5Ezra 5

CHAP. V. / 1 Zerubbabel and Shealtiel, incited by Haggai and Zacharie, set forward the building of the Temple. 3 Tatnai and Shether-Boznai could not hinder the Iewes. 6 Their letter to Darius against

1Then the Prophets, Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the sonne of Iddo, prophesied vnto the Iewes that were in Iudah and Ierusalem, in the Name of the God of Israel, euen vnto them.Select Ezra 5:1

2Then rose vp Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel, and Ieshua the sonne of Iozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Ierusalem: and with them were the Prophets of God helping them.Select Ezra 5:2

3At the same time came to them Tatnai, gouernour on this side the Riuer, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions, and said thus vnto them; Who hath commaunded you to build this house, and to make vp this wall?Select Ezra 5:3

4Then said wee vnto them after this maner, What are the names of the men that make this building?Select Ezra 5:4

5But the eye of their God was vpon the Elders of the Iewes, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answere by letter concerning this matter.Select Ezra 5:5

6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, gouernour on this side the Riuer, and Shethar-Boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the Riuer, sent vnto Darius the King:Select Ezra 5:6

7They sent a letter vnto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.Select Ezra 5:7

8Be it knowen vnto the king, that we went into the prouince of Iudea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, & timber is laied in the wals, and this worke goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.Select Ezra 5:8

9Then asked we those Elders, and said vnto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make vp these walles?Select Ezra 5:9

10We asked their names also, to certifie thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chiefe of them.Select Ezra 5:10

11And thus they returned vs answere, saying, We are the seruants of the God of heauen and earth, and build the house that was builded these many yeeres agoe, which a great King of Israel builded, and set vp.Select Ezra 5:11

12But after that our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath: he gaue them into the hande of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Caldean, who destroyed this house, and caried the people away into Babylon.Select Ezra 5:12

13But in the first yere of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.Select Ezra 5:13

14And the vessels also of golde and siluer of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar tooke out of the Temple that was in Ierusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were deliuered vnto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whome he had made gouernour:Select Ezra 5:14

15And said vnto him, Take these vessels, goe, carie them into the temple that is in Ierusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.Select Ezra 5:15

16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God, which is in Ierusalem. And since that time, euen vntill now, hath it bin in building, & yet it is not finished.Select Ezra 5:16

17Now therefore, if it seeme good to the king, let there be search made in the kings 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 Ierusalem: and let the king send his pleasure to vs concerning this matter.Select Ezra 5:17