Ezra 5:3-17

Ezra 5:3-17

[3] At the same time  came  to them Tatnai,  governor  on this side  the river,  and Shetharboznai,  and their companions,  and said  thus  unto them,  Who  hath commanded  you to build  this  house,  and to make up  this  wall?  [4] Then  said  we unto them after this manner,  What  are  the names  of the men  that make  this  building?  [5] But the eye  of their God  was  upon  the elders  of the Jews,  that they could not  them  to cease,  till  the matter  came  to Darius:  and then  they returned answer  by letter  concerning  this  matter. [6] The copy  of the letter  that Tatnai,  governor  on this side  the river,  and Shetharboznai,  and his companions  the Apharsachites,  which were on this side  the river,  sent  unto  Darius  the king:  [7] They sent  a letter  unto  him, wherein  was written  thus;  Unto Darius  the king,  all  peace.  [8] Be it known  unto the king,  that we went  into the province  of Judea,  to the house  of the great  God,  which is builded  with great  stones,  and timber  is laid  in the walls,  and this  work  goeth  fast  on, and prospereth  in their hands.  [9] Then  asked  we those  elders,  and said  unto them thus,  Who  commanded  you to build  this  house,  and to make up  these  walls?  [10] We asked  their names  also,  to certify  thee, that we might write  the names  of the men  that were the chief  of them. [11] And thus  they returned  us answer,  saying,  We  are  the servants  of the God  of heaven  and earth,  and build  the house  that was  builded  these  many  years  ago,  which a great  king  of Israel  builded  and set up.  [12] But  after  that our fathers  the God  of heaven  unto wrath,  he gave  them  into the hand  of Nebuchadnezzar  the king  of Babylon,  the Chaldean,  who destroyed  this  house,  the people  away  into Babylon.  [13] But  in the first  year  of Cyrus  the king  of Babylon  the same king  Cyrus  made  a decree  to build  this  house  of God.  [14] And the vessels  also  of  gold  and silver  of the house  of God,  which Nebuchadnezzar  took  out of  the temple  that was in Jerusalem,  and brought  them into the temple  of Babylon,  those  did Cyrus  the king  take  out of  the temple  of Babylon,  and they were delivered  unto one, whose name  was Sheshbazzar,  whom he had made  governor;  [15] And said  unto him, Take  these  vessels,  go,  carry  them  into the temple  that is in Jerusalem,  and let the house  of God  be builded  in  his place.  [16] Then  came  the same  Sheshbazzar,  and laid  the foundation  of the house  of God  which is in Jerusalem:  and since  that time  even until  now  hath it been in building,  and yet it is not  finished.  [17] Now  therefore, if  it seem good  to  the king,  let there be search  made in the king's  treasure  house,  which is there  at Babylon,  whether  it be  so, that a decree  was made  of  Cyrus  the king  to build  this  house  of God  at Jerusalem,  and let the king  send  his pleasure  to us concerning  this matter.