דִּי (di)

and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in…

This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.

Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the…

Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or…

Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we…

that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know…

We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.

Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions…

The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past,…

Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they…

Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of…

Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and…

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at…

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

The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the…

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…

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

Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house…

But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of…

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

The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and…

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…

Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even…

Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at…

Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was…

A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:

In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house…

with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.

Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem…

Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are…

Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of…

That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also…

that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his…

I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be…

May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter…

Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions did accordingly with all diligence,…

This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God which is at Jerusalem,…

Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. Now

I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my realm, who intend of…

Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the…

and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose…

and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the…

Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their…

Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to…

The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.

Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s…

I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the…

up to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one…

Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should…

Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, Levites,…

You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all…

Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence,…