In the firstyear of Cyrus the king the sameCyrus the kingmade a decreeconcerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the placewheretheyofferedsacrifices, and let the foundationsthereof be stronglylaid; the heightthereofthreescorecubits, and the breadththereofthreescorecubits;
And also let the golden and silvervessels of the house of God, whichNebuchadnezzartookforth out of the templewhich is at Jerusalem, and broughtuntoBabylon, be restored, and broughtagainunto the templewhich is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and placethem in the house of God.
Now therefore, Tatnai, governorbeyond the river, Shetharboznai, and yourcompanions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far fromthence:
Moreover I make a decreewhat ye shall do to the elders of theseJews for the building of thishouse of God: that of the king’sgoods, even of the tributebeyond the river, forthwithexpenses be givenuntothese men, thatthey be not hindered.
And thatwhichtheyhaveneed of, bothyoungbullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burntofferings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priestswhich are at Jerusalem, let it be giventhem day by day withoutfail:
Also I havemade a decree, thatwhosoevershallalterthisword, let timber be pulleddownfrom his house, and being set up, let him be hangedthereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
And the God thathathcaused his name to dwelltheredestroy all kings and people, thatshall put to theirhand to alter and to destroythishouse of God which is at Jerusalem. I Dariushavemade a decree; let it be donewithspeed.
And the elders of the Jewsbuilded, and theyprosperedthrough the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And theybuilded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxesking of Persia.
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of thishouse of God with joy,
And offered at the dedication of thishouse of God an hundredbullocks, two hundredrams, fourhundredlambs; 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 theirdivisions, and the Levites in theircourses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
For the priests and the Leviteswerepurifiedtogether, all of themwerepure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for theirbrethren the priests, and for themselves.
And the children of Israel, whichwerecomeagain out of captivity, and all such as had separatedthemselvesuntothemfrom the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
And kept the feast of unleavenedbreadsevendayswith joy: for the LORD had madethemjoyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyriauntothem, to strengthentheirhands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.