Ezra:5

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* Then prophesied Haggai the prophet , and Zechariah the son of ‘Iddo , the prophets , unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem , in the name of the God of Israel , concerning them . * Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealthiel , and Jeshua ’ the son of Jozadak , and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem ; and with them were the prophets of God helping them . * At this same time came to them Thathnai , the governor on this side of the river , and Shethar –bozenai , and their companions , and thus they said unto them , "Who hath given you an order to build this house , and to complete these walls ?" * Then said we unto them after this manner , what are the names of the men that erect this building . * But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews , so that they did not stop them , till the matter came to Darius ; and they then returned an answer by letter concerning this . * A copy of the letter which Thathnai , the governor on this side of the river , and Shethar –bozenai , and his companions , the Apharsachites , who were on this side of the river , sent unto king Darius . * They sent a report unto him , and thus was it written therein : Unto king Darius be all peace . * Be it known unto the king , that we went into the province of Judah , to the house of the great God , which they are building with heavy stones , and timber is laid in the walls , and this work is urged with speed , and it prospereth in their hands . * Then asked we these elders , and after this manner said we unto them , Who hath given you the order to build this house , and to complete these walls ? * Also their names did we ask of them , to let thee know them , that we might write down the names of the men that are at their head . * And in this manner did they return us answer , saying , We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth , and we build the house that was built before this many years , and a great king of Israel built and completed it . * But since our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath , he gave them up into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon , the Chaldean , and he destroyed this house , and carried the people as exiles into Babylon . * However , in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon , king Cyrus gave an order to build this house of God . * And also the vessels of gold and silver of the house of God , which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem , and brought into the temple of Babylon , these did king Cyrus take out of the temple of Babylon , and gave them unto one , Sheshbazzar by name , whom he had appointed as governor ; * And he said unto him , Take these vessels , go , carry them into the temple which is in Jerusalem , and let the house of God be built on its site . * Then came this same Sheshbazzar , laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem ; and from that time even until now they have been building it , but it is not yet finished . * And now , if it seem good to the king , let search be made in the king ’s treasure –house , which is there at Babylon , whether it be so , that an order was given by king Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem , and let the king send to us his pleasure concerning this matter .

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