Ezra:5

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* Then Haggai a Prophet &amp ; Zechariah the sonne of Iddo a Prophet prophecied vnto the Iewes that were in Iudah , and Ierusalem , in the name of the God of Israel , euen vnto them . * Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel , and Jeshua the son of Jozadak , and began to build the house of God which [is ] at Jerusalem : and with them [were ] the prophets of God (note :)Who encouraged them to go forward , and cursed them because they were more careful to build their own houses , than zealous to build the temple of God .(:note ) helping them . * At the same time came to them Tatnai , which was captaine beyonde the Riuer , and Shether-boznai and their companions , and sayd thus vnto them , Who hath giuen you commaundement to buylde this house , and to lay the foundations of these walles ? * * But the (note :)His favour and the spirit of strength .(:note ) eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews , that they could not cause them to cease , till the matter came to Darius : and then they returned answer by letter concerning this [matter ]. * The copie of the letter , that Tatnai captaine beyond the Riuer , and Shether-boznai and his companions , Apharsechaie , (which were beyond the Riuer ) sent vnto King Darius . * They sent a letter vnto him , wherein it was written thus , Vnto Darivs the King , all peace . * Be it knowen vnto the King , that we went into the prouince of Iudea , to the house of the great God , which is builded with great stones , &amp ; beames are layde in the walles , and this worke is wrought speedily , and prospereth in their hands . * Then asked we those Elders , and sayd vnto them thus , Who hath giuen you commandement to buylde this house , and to lay the foundation of these walles ? * We asked their names also , that we might certifie thee , &amp ; that we might write the names of the men that were their rulers . * And thus they returned us answer , saying , We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth , and build the house that was builded these many years ago , which a (note :)That is , Solomon .(:note ) great king of Israel builded and set up . * But after that our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath , he gaue them ouer into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel the Caldean , &amp ; he destroyed this house , &amp ; caryed the people away captiue vnto Babel . * But in the (note :)Read ( Ezr_1:1 ,2 ).(:note ) first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same ] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God . * And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God , which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was ] in Jerusalem , and brought them into the temple of Babylon , those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon , and they were delivered unto [one ], whose name [was ] (note :)Read ( Ezr_1:8 ).(:note ) Sheshbazzar , whom he had made governor ; * And he sayde vnto him , Take these vessels and goe thy way , and put them in the Temple that is in Ierusalem , and let the house of God be buylt in his place . * Then came the same Sheshbazzar &amp ; layde the foundation of the house of God , which is in Ierusalem , and since that time euen vntill nowe , hath it bene in buylding , yet is it not finished . * Now therefore , if [it seem ] good to the king , let there be search made in the king 's (note :)Meaning in the library or places where lay the register or record of times .(:note ) treasure house , which [is ] there at Babylon , whether it be [so ], that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem , and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter .

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