Ezra 4 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Ezra 4 (WEBP)

[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: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.
[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: Peace.
[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.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Ezra 4 (KJVS)

[1] Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard () that the children of the captivity builded () the temple unto the Lord God of Israel;
[2] then they came () to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said () unto them, Let us build () with you: for we seek () your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice () unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. ()
[3] But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said () unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build () an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build () unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded () us.
[4] Then the people of the land weakened () the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled () () () them in building, ()
[5] and hired () counsellors () against them, to frustrate () their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
[6] And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote () they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants () of Judah and Jerusalem.
[7] And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote () Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written () in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted () in the Syrian tongue.
[8] Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote () a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
[9] then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
[10] and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, () and set () in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
[11] This is the copy of the letter that they sent () unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
[12] Be it () known () unto the king, that the Jews which came up () from thee to us are come () unto Jerusalem, building () the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up () () () the walls thereof, and joined () the foundations.
[13] Be it known () () now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, () and the walls set up () again, then will they not pay () toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage () the revenue of the kings.
[14] Now because we have maintenance () from the king’s palace, and it was not meet () for us to see () the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent () and certified () the king;
[15] that search () may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find () in the book of the records, and know () that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful () unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved () sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. ()
[16] We certify () the king that, if this city be builded () again, and the walls thereof set up, () by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
[17] Then sent () the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell () in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
[18] The letter which ye sent () unto us hath been plainly () read () before me.
[19] And I commanded, () and search () hath been made, and it is found () that this city of old time hath made insurrection () against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made () therein.
[20] There have been () mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid () unto them.
[21] Give () ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, () and that this city be not builded, () until another commandment shall be given () from me.
[22] Take heed () () now that ye fail not to do () this: why should damage grow () to the hurt () of the kings?
[23] Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read () before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up () in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease () by force and power.
[24] Then ceased () the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased () () unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

Ezra 4 (BYZ)

