1 Esd 6 | EngLXX | STEP | Now in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias the son of Addo, theprophets, prophesied to the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel, which wasupon them.

‏ 1 Esdras 6

1 Now in the second year of the reign of Darius Aggeus and Zacharias the son of Addo, theprophets, prophesied to the Jews in Jewry and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord God of Israel, which wasupon them. 2 Then stood up Zorobabel the son of Salatiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and began tobuild the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them, and helping them. 3 At the same time came to them Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanesand his companions, and said to them, 4 By whose appointment do you⌃ build this house and this roof, and perform all the otherthings? and who are the workmen that perform these things? 5 Nevertheless the elders of the Jews obtained favor, because the Lord had visited the captivity; 6 And they were not hindered from building, until such time as signification was given toDarius concerning them, and an answer received. 7 The copy of the letters which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes,with their companions, rulers in Syria and Phenice, wrote and sent to Darius; To king Darius, greeting: 8 Let all things be known to our lord the king, that being come into the country of Judea,and entered into the city of Jerusalem we found in the city of Jerusalem the ancients of the Jews thatwere of the captivity 9 Building an house to the Lord, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the timberalready laid upon the walls. 10 And those works are done with great speed, and the work goes on prosperously in theirhands, and with all glory and diligence is it made. 11 Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build you⌃ this house, and laythe foundations of these works? 12 Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge to you by writing, we demanded ofthem who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men. 13 So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of the Lord which made heaven and earth. 14 And as for this house, it was builded many years ago by a king of Israel great and strong,and was finished. 15 But when our fathers provoked God to wrath, and sinned against the Lord of Israel whichis in heaven, he gave them over into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, of the Chaldees; 16 Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives to Babylon. 17 But in the first year that king Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon Cyrus the kingwrote to build up this house. 18 And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nabuchodonosor had carried away outof the house at Jerusalem, and had set them in his own temple those Cyrus the king brought forth againout of the temple at Babylon, and they were delivered to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler, 19 With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the templeat Jerusalem; and that the temple of the Lord should be built in his place. 20 Then the same Sanabassarus, being come here, laid the foundations of the house of theLord at Jerusalem; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended. 21 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let search be made among the records of kingCyrus: 22 And if it be found that the building of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem has been donewith the consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the king be so minded, let him signify to us thereof. 23 Then commanded king Darius to seek among the records at Babylon: and so at Ecbatana thepalace, which is in the country of Media, there was found a roll wherein these things were recorded. 24 In the first year of the reign of Cyrus king Cyrus commanded that the house of the Lordat Jerusalem should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual fire: 25 Whose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of hewnstones, and one row of new wood of that country; and the expenses thereof to be given out of the houseof king Cyrus: 26 And that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and silver, that Nabuchodonosortook out of the house at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Jerusalem,and be set in the place where they were before. 27 And also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes,and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Syria and Phenice, should be careful notto meddle with the place, but suffer Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and theelders of the Jews, to build the house of the Lord in that place. 28 I have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligentlyto help those that be of the captivity of the Jews, till the house of the Lord be finished: 29 And out of the tribute of Celosyria and Phenice a portion carefully to be given thesemen for the sacrifices of the Lord, that is, to Zorobabel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs; 30 And also corn, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further question,according as the priests that be in Jerusalem shall signify to be daily spent: 31 That offerings may be made to the most high God for the king and for his children, andthat they may pray for their lives. 32 And he commanded that whoever should transgress, yes, or make light of any thing beforespoken or written, out of his own house should a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all hisgoods seized for the king. 33 The Lord therefore, whose name is there called upon, utterly destroy every king and nation,that stretches out his hand to hinder or endamage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 34 I Darius the king have ordained that according to these things it be done with diligence.