Ezra 4 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel, ^[2] they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” ^[3] But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” ^[4] Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building. ^[5] They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. ^[6] In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. ^[7] In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and delivered in the Syrian language. ^[8] Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows. ^[9] Then Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, ^[10] and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote. ^[11] This is the copy of the letter that they sent: ^[12] Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations. ^[13] Be it known now to the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. ^[14] Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king, ^[15] that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed. ^[16] We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River. ^[17] Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who live in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: ^[18] The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. ^[19] I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it. ^[20] There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll was paid to them. ^[21] Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me. ^[22] Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? ^[23] Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force of arms. ^[24] Then work stopped on God’s house which is at Jerusalem. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

King James Version

^[1] Now when the adversariesH6862 of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 heardH8085(QalImpf) that the childrenH1121 of the captivityH1473 buildedH1129(QalActPtc) the templeH1964 unto the LordH3068 GodH430 of Israel;H3478 ^[2] Then they cameH5066(QalImpf) to Zerubbabel,H2216 and to the chiefH7218 of the fathers,H1 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, Let us buildH1129(QalImpf) with you: for we seekH1875(QalImpf) your God,H430 as ye [do]; and we do sacrificeH2076(QalActPtc) unto him since the daysH3117 of EsarhaddonH634 kingH4428 of Assur,H804 which brought us up hither.H5927(HiphPtc) ^[3] But Zerubbabel,H2216 and Jeshua,H3442 and the restH7605 of the chiefH7218 of the fathersH1 of Israel,H3478 saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to buildH1129(QalInf) an houseH1004 unto our God;H430 but we ourselves togetherH3162 will buildH1129(QalImpf) unto the LordH3068 GodH430 of Israel,H3478 as kingH4428 CyrusH3566 the kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 hath commandedH6680(PielPerf) us. ^[4] Then the peopleH5971 of the landH776 weakenedH7503(PielPtc) the handsH3027 of the peopleH5971 of Judah,H3063 and troubledH926(PielPtc/Qere) them in building,H1129(QalInf) ^[5] And hiredH7936(QalActPtc) counsellorsH3289(QalActPtc) against them, to frustrateH6565(HiphInf) their purpose,H6098 all the daysH3117 of CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of Persia,H6539 even until the reignH4438 of DariusH1867 kingH4428 of Persia.H6539 ^[6] And in the reignH4438 of Ahasuerus,H325 in the beginningH8462 of his reign,H4438 wroteH3789(QalPerf) they [unto him] an accusationH7855 against the inhabitantsH3427(QalActPtc) of JudahH3063 and Jerusalem.H3389 ^[7] And in the daysH3117 of ArtaxerxesH783 wroteH3789(QalPerf) Bishlam,H1312 Mithredath,H4990 Tabeel,H2870 and the restH7605 of their companions,H3674 unto ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of Persia;H6539 and the writingH3791 of the letterH5406 [was] writtenH3789(QalPasPtc) in the Syrian tongue,H762 and interpretedH8638(PualPtc) in the Syrian tongue.H762 ^[8] RehumH7348 the chancellorH1169 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribeH5613 wroteH3790(PealPerf) aH2298 letterH104 againstH5922 JerusalemH3390 to ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4430 in this sort:H3660 ^[9] ThenH116 [wrote] RehumH7348 the chancellor,H1169 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribe,H5613 and the restH7606 of their companions;H3675 the Dinaites,H1784 the Apharsathchites,H671 the Tarpelites,H2967 the Apharsites,H670 the Archevites,H756 the Babylonians,H896 the