[1] και ηκουσαν οι θλιβοντες ιουδα και βενιαμιν οτι οι υιοι της αποικιας οικοδομουσιν οικον τω κυριω θεω ισραηλ
[2] και ηγγισαν προς ζοροβαβελ και προς τους αρχοντας των πατριων και ειπαν αυτοις οικοδομησομεν μεθ υμων οτι ως υμεις εκζητουμεν τω θεω υμων και αυτω ημεις θυσιαζομεν απο ημερων ασαραδδων βασιλεως ασσουρ του ενεγκαντος ημας ωδε
[3] και ειπεν προς αυτους ζοροβαβελ και ιησους και οι καταλοιποι των αρχοντων των πατριων του ισραηλ ουχ ημιν και υμιν του οικοδομησαι οικον τω θεω ημων οτι ημεις αυτοι επι το αυτο οικοδομησομεν τω κυριω θεω ημων ως ενετειλατο ημιν κυρος ο βασιλευς περσων
[4] και ην ο λαος της γης εκλυων τας χειρας του λαου ιουδα και ενεποδιζον αυτους του οικοδομειν
[5] και μισθουμενοι επ αυτους βουλευομενοι του διασκεδασαι βουλην αυτων πασας τας ημερας κυρου βασιλεως περσων και εως βασιλειας δαρειου βασιλεως περσων
[6] και εν βασιλεια ασουηρου εν αρχη βασιλειας αυτου εγραψαν επιστολην επι οικουντας ιουδα και ιερουσαλημ
[7] και εν ημεραις αρθασασθα εγραψεν εν ειρηνη μιθραδατη ταβεηλ συν και τοις λοιποις συνδουλοις αυτου προς αρθασασθα βασιλεα περσων εγραψεν ο φορολογος γραφην συριστι και ηρμηνευμενην
[8] ραουμ βααλταμ και σαμσαι ο γραμματευς εγραψαν επιστολην μιαν κατα ιερουσαλημ τω αρθασασθα βασιλει
[9] ταδε εκρινεν ραουμ βααλταμ και σαμσαι ο γραμματευς και οι καταλοιποι συνδουλοι ημων διναιοι αφαρσαθαχαιοι ταρφαλλαιοι αφαρσαιοι αρχυαιοι βαβυλωνιοι σουσαναχαιοι οι εισιν ηλαμαιοι
[10] και οι καταλοιποι εθνων ων απωκισεν ασενναφαρ ο μεγας και ο τιμιος και κατωκισεν αυτους εν πολεσιν της σομορων και το καταλοιπον περαν του ποταμου
[11] αυτη η διαταγη της επιστολης ης απεστειλαν προς αυτον προς αρθασασθα βασιλεα παιδες σου ανδρες περαν του ποταμου
[12] γνωστον εστω τω βασιλει οτι οι ιουδαιοι αναβαντες απο σου εφ ημας ηλθοσαν εις ιερουσαλημ την πολιν την αποστατιν και πονηραν οικοδομουσιν και τα τειχη αυτης κατηρτισμενοι εισιν και θεμελιους αυτης ανυψωσαν
[13] νυν ουν γνωστον εστω τω βασιλει οτι εαν η πολις εκεινη ανοικοδομηθη και τα τειχη αυτης καταρτισθωσιν φοροι ουκ εσονται σοι ουδε δωσουσιν και τουτο βασιλεις κακοποιει
[14] και ασχημοσυνην βασιλεως ουκ εξεστιν ημιν ιδειν δια τουτο επεμψαμεν και εγνωρισαμεν τω βασιλει
[15] ινα επισκεψηται εν βιβλιω υπομνηματισμου των πατερων σου και ευρησεις και γνωση οτι η πολις εκεινη πολις αποστατις και κακοποιουσα βασιλεις και χωρας και φυγαδια δουλων εν μεσω αυτης απο χρονων αιωνος δια ταυτα η πολις αυτη ηρημωθη
[16] γνωριζομεν ουν ημεις τω βασιλει οτι εαν η πολις εκεινη οικοδομηθη και τα τειχη αυτης καταρτισθη ουκ εστιν σοι ειρηνη
[17] και απεστειλεν ο βασιλευς προς ραουμ βααλταμ και σαμσαι γραμματεα και τους καταλοιπους συνδουλους αυτων τους οικουντας εν σαμαρεια και τους καταλοιπους περαν του ποταμου ειρηνην και φησιν
[18] ο φορολογος ον απεστειλατε προς ημας εκληθη εμπροσθεν εμου
[19] και παρ εμου ετεθη γνωμη και επεσκεψαμεθα και ευραμεν οτι η πολις εκεινη αφ ημερων αιωνος επι βασιλεις επαιρεται και αποστασεις και φυγαδια γινονται εν αυτη
[20] και βασιλεις ισχυροι γινονται επι ιερουσαλημ και επικρατουντες ολης της εσπερας του ποταμου και φοροι πληρεις και μερος διδοται αυτοις
[21] και νυν θετε γνωμην καταργησαι τους ανδρας εκεινους και η πολις εκεινη ουκ οικοδομηθησεται ετι οπως απο της γνωμης
[22] πεφυλαγμενοι ητε ανεσιν ποιησαι περι τουτου μηποτε πληθυνθη αφανισμος εις κακοποιησιν βασιλευσιν
[23] τοτε ο φορολογος του αρθασασθα βασιλεως ανεγνω ενωπιον ραουμ και σαμσαι γραμματεως και συνδουλων αυτων και επορευθησαν σπουδη εις ιερουσαλημ και εν ιουδα και κατηργησαν αυτους εν ιπποις και δυναμει
[24] τοτε ηργησεν το εργον οικου του θεου του εν ιερουσαλημ και ην αργουν εως δευτερου ετους της βασιλειας δαρειου του βασιλεως περσων

The Greek New Testament According to the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, Inc., Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Dedicated to the public domain by Guardian Press, Inc. and J. Jeffrey Dodson.