Ezra 4
1 The enemies of the people of [the tribes of] Judah and Benjamin heard that the [Israeli] people who had returned from Babylonia were rebuilding a temple for Yahweh, the God whom the Israeli people [worshiped].
Cuando los adversarios de Judá y Benjamín se enteraron de que los hijos del cautiverio estaban construyendo un templo a Yahvé, el Dios de Israel,
2 So they went to Zerubbabel [the governor] and the other leaders, and said [deceptively], “We want to help [you build the temple], because we worship that same God whom you worship, and we have been offering sacrifices to him since Esarhaddon, the King of Assyria, brought us here.”
se acercaron a Zorobabel y a los jefes de familia de los padres y les dijeron: “Permítannos construir con ustedes, pues buscamos a su Dios como ustedes, y le ofrecemos sacrificios desde los días de Esar Haddón, rey de Asiria, que nos hizo subir aquí.”
3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other [Israeli] leaders replied, “We will not allow you to help us build a temple for our(exc) God. We will build it (ourselves/without your help) for Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis worship, like Cyrus, the King of Persia, told us to do.”
Pero Zorobabel, Jesúa y el resto de los jefes de familia de Israel les dijeron: “Vosotros no tenéis nada que ver con nosotros en la construcción de una casa a nuestro Dios, sino que nosotros mismos construiremos juntos a Yahvé, el Dios de Israel, como nos ha ordenado el rey Ciro, rey de Persia.”
4 Then the people who had been living in that land [before the Israelis returned] tried to cause the Jews to become discouraged and become afraid, and to cause them to stop building the temple.
Entonces la gente del país debilitó las manos del pueblo de Judá y lo perturbó en la construcción.
5 They bribed government officials to oppose what the Israelis were doing [and prevent them from continuing to work on the temple]. They did that all during the time that Cyrus was King of Persia. They continued to do it when Darius became the King of Persia.
Contrataron consejeros contra ellos para frustrar su propósito todos los días de Ciro, rey de Persia, hasta el reinado de Darío, rey de Persia.
6 During the first year that [Darius’ son] Xerxes was king, the [enemies of the Jews] wrote a note [to the king] saying that the Jews [were planning to rebel against the government].
En el reinado de Asuero, al principio de su reinado, escribieron una acusación contra los habitantes de Judá y de Jerusalén.
7 Later, when [Xerxes’ son] Artaxerxes [became the King of Persia], Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and their colleagues/companions wrote a letter to him. They wrote the letter in the Aramaic language, and it was translated [into another language that the king knew].
En los días de Artajerjes, Bislam, Mitrídates, Tabeel y el resto de sus compañeros escribieron a Artajerjes, rey de Persia, y la redacción de la carta fue escrita en sirio y entregada en lengua siria.
8 Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, wrote the letter to King Artaxerxes concerning what was happening in Jerusalem.
Rehum, el canciller, y Simsai, el escriba, escribieron una carta contra Jerusalén al rey Artajerjes, de la siguiente manera
9 They stated that the letter was from Rehum the high commissioner/governor and Shimshai the provincial secretary and from their associates, the judges, and other government officials, who were from Erech [city], Babylon [city], and Susa [city] in Elam [district].
Entonces Rehum, el canciller, Simsai, el escriba, y el resto de sus compañeros, los dinaítas, los afarsatitas, los tarpelitas, los afarsitas, los archevitas, los babilonios, los susanquitas, los dehaitas, los elamitas,
10 [They also wrote that they represented] the other people-groups whom [the army of] the great and glorious/famous [King] Ashurbanipal had (deported/forced to move from their homes) and taken to live in Samaria and in other cities in the province west of the Euphrates [River].
y el resto de las naciones que el grande y noble Osnappar trajo y estableció en la ciudad de Samaria, y en el resto del país más allá del río, etc., escribieron.
11 This is what they wrote in the letter: “To King Artaxerxes, From the officials who serve you who live in the province west of the Euphrates [River.]
Esta es la copia de la carta que enviaron: Al rey Artajerjes, de parte de tus siervos, el pueblo de allende el río.
