Ezera 4
1 A LOHE na enemi o ka Iuda, a me ka Beniamina, e hana'na ka poe i hoopioia i ka luakini no Iehova ke Akua o ka Iseraela;
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.
2 Alaila hele mai lakou io Zerubabela la, a i ka poe koikoi o na makua, a olelo mai ia lakou, E hana pu makou me oukou; no ka mea, e like me ka oukou, pela no ka makou e imi nei i ko oukou Akua, a ua kaumaha aku makou ia ia, mai ka manawa o Esarehadona ke alii o Asuria, nana makou i lawe mai ia nei.
They came to Zerubbabel and the family leaders and said, “Please let us help you with the building work, for we worship your God like you do. In fact we have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3 A o Zerubabela, a o Iosua, a me ka poe i koe o ka poe koikoi o na makua o ka Iseraela, olelo aku lakou nei ia lakou la, Aohe a oukou mea ia makou e hana pu ai i ka hale no ko makou Akua; aka, o makou wale no e hana no Iehova ke Akua o ka Iseraela, e like me ka ke alii, ka Kuro, ke alii o Peresia, i kauoha mai ai ia makou.
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the family leaders of Israel replied, “You can't share with us in building a Temple for our God. Only we can build it for the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what Cyrus the king of Persia has ordered us to do.”
4 A hoonawaliwali na kanaka o ka aina i na lima o na kanaka o ka Iuda, a hooweliweli ia lakou i ka hana ana.
Then the local people set out to intimidate the people of Judah and make them too scared to go on building.
5 A hoolimalima kela poe i na kakaelelo e ku e ia lakou, e hookahuli i ko lakou manae i na la a pau o Kuro, ke alii o Peresia, a hiki i ke au ia Dariu ke alii o Peresia.
They bribed officials to oppose them and to obstruct their plans. This continued during the whole reign of Cyrus king of Persia up until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 A i ke kau ia Ahasuero, i ka wa i hoomaka ai kona noho alii ana, palapala aku la lakou i ka palapala hoohewa i na kanaka o ka Iuda a me ko Ierusalema.
When Ahasuerus became king the local people sent him a written accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 I ka manawa o Aretasaseta, palapala aku la o Biselama, o Miteredata, o Tabeela, a me ka poe i koe o ko lakou hoalawehana, ia Aretasaseta ke alii o Peresia; a ua kakauia ka palapala ma ka olelo o Suria, a ua hoakakaia ma ka olelo o Suria.
During the time of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their fellow officers wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic.
8 O Rehuma, ka lunaahaolelo, a o Simesai ke kakauolelo, kakau laua i palapala no Ierusalema, ia Aretasaseta ke alii, peneia:
Rehum the officer in command and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes condemning Jerusalem stating,
9 Alaila palapala aku la o Rehuma, ka lunaahaolelo, a o Simesai ke kakauolelo, a me ka poe i koe o ko lakou poe hoalawehana; o ko Dina, a me ko Aparesaka, o ko Tarepela, o ko Aparesa, o ko Arekeva, o ko Babulona, o ko Susana, o ko Dehava, o ko Elama,
This comes from Rehum the officer in command, Shimshai the scribe, and fellow officers: the judges and officials and those in charge of Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
10 A o na lahuikanaka e ae a Asenapara nui, kiekie, i lawe mai ai, a hoonoho ia lakou ma na kulanakauhale o Samaria, a o na mea i koe ma keia aoao o ka muliwai, a pela aku no.
and the rest of the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria and other places west of the Euphrates.
11 Eia ke ano o ua palapala la a lakou i hoouna aku ai ia ia, ia Aretasaseta, ke alii; O kau poe kanwa o na kanaka ma keia aoao o ka muliwai, a pela aku no.
The following is a copy of the letter they sent to him. To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, men beyond the River Euphrates:
12 E ike pono ke alii, o na Iudaio i pii mai, mai ou mai la io makou nei, ua hele mai lakou i Ierusalema hana ana i ke kulanakauhale kipi a hewa, a ua hoopaa lakou i na papohaku, a ua hana hou lakou i ke kumu.