Susanchites,H7801 the Dehavites,H1723 [and] the Elamites,H5962 ^[10] And the restH7606 of the nationsH524 whomH1768 the greatH7229 and nobleH3358 AsnapparH620 brought over,H1541(AphPerf) and setH3488(AphPerf) in the citiesH7149 of Samaria,H8115 and the restH7606 [that are] on this sideH5675 the river,H5103 and at such a time.H3706 ^[11] ThisH1836 [is] the copyH6573 of the letterH104 thatH1768 they sentH7972(PealPerf) unto him,H5922 [even] unto ArtaxerxesH783 the king;H4430 Thy servantsH5649 the menH606 on this sideH5675 the river,H5103 and at such a time.H3706 ^[12] Be itH1934(PealImpf) knownH3046(PealPasPtc) unto the king,H4430 that the JewsH3062 whichH1768 came upH5559(PeilPerf) fromH4481 theeH3890 to usH5922 are comeH858(PealPerf) unto Jerusalem,H3390 buildingH1124(PealPtc) the rebelliousH4779 and the badH873 city,H7149 and have set upH3635(ShphPerf/Qere) the wallsH7792 [thereof], and joinedH2338(AphImpf) the foundations.H787 ^[13] Be it knownH3046(PealPasPtc) nowH3705 unto the king,H4430 that, ifH2006 thisH1791 cityH7149 be builded,H1124(ItpiImpf) and the wallsH7792 set upH3635(IshtImpf) [again, then] will they notH3809 payH5415(PealImpf) toll,H4061 tribute,H1093 and custom,H1983 and [so] thou shalt endamageH5142(AphImpf) the revenueH674 of the kings.H4430 ^[14] NowH3705 becauseH6903 we haveH1768 maintenanceH4415(PealPerf) from [the king’s] palace,H1965 and it was notH3809 meetH749(PealPtc) for us to seeH2370(PealInf) the king’sH4430 dishonour,H6173 thereforeH5922 have we sentH7972(PealPerf) and certifiedH3046(AphPerf) the king;H4430 ^[15] That searchH1240(PaelImpf) may be made in the bookH5609 of the recordsH1799 of thy fathers:H2 so shalt thou findH7912(AphImpf) in the bookH5609 of the records,H1799 and knowH3046(PealImpf) that thisH1791 cityH7149 [is] a rebelliousH4779 city,H7149 and hurtfulH5142(AphPtc) unto kingsH4430 and provinces,H4083 and that they have movedH5648(PealActPtc) seditionH849 within the sameH1459 ofH4481 oldH5957 time:H3118 forH5922 whichH1836 cause was thisH1791 cityH7149 destroyed.H2718(HophPerf) ^[16] WeH586 certifyH3046(AphPtc) the kingH4430 that, ifH2006 thisH1791 cityH7149 be buildedH1124(ItpiImpf) [again], and the wallsH7792 thereof set up,H3635(IshtImpf) by thisH1836 meansH6903 thou shalt haveH383 noH3809 portionH2508 on this sideH5675 the river.H5103 ^[17] [Then] sentH7972(PealPerf) the kingH4430 an answerH6600 untoH5922 RehumH7348 the chancellor,H1169 and [to] ShimshaiH8124 the scribe,H5613 and [to] the restH7606 of their companionsH3675 that dwellH3488(PealPtc) in Samaria,H8115 and [unto] the restH7606 beyondH5675 the river,H5103 Peace,H8001 and at such a time.H3706 ^[18] The letterH5407 which ye sentH7972(PealPerf) unto usH5922 hath been plainlyH6568(PaelPasPtc) readH7123(PealPasPtc) beforeH6925 me. ^[19] And IH4481 commanded,H7761(PealPasPtc) and searchH1240(PaelPerf) hath been made, and it is foundH7912(AphPerf) that thisH1791 cityH7149 ofH4481 oldH5957 timeH3118 hath made insurrectionH5376(ItpaPtc) againstH5922 kings,H4430 and [that] rebellionH4776 and seditionH849 have been madeH5648(ItpePtc) therein. ^[20] There have beenH1934(PealPerf) mightyH8624 kingsH4430 also overH5922 Jerusalem,H3390 which have ruledH7990 over allH3606 [countries] beyondH5675 the river;H5103 and toll,H4061 tribute,H1093 and custom,H1983 was paidH3052(ItpePtc) unto them. ^[21] GiveH7761(PealImpv) ye nowH3705 commandmentH2942 to causeH989 theseH479 menH1400 to cease,H989(PealInf) and that thisH1791 cityH7149 be notH3809 builded,H1124(ItpiImpf) untilH5705 [another] commandmentH2941 shall be givenH7761(ItpeImpf) from me.H4481 ^[22] Take heedH1934(PealImpv) now that ye failH7960 not to doH5922 this:H1836 whyH4101 should damageH2257 growH7680(PealImpf) to the hurtH5142(AphInf) of the kings?H4430 ^[23] NowH116 whenH4481 the copyH6573 of kingH4430 Artaxerxes’H783 letterH5407 [was] readH7123(PealPasPtc) beforeH6925 Rehum,H7348 and ShimshaiH8124 the scribe,H5613 and their companions,H3675 they went upH236(PealPerf) in hasteH924 to JerusalemH3390 untoH5922 the Jews,H3062 and made themH1994 to ceaseH989(PealPerf) by forceH153 and power.H2429 ^[24] ThenH116 ceasedH989(PealPerf) the workH5673 of the houseH1005 of GodH426 which [is] at Jerusalem.H3390 So it ceasedH1934(PealPerf) untoH5705 the secondH8648 yearH8140 of the reignH4437 of DariusH1868 kingH4430 of Persia.H6540

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