Ezra 4:1 Now when the adversaries6862 of Judah3063 and Benjamin1144 heard8085 that the children1121 of the captivity1473{Heb. the sons of the transportation} builded1129 the temple1964 unto the LORD3068 God430 of Israel;3478 cr 2 Then they came5066 to Zerubbabel,2216 and to the chief7218 of the fathers,1 and said559 unto them, Let us build1129 with you: for we seek1875 your God,430 as ye do; and we do sacrifice2076 unto him since the days3117 of Esarhaddon634 king4428 of Assur,804 which brought us up hither.5927 cr 3 But Zerubbabel,2216 and Jeshua,3442 and the rest7605 of the chief7218 of the fathers1 of Israel,3478 said559 unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build1129 an house1004 unto our God;430 but we ourselves together3162 will build1129 unto the LORD3068 God430 of Israel,3478 as king4428 Cyrus3566 the king4428 of Persia6539 hath commanded6680 us. cr 4 Then the people5971 of the land776 weakened7503 the hands3027 of the people5971 of Judah,3063 and troubled926 1089 them in building,1129 cr 5 And hired7936 counsellors3289 against them, to frustrate6565 their purpose,6098 all the days3117 of Cyrus3566 king4428 of Persia,6539 even until the reign4438 of Darius1867 king4428 of Persia.6539 cr 6 And in the reign4438 of Ahasuerus,325{Heb. Ahashverosh} in the beginning8462 of his reign,4438 wrote3789 they unto him an accusation7855 against the inhabitants3427 of Judah3063 and Jerusalem.3389 cr

Ezra 4:7 And in the days3117 of Artaxerxes783 wrote3789 Bishlam,1312{Or, in peace} Mithredath,4990 Tabeel,2870 and the rest7605 of their companions,3674{Heb. societies} unto Artaxerxes783 king4428 of Persia;6539 and the writing3791 of the letter5406 was written3789 in the Syrian tongue,762 and interpreted8638 in the Syrian tongue.762 cr 8 Rehum7348 the chancellor1169 2942 and Shimshai8124 the scribe5613{Or, Secretary} wrote3790 a2298 letter104 against5922 Jerusalem3390 to Artaxerxes783 the king4430 in this sort:3660 cr 9 Then116 wrote Rehum7348 the chancellor,1169 2942 and Shimshai8124 the scribe,5613 and the rest7606 of their companions;3675{Chald. societies} the Dinaites,1784 the Apharsathchites,671 the Tarpelites,2967 the Apharsites,670 the Archevites,756 the Babylonians,896 the Susanchites,7801 the Dehavites,1723 and the Elamites,5962 cr 10 And the rest7606 of the nations524 whom1768 the great7229 and noble3358 Asnappar620 brought over,1541 and set3488 1994 in the cities7149 of Samaria,8115 and the rest7606 that are on this side5675 the river,5103 and at such a time.3706{Chal. Cheeneth} cr

Ezra 4:11 This1836 is the copy6573 of the letter104 that1768 they sent7972 unto him,5922 even unto Artaxerxes783 the king;4430 Thy servants5649 the men606 on this side5675 the river,5103 and at such a time.3706 cr 12 Be it1934 known3046 unto the king,4430 that the Jews3062 which1768 came up5559 from4481 thee3890 to us5922 are come858 unto Jerusalem,3390 building1124 the rebellious4779 and the bad873 city,7149 and have set up3635 3635{Or, finished} the walls7792 thereof, and joined2338{Chal. sowed together} the foundations.787 cr 13 Be it known3046 1934 now3705 unto the king,4430 that, if2006 this1791 city7149 be builded,1124 and the walls7792 set up3635 again, then will they not3809 pay5415{Chal. give} toll,4061 tribute,1093 and custom,1983 and so thou shalt endamage5142 the revenue674{Or, strength} of the kings.4430 cr 14 Now3705 because6903 3606 we have1768 maintenance4415 4416 from the king's palace,1965{Chal. we are salted with the salt of the palace} and it was not3809 meet749 for us to see2370 the king's4430 dishonour,6173 therefore5922 1836 have we sent7972 and certified3046 the king;4430 cr 15 That search1240 may be made in the book5609 of the records1799 of thy fathers:2 so shalt thou find7912 in the book5609 of the records,1799 and know3046 that this1791 city7149 is a rebellious4779 city,7149 and hurtful5142 unto kings4430 and provinces,4083 and that they have moved5648{Cald. made} sedition849 within the same1459 of4481 old5957 time:3118{Chald. in the midst thereof} for5922 which1836 cause was this1791 city7149 destroyed.2718 cr 16 We586 certify3046 the king4430 that, if2006 this1791 city7149 be builded1124 again, and the walls7792 thereof set up,3635 by this1836 means6903 thou shalt have383 no3809 portion2508 on this side5675 the river.5103 cr

Ezra 4:17 Then sent7972 the king4430 an answer6600 unto5922 Rehum7348 the chancellor,1169 2942 and to Shimshai8124 the scribe,5613 and to the rest7606 of their companions3675{Chal, societies} that dwell3488 in Samaria,8115 and unto the rest7606 beyond5675 the river,5103 Peace,8001 and at such a time.3706 cr 18 The letter5407 which ye sent7972 unto us5922 hath been plainly6568 read7123 before6925 me. cr 19 And I4481 commanded,7761 2942{Chald. by me a decree is set} and search1240 hath been made, and it is found7912 that this1791 city7149 of4481 old5957 time3118 hath made insurrection5376{Chald. lifted up itself} against5922 kings,4430 and that rebellion4776 and sedition849 have been made5648 therein. cr 20 There have been1934 mighty8624 kings4430 also over5922 Jerusalem,3390 which have ruled7990 over all3606 countries beyond5675 the river;5103 and toll,4061 tribute,1093 and custom,1983 was paid3052 unto them. cr 21 Give7761 ye now3705 commandment2942{Chal. make a decree} to cause989 2794 these479 men1400 to cease,989 and that this1791 city7149 be not3809 builded,1124 until5705 another commandment2941 shall be given7761 from me.4481 cr 22 Take heed1934 2095 now that ye fail7960 not to do5922 5648 this:1836 why4101 should damage2257 grow7680 to the hurt5142 of the kings?4430 cr

Ezra 4:23 Now116 when4481 1768 the copy6573 of king4430 Artaxerxes'783 letter5407 was read7123 before6925 Rehum,7348 and Shimshai8124 the scribe,5613 and their companions,3675 they went up236 in haste924 to Jerusalem3390 unto5922 the Jews,3062 and made them1994 to cease989 by force153 and power.2429{Chald. by arm and power} cr 24 Then116 ceased989 the work5673 of the house1005 of God426 which is at Jerusalem.3390 So it ceased1934 989 unto5705 the second8648 year8140 of the reign4437 of Darius1868 king4430 of Persia.6540 cr