Ezra 4 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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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

Work is Hindered

[1] Now when the adversaries H6862 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 heard H8085 (QalImpf) that the children H1121 of the captivity H1473§ builded H1129 (QalActPtc) the temple H1964 unto the Lord H3068 God H430 of Israel; H3478 [2] then they came H5066 (QalImpf) to Zerubbabel, H2216 and to the chief H7218 of the fathers, H1 and said H559 (QalImpf) unto them, Let us build H1129 (QalImpf) with you: for we seek H1875 (QalImpf) your God, H430 as ye do; and we do sacrifice H2076 (QalActPtc) unto him since the days H3117 of Esarhaddon H634 king H4428 of Assur, H804 which brought us up hither. H5927 (HiphPtc) [3] But Zerubbabel, H2216 and Jeshua, H3442 and the rest H7605 of the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of Israel, H3478 said H559 (QalImpf) unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build H1129 (QalInf) an house H1004 unto our God; H430 but we ourselves together H3162 will build H1129 (QalImpf) unto the Lord H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 as king H4428 Cyrus H3566 the king H4428 of Persia H6539 hath commanded H6680 (PielPerf) us. [4] Then the people H5971 of the land H776 weakened H7503 (PielPtc) the hands H3027 of the people H5971 of Judah, H3063 and troubled H926 (PielPtc/Qere) them in building, H1129 (QalInf) [5] and hired H7936 (QalActPtc) counsellors H3289 (QalActPtc) against them, to frustrate H6565 (HiphInf) their purpose, H6098 all the days H3117 of Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia, H6539 even until the reign H4438 of Darius H1867 king H4428 of Persia. H6539 [6] And in the reign H4438 of Ahasuerus, H325§ in the beginning H8462 of his reign, H4438 wrote H3789 (QalPerf) they unto him an accusation H7855 against the inhabitants H3427 (QalActPtc) of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem. H3389 [7] And in the days H3117 of Artaxerxes H783 wrote H3789 (QalPerf) Bishlam, H1312§ Mithredath, H4990 Tabeel, H2870 and the rest H7605 of their companions, H3674§ unto Artaxerxes H783 king H4428 of Persia; H6539 and the writing H3791 of the letter H5406 was written H3789 (QalPasPtc) in the Syrian tongue, H762 and interpreted H8638 (PualPtc) in the Syrian tongue. H762 [8] Rehum H7348 the chancellor H1169 and Shimshai H8124 the scribe H5613§ wrote H3790 (PealPerf) a H2298 letter H104 against H5922 Jerusalem H3390 to Artaxerxes H783 the king H4430 in this sort: H3660 [9] then H116 wrote Rehum H7348 the chancellor, H1169 and Shimshai H8124 the scribe, H5613 and the rest H7606 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 rest H7606 of the nations H524 whom H1768 the great H7229 and noble H3358 Asnapper brought over, H1541 (AphPerf) and set H3488 (AphPerf) in the cities H7149 of Samaria, H8115 and the rest H7606 that are on this side H5675 the river, H5103 and at such a time. H3706§ [11] This H1836 is the copy H6573 of the letter H104 that H1768 they sent H7972 (PealPerf) unto him, H5922 even unto Artaxerxes H783 the king; H4430 Thy servants H5649 the men H606 on this side H5675 the river, H5103 and at such a time. H3706 [12] Be it H1934 (PealImpf) known H3046 (PealPasPtc) unto the king, H4430 that the Jews H3062 which H1768 came up H5559 (PeilPerf) from H4481 thee H3890 to us H5922 are come H858 (PealPerf) unto Jerusalem, H3390 building H1124 (PealPtc) the rebellious H4779 and the bad H873 city, H7149 and have set up H3635 (ShphPerf/Qere)§ the walls H7792 thereof, and joined§ H2338 (AphImpf) the foundations. H787 [13] Be it known H3046 (PealPasPtc) now H3705 unto the king, H4430 that, if H2006 this H1791 city H7149 be builded, H1124 (ItpiImpf) and the walls H7792 set up H3635 (IshtImpf) again, then will they not H3809 pay H5415 (PealImpf)§ toll, H4061 tribute, H1093 and custom, H1983 and so thou shalt