1IN the second yeare of the reigne of Darius, Aggeus, and Zacharias the sonne of Addo the prophetes prophecied to the Iewes, that were in Iurie and Ierusalem in the name of the God of Israel.stylus2Then stood vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, and began to build the house of of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem.stylus3And when the prophetes of our Lord were with them, and did helpe them: there came to them Sisennes the deputie of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their felowes:stylus4and sayd to them:stylus5Who commanded you to build this house, and this roofe, and to finish al other thinges? and who are the builders, that build these thinges?stylus6And the ancients of the Iewes had grace of our Lord visitng them,stylus7and the builders were not prohibited, vntil it was signified to Darius of al these thinges, and answer was receaued.stylus8The copie of the epistle, which he sent to Darius: Sisennes deputie of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their felowes the rulers in Syria and Phenice, to king Darius greeting.stylus9Be al thinges knowen to our Lord the King, that coming into the countrie of Iurie, and entering into Ierusalem, we found the ancients of the Iewes of the captiuitiestylus10building a house to our Lord great and new, of hewed and costly stones, and the timber to be layed in the walles:stylus11and those workes to be done with diligence, and the worke to prosper in their handes, and generally to be finished with al glorie and diligence.stylus12Then we asked the ancients, saying: Who gaue you permission to build this house, and to found these workes?stylus13Therfore we asked them that we might doe thee to know the men and the ouerseers, and we required listes of their names of them.stylus14But they answered vs, saying: We are the seruantes of the Lord, which made heauen and earth.stylus15And the house was builded manie yeares agoe, by the king of Israel, that was great and most strong, and was finished.stylus16And when our fathers prouoked God to wrath, and sinned against the Lord of Israel, which is in heauen, he betrayed them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, king of the Chaldees:stylus17and they threw downe the house, and burnt it, and led the people captiue into Babylon.stylus18But in the first yeare that Cyrus reigned ouer the countrie of Babylon, King Cyrus wrote to build this house.stylus19And these sacred vessels of gold and of siluer, which Nabuchodonosor had caried away out of the house, which is in Ierusalem, and had consecrated them in his owne temple, Cyrus the king brought them forth aagayne out of the temple, which was in Babylon, and they were deliuered to Zorobabel, and to Salmanasar the deputie.stylus20And it was commanded him that he should offer these vessels, and lay them vp in the temple, which was in Ierusalem, and build the temple of God in his place.stylus21Then Salmanasar layd the fundations of the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem, and from that time vntil now it is in building, and is not finished.stylus22Now therfore if thou thinke it good O king, let search be made in the kinges libraires of Cyrus,stylus23and if it shal be found, that the building of the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem, was done with the counsel of king Cyrus, and it shal seme good to our Lord the King, let him write to vs of these thinges.stylus24Then king Darius commanded search to be made in the libraries: and there was found in Ecbatana, which is a towne in the countrie of Media, one place, wherin were writen these thinges:stylus25In the first yeare of the reigne of Cyrus, King Cyrus commanded to build the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem, where they did sacrifice with fire continual.stylus26Whose height was of sixtie cubits, and the latitude of sixtie cubits, squared with three stones hewed, and a roofe of new timberie, and the expenses to be geuen out of the house of king Cyrus:stylus27and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, aswell of gold as of siluer, which Nabuchodonosor caried away out of the house, which was in Ierusalem, & brought them into Babylon, to be restored to the house, which is in Ierusalem, where they were, that they be put there.stylus28He commanded also Sissennes the deputie of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, and their felowes, and those that were ordayned rulers in Syria and Phenice, that they should absteyne from them, and suffer Zorobabel the seruant of our Lord, and the ruler of Iurie, and the ancientes of the Iewes to build that house of our Lord.stylus29And I haue commanded also to haue it built fully, and that: they looke diligently to helpe them of the Iewes of the captiuitie, til the house of our Lord be finished:stylus30and a portion to be geuen them diligently of the tribute of Caelesyria and Phenice, to the sacrifice of our Lord, to Zorobabel the ruler, to bulles, and rammes, and lambes,stylus31and corne, and salt, and wine, and oyle, continually euery yeare, without anie delay, according as the Priestes which are in Ierusalem, haue prescribed to be spent dayly:stylus32that oblations may be offered to the Highest God, for the king, and for his children, & they may pray for their life.stylus33And let it be denounced, that whosoeuer shal transgresse, or despise, either of those thinges that are writen, or of those that be now obtained, wood be taken out of his owne, & he be hanged theron, and his goodes be confiscate to the