Ezra:5

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* Then the prophets , Haggai the prophet , and Zechariah the son of Iddo , prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel , even unto 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 helping them . * At the same time came to them Tatnai , governor on this side the river , and Shetharboznai , and their companions , and said thus unto them , Who hath commanded you to build this house , and to make up this wall ? * Then said we unto them after this manner , What are the names of the men that make this building ? * But the 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 copy of the letter that Tatnai , governor on this side the river , and Shetharboznai , and his companions the Apharsachites , which were on this side the river , sent unto Darius the king : * They sent a letter unto him , wherein was written thus ; Unto Darius the king , all peace . * Be it known unto the king , that we went into the province of Judea , to the house of the great God , which is builded with great stones , and timber is laid in the walls , and this work goeth fast on , and prospereth in their hands . * Then asked we those elders , and said unto them thus , Who commanded you to build this house , and to make up these walls ? * We asked their names also , to certify thee , that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them . * 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 great king of Israel builded and set up . * But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath , he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon , the Chaldean , who destroyed this house , and carried the people away into Babylon . * But in the 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 Sheshbazzar , whom he had made governor ; * And said unto him , Take these vessels , go , carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem , and let the house of God be builded in his place . * Then came the same Sheshbazzar , and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem : and since that time even until now hath it been in building , and yet it is not finished . * Now therefore , if it seem good to the king , let there be search made in the king 's 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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