusation upon to dwell Judah and Jerusalem

At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 and in/on/with day Artaxerxes to write Bishlam Mithredath Tabeel and remnant (associate his *Q(K)*) upon (Artaxerxes *Q(k)*) king Persia and writing [the] letter to write Aramaic and to translate Aramaic

And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.

8 Rehum commander command and Shimshai scribe [the] to write letter one since Jerusalem to/for Artaxerxes king [the] thus

Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

9 then Rehum commander command and Shimshai scribe [the] and remainder associate their judge [the] and govenors [the] officials [the] Persia [the] (Erech [the] *Q(K)*) Babylonian [the] Susa [the] (Dehavite [the] *Q(K)*) Elamite [the]

From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,

10 and remainder people [the] that to reveal Osnappar great [the] and honorable [the] and to dwell they in/on/with town that Samaria and remainder beyond River [the] and now

and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.

11 this copy letter [the] that to send since him since Artaxerxes king [the] (servant/slave your *Q(K)*) man beyond River [the] and now

(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

12 to know to be to/for king [the] that Jew [the] that to ascend from with you since us to come to/for Jerusalem town [the] rebellious [the] (and bad [the] *Q(k)*) to build (and wall [the] to complete *Q(K)*) and foundation [the] to repair

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.

13 now to know to be to/for king [the] that if town [the] this to build and wall [the] to complete tribute tribute and toll not to give: pay and revenue king to suffer injury

Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

14 now like/as to/for before: because that salt temple: palace [the] to eat salt and dishonor king [the] not (be proper *LB(ah)*) to/for us to/for to see since this to send and to know to/for king [the]

Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

15 that to enquire in/on/with scroll record [the] that father your and to find in/on/with scroll record [the] and to know that town [the] this town rebellious and to suffer injury king and province and sedition to make in/on/with midst her from day perpetuity [the] since this town [the] this be wasted

that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

16 to know we to/for king [the] that if town [the] this to build and wall [the] to complete to/for before this portion in/on/with beyond River [the] not there is to/for you

We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.

17 edict [the] to send king [the] since Rehum commander command and Shimshai scribe [the] and remainder associate their that to dwell in/on/with Samaria and remainder beyond River [the] peace and now

Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.

18 document [the] that to send since us to make clear to read before me

The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

19 and from me to set: make command and to enquire and to find that town [the] this from day perpetuity [the] since king to lift and rebellion and sedition to make in/on/with her

I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.

20 and king strong to be since Jerusalem and ruling in/on/with all beyond River [the] and tribute tribute and toll to give to/for them

And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

21 now to set: make command to/for to cease man [the] these and town [the] this not to build till from me command [the] to set: make

Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.

22 and to take heed to be neglect to/for to make since this to/for what? to grow great harm [the] to/for to suffer injury king

See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

23 then from that copy document [the] that (Artaxerxes *Q(k)*) king [the] to read before Rehum and Shimshai scribe [the] and associate their to go in/on/with hastely to/for Jerusalem since Jew [the] and to cease they in/on/with force and strength

When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

24 in/on/with then to cease service house god [the] that in/on/with Jerusalem and to be to cease till year two to/for kingdom Darius king Persia

Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.