NOW in the second year of the reign of Dareyavesh, Chaggai and Zakaryahu the son of Iddo, the prophets, prophesied unto the Yahudiym in Yahudah and Yerushalayim in the name of Yahuah Elohiym of Yashar'el, which was upon them.
Then stood up Zerubbavel the son of She'altiy'el, and Yahusha the son of Yahutsadaq, and began to build the house of Yahuah at Yerushalayim, the prophets of Yahuah being with them, and helping them.
At the same time came unto them Tattenai the governor of Aram and Phoenicia, with Shethar Bozenai and his companions, and said unto them,
By whose appointment do ye build this house and this roof, and perform all the other things? and who are the workmen that perform these things?
Nevertheless the elders of the Yahudiym obtained favor, because Yahuah had visited the captivity;
And they were not hindered from building, until such time as signification was given unto Dareyavesh concerning them, and an answer received.
The copy of the cepheriym which Tattenai, governor of Aram and Phoenicia, and Shethar Bozenai, with their companions, rulers in Aram and Phoenicia, wrote and sent unto Dareyavesh; To King Dareyavesh, greeting:
Let all things be known unto our adoniy the king, that being come into the country of Yahudah, and entered into the city of Yerushalayim we found in the city of Yerushalayim the ancients of the Yahudiym that were of the captivity
Building a house unto Yahuah, great and new, of hewn and costly stones, and the timber already laid upon the walls.
And those works are done with great speed, and the work goes on prosperously in their hands, and with all glory and diligence is it made.
Then asked we these elders, saying, By whose commandment build ye this house, and lay the foundations of these works?
Therefore to the intent that we might give knowledge unto you by writing, we demanded of them who were the chief doers, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal men.
So they gave us this answer, We are the servants of Yahuah which made heaven and earth.
And as for this house, it was built many years ago by a king of Yashar'el great and strong, and was finished.
But when our fathers provoked Elohiym unto wrath, and sinned against Yahuah of Yashar'el which is in heaven, he gave them over into the power of Nevukadne'tstsar king of Babel, of the Kasdiym;
Who pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried away the people captives unto Babel.
But in the first year that King Koresh reigned over the country of Babel, Koresh the king wrote to build up this house.
And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, that Nevukadne'tstsar had carried away out of the house at Yerushalayim, and had set them in his own temple those Koresh the king brought forth again out of the temple at Babel, and they were delivered to Zerubbavel and to Sheshbatstsar the ruler,
With commandment that he should carry away the same vessels, and put them in the Temple at Yerushalayim; and that the Temple of Yahuah should be built in his place.
Then the same Sheshbatstsar, being come hither, laid the foundations of the house of Yahuah at Yerushalayim; and from that time to this being still a building, it is not yet fully ended.
Now therefore, if it seem good unto the king, let search be made among the records of King Koresh:
And if it be found that the building of the house of Yahuah at Yerushalayim has been done with the consent of King Koresh, and if our adoniy the king be so minded, let him signify unto us thereof.
Then commanded King Dareyavesh to seek among the records at Babel: and so at Ecbatane the palace, which is in the country of Madai, there was found a roll wherein these things were recorded.
In the first year of the reign of Koresh King Koresh commanded that the house of Yahuah at Yerushalayim should be built again, where they do sacrifice with continual fire:
Whose height shall be sixty cubits and the breadth sixty cubits, with three rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood of that country; and the expences thereof to be given out of the house of King Koresh:
And that the holy vessels of the house of Yahuah, both of gold and silver, that Nevukadne'tstsar took out of the house at Yerushalayim, and brought to Babel, should be restored to the house at Yerushalayim, and be set in the place where they were before.
And also he commanded that Tattenai the governor of Aram and Phoenicia, and Shethar Bozenai, and their companions, and those which were appointed rulers in Aram and Phoenicia, should be careful not to meddle with the place, but suffer Zerubbavel, the servant of Yahuah, and governor of Yahudah, and the elders of the Yahudiym, to build the house of Yahuah in that place.
I have commanded also to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently to help those that be of the captivity of the Yahudiym, till the house of Yahuah be finished:
And out of the tribute of Celo Aram and Phoenicia a portion carefully to be given these men for the sacrifices of Yahuah, that is, to Zerubbavel the governor, for bullocks, and rams, and lambs;
And also grain, salt, wine, and oil, and that continually every year without further question, according as the priests that be in Yerushalayim shall signify to be daily spent:
That offerings may be made to El Elyon for the king and for his children, and that they may pray for their lives.
And he commanded that whosoever should transgress, yea, or make light of anything afore spoken or written, out of his own house should a tree be taken, and he thereon be hanged, and all his goods seized for the king.
Yahuah 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 Yahuah in Yerushalayim.
I Dareyavesh the king have ordained that according unto these things it be done with diligence.