endamage H5142 (AphImpf) the revenue H674§ of the kings. H4430 [14] Now H3705 because H6903 we have H1768 maintenance H4415 (PealPerf) from the king’s palace, H1965 and it was not H3809 meet H749 (PealPtc) for us to see H2370 (PealInf) the king’s H4430 dishonour, H6173 therefore H5922 have we sent H7972 (PealPerf) and certified H3046 (AphPerf) the king; H4430 [15] that search H1240 (PaelImpf) may be made in the book H5609 of the records H1799 of thy fathers: H2 so shalt thou find H7912 (AphImpf) in the book H5609 of the records, H1799 and know H3046 (PealImpf) that this H1791 city H7149 is a rebellious H4779 city, H7149 and hurtful H5142 (AphPtc) unto kings H4430 and provinces, H4083 and that they have moved H5648 (PealActPtc)§ sedition H849 within the same H1459 of H4481 old H5957 time: H3118§ for H5922 which H1836 cause was this H1791 city H7149 destroyed. H2718 (HophPerf) [16] We H586 certify H3046 (AphPtc) the king H4430 that, if H2006 this H1791 city H7149 be builded H1124 (ItpiImpf) again, and the walls H7792 thereof set up, H3635 (IshtImpf) by this H1836 means H6903 thou shalt have H383 no H3809 portion H2508 on this side H5675 the river. H5103 [17] Then sent H7972 (PealPerf) the king H4430 an answer H6600 unto H5922 Rehum H7348 the chancellor, H1169 and to Shimshai H8124 the scribe, H5613 and to the rest H7606 of their companions H3675§ that dwell H3488 (PealPtc) in Samaria, H8115 and unto the rest H7606 beyond H5675 the river, H5103 Peace, H8001 and at such a time. H3706 [18] The letter H5407 which ye sent H7972 (PealPerf) unto us H5922 hath been plainly H6568 (PaelPasPtc) read H7123 (PealPasPtc) before H6925 me. [19] And I H4481 commanded, H7761 (PealPasPtc)§ and search H1240 (PaelPerf) hath been made, and it is found H7912 (AphPerf) that this H1791 city H7149 of H4481 old H5957 time H3118 hath made insurrection H5376 (ItpaPtc)§ against H5922 kings, H4430 and that rebellion H4776 and sedition H849 have been made H5648 (ItpePtc) therein. [20] There have been H1934 (PealPerf) mighty H8624 kings H4430 also over H5922 Jerusalem, H3390 which have ruled H7990 over all H3606 countries beyond H5675 the river; H5103 and toll, H4061 tribute, H1093 and custom, H1983 was paid H3052 (ItpePtc) unto them. [21] Give H7761 (PealImpv) ye now H3705 commandment H2942 to cause H989 these H479 men H1400 to cease, H989 (PealInf) and that this H1791 city H7149 be not H3809 builded, H1124 (ItpiImpf) until H5705 another commandment H2941 shall be given H7761 (ItpeImpf) from me. H4481 [22] Take heed H1934 (PealImpv) now that ye fail H7960 not to do H5922 this: H1836 why H4101 should damage H2257 grow H7680 (PealImpf) to the hurt H5142 (AphInf) of the kings? H4430 [23] Now H116 when H4481 the copy H6573 of king H4430 Artaxerxes’ H783 letter H5407 was read H7123 (PealPasPtc) before H6925 Rehum, H7348 and Shimshai H8124 the scribe, H5613 and their companions, H3675 they went up H236 (PealPerf) in haste H924 to Jerusalem H3390 unto H5922 the Jews, H3062 and made them H1994 to cease H989 (PealPerf) by force H153 and power. H2429§ [24] Then H116 ceased H989 (PealPerf) the work H5673 of the house H1005 of God H426 which is at Jerusalem. H3390 So it ceased H1934 (PealPerf) unto H5705 the second H8648 year H8140 of the reign H4437 of Darius H1868 king H4430 of Persia. H6540

Footnotes

  1. § 4:1 Heb. the sons of the transportation
  2. § 4:6 Heb. Ahashverosh
  3. § 4:7a Or, in peace
  4. § 4:7b Heb. societies
  5. § 4:8 Or, Secretary
  6. § 4:9 Chald. societies
  7. § 4:10 Chal. Cheeneth
  8. § 4:12a Or, finished
  9. § 4:12b Chal. sowed together
  10. § 4:13a Chal. give
  11. § 4:13b Or, strength
  12. § 4:15a Cald. made
  13. § 4:15b Chald. in the midst thereof
  14. § 4:17 Chal, societies
  15. § 4:19a Chald. by me a decree is set
  16. § 4:19b Chald. lifted up itself
  17. § 4:23 Chald. by arm and power
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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