Ezra:6

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* Then Darius the king made a decree , and search was made in the house of the archives , where the treasures were laid up , in Babylon . * And there was found at Ahmetha , in the palace that is in the province of Media , a roll , and therein was thus written : 'A record . * In the first year of Cyrus the king , Cyrus the king made a decree : Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem , let the house be builded , the place where they offer sacrifices , and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid ; the height thereof threescore cubits , and the breadth thereof threescore cubits ; * with three rows of great stones , and a row of new timber , and let the expenses be given out of the king 's house ; * and also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God , which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem , and brought unto Babylon , be restored , and brought back unto the temple which is at Jerusalem , every one to its place , and thou shalt put them in the house of God .' * 'Now therefore , Tattenai , governor beyond the River , Shethar-bozenai , and your companions the Apharesachites , who are beyond the River , be ye far from thence ; * let the work of this house of God alone ; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place . * Moreover I make a decree concerning what ye shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God ; that of the king 's goods , even of the tribute beyond the River , expenses be given with all diligence unto these men , that they be not hindered . * And that which they have need of , both young bullocks , and rams , and lambs , for burnt-offerings to the God of heaven , wheat , salt , wine , and oil , according to the word of the priests that are at Jerusalem , let it be given them day by day without fail ; * that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savour unto the God of heaven , and pray for the life of the king , and of his sons . * Also I have made a decree , that whosoever shall alter this word , let a beam be pulled out from his house , and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon ; and let his house be made a dunghill for this ; * and may the God that hath caused His name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples , that shall put forth their hand to alter the same , to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem . I Darius have made a decree ; let it be done with all diligence .' * Then Tattenai , the governor beyond the River , Shethar-bozenai , and their companions , because that Darius the king had thus sent , acted with all diligence . * And the elders of the Jews builded and prospered , through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo . And they builded and finished it , according to the commandment of the God of Israel , and according to the decree of Cyrus , and Darius , and Artaxerxes king of Persia . * And 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 . * And the children of Israel , the priests and the Levites , and the rest of the children of the captivity , kept the dedication of this house of God with joy . * And they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks , two hundred rams , four hundred lambs ; and for a sin-offering for all Israel , twelve he-goats , according to the number of the tribes of Israel . * And they set the priests in their divisions , and the Levites in their courses , for the service of God , which is at Jerusalem ; as it is written in the book of Moses . * And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month . * For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together ; all of them were pure ; and they killed the passover lamb for all the children of the captivity , and for their brethren the priests , and for themselves . * And the children of Israel , that were come back out of the captivity , and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the nations of the land , to seek the LORD , the God of Israel , did eat , * and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy ; for the LORD had made them joyful , and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them , to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God , the God of Israel .

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