12 “Your majesty, we want you to know that the Jews who came here from your territories are rebuilding this city, [Jerusalem]. These people are wicked and want to rebel against you. Now they are repairing the foundations [of the walls/buildings] and building the walls [of the city].
Hazle saber al rey que los judíos que subieron de ti han venido a nosotros a Jerusalén. Están construyendo la ciudad rebelde y mala, y han terminado las murallas y reparado los cimientos.
13 “It is important for you to know that if they rebuild the city and finish building the walls, they will stop paying any kind of taxes. As a result, there will be less money in your treasury.
Sepa ahora el rey que si se construye esta ciudad y se terminan las murallas, no pagarán tributo, ni costumbre, ni peaje, y al final será perjudicial para los reyes.
14 Now, because we are loyal to [IDM] you, and because we do not want you to be humiliated [IDM], we are sending this information to you.
Ahora bien, como nosotros comemos la sal del palacio y no es conveniente que veamos la deshonra del rey, hemos enviado a informar al rey,
15 And, we suggest that you order/tell [your officials] to search the records that your ancestors made/wrote. [If you do that], you will find out that the people in this city have always rebelled [against the government]. You will also find out that from long ago these people have caused trouble for kings and for rulers of provinces. They have always revolted [against those who ruled them]. That is the reason that this city was destroyed [by the Babylonian army].
para que se busque en el libro de los registros de tus padres. Verás en el libro de los registros, y sabrás que esta ciudad es una ciudad rebelde y perjudicial para los reyes y las provincias, y que en el pasado han iniciado rebeliones en su interior. Por eso esta ciudad fue destruida.
16 We want you to know that if they rebuild this city and finish building its walls, you will no longer be able to control/rule [the people in] this province west of the Euphrates [River].”
Informamos al rey que si se construye esta ciudad y se terminan las murallas, no tendrás ninguna posesión más allá del río.
17 [After] the king [read this letter, he] sent this reply to them: “To Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, and their colleagues in Samaria and in other parts of the province that is west of the [Euphrates] River: I (send you my greetings/wish that things will go well for you).
Entonces el rey envió una respuesta a Rehum, el canciller, y a Simsai, el escriba, y al resto de sus compañeros que viven en Samaria y en el resto del país al otro lado del río: La paz.
18 The letter that you sent to me was translated and read to me.
La carta que nos enviasteis ha sido leída claramente ante mí.
19 So then I ordered [my officials] to search the records. I have found out that [it is true that] the people of that city have always revolted against their rulers, and that the city is full of people who have rebelled and caused trouble.
He decretado, y se ha hecho una búsqueda, y se ha encontrado que esta ciudad ha hecho insurrección contra los reyes en el pasado, y que se han hecho en ella rebeliones y revueltas.
20 Powerful kings have ruled in Jerusalem, and they have also ruled over the whole province west of the [Euphrates] River. [The people in that province were] paying all kinds of taxes to those kings.
También ha habido reyes poderosos sobre Jerusalén que han gobernado todo el país más allá del río, y se les pagaba tributo, costumbre y peaje.
21 So you must command that the people must stop rebuilding the city. Only if I tell them [that they may rebuild it] will they be allowed to continue.
Haz ahora un decreto para que cesen estos hombres, y que no se construya esta ciudad hasta que yo lo decrete.
22 Do this immediately [LIT], because I do not want those people to do anything to harm the things/area about which I am concerned.”
Tengan cuidado de no ser negligentes al hacerlo. ¿Por qué ha de crecer el daño en perjuicio de los reyes?
23 [Messengers took] that letter to Rehum and Shimshai and their colleagues and read it to them. Then Rehum and the others went quickly to Jerusalem, and they forced the Jews to stop [rebuilding the city wall].
Entonces, cuando la copia de la carta del rey Artajerjes fue leída ante Rehum, el escriba Simsai y sus compañeros, se dirigieron apresuradamente a Jerusalén a los judíos y los hicieron cesar por la fuerza de las armas.
24 The result was that the Jews stopped rebuilding the temple. They did not do any more work to rebuild the temple until Darius became the King of Persia.
Entonces se detuvo el trabajo en la casa de Dios que está en Jerusalén. Se detuvo hasta el segundo año del reinado de Darío, rey de Persia.