Your Majesty should be informed that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, completing repairs to the walls, and mending its foundations.
13 Ano e ike pono ia i ke alii, ina e hanaia keia kulanakauhale, a e hoopaaia na papohaku, aole lakou e haawi mai i ka uku, a me ka hookupu, a me ke dute, a emi iho ko ke alii waiwai.
Your Majesty should realize that if this city is rebuilt and its walls repaired, they will not pay tax, tribute, or fees, and the king's revenue will suffer.
14 Ano, no ka mea, ua miko makou i ka paakai o ka halealii, aole he mea pono no makou ke ike i ka poino o ke alii; no keia mea, ua hoouna aku makou, a hoike i ke alii;
Now because we are in the king's service and it is not right for us to see Your Majesty disrespected, we are sending this letter so that you can be informed,
15 I imiia ma ka buke o na mooolelo o kou mau makua; a e loaa no ia oe ma ka buke o na mooolelo, a ike hoi oe, o keia kulanakauhale, he kulanakauhale kipi, a hoopoino i na'lii, a me na panalaau, a ua hana lakou i ke kipi iloko oia, mai ka wa kahiko; no ia mea i lukuia'i keia kulanakauhale.
and order a search of the royal archives. You will discover in these records that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and countries, having often risen up in revolt in the past. That is what led to this city being destroyed.
16 Ke hoike aku nei makou i ke alii, ina e hana hou ia keia kulanakauhale, a e hoopaaia na papohaku, no keia mea, aohe ou wahi ma keia aoao o ka muliwai.
We wish to inform Your Majesty that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed, you will lose this province west of the Euphrates.
17 Alaila hoouna aku la ke alii i ke kauoha ia Rehuma, ka lunaahaolelo, a ia Simesai, ke kakauolelo, a me na mea i koe o ko lakou poe hoalawehana e noho ana ma Samaria, a me ka poe i koe ma kela aoao o ka muliwai, He aloha, a pela aku no.
The king replied as follows: “To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and fellow officers living in Samaria and in other areas west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
18 O ka palapala a oukou i hoouna mai ai ia'u, ua heluhelu akaka ia imua o'u.
The letter you sent to us has been translated and read to me.
19 A na'u no i kauoha aku, a ua imiia, a ua loaa hoi, o keia kulaua kauhele mai ka wa kahiko mai, ua hookiekie ia ia iho maluna o na'lii, a ua kipi hoi, a me ka hoohaunaele iloko ona.
I ordered a search to be conducted. It was discovered that this city has often risen up in revolt against kings in the past, frequently promoting insurrection and rebellion.
20 A ua noho na'lii nui mamua maluna o Ierusalema, a noho alii lakou maluna o kela aoao a pau o ka muliwai; a ua haawiia mai ka makana, a me ka uku, a me ka hookupu, a me ke dute ia lakou.
Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and throughout the whole area west of the Euphrates, and they received tax, tribute, and fees.
21 Ano hoi, e kauoha aku oukou, e hooki i keia poe kanaka, aole e hanaia keia kulanakauhale, a hiki i ka wa e kauoha aku ai au.
Issue an immediate order for these men to stop work. This city is not to be rebuilt until I authorize it.
22 E makaala oukou o lalau i ka hana aku i keia mea: no keaha la e kupu mai ai ka mea poino, i poino ai ke alii?
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why should this problem be allowed to grow and damage royal interests?”
23 A i ka wa i heluheluia ka palapala a Aretasaseta, a ke alii, imua o Rehuma, a me Simesai ke kakauolelo, a me ko lakou poe hoalawehana, hele koke aku la lakou i Ierusalema i na Iudaio, a hoooki aku la ia lakou me ka limaikaika.
As soon as this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their fellow officers, they rushed to the Jews in Jerusalem and used their power to forcibly make them stop work.
24 Alaila oki iho la ka hana ana i ka hale o ke Akua ma Ierusalema. A okiia iho la pela, a hiki i ka lua o ka makahiki o ke kau ia Dariu ke alii o Peresia.
Consequently work on God's Temple in Jerusalem came to a halt. The stoppage continued until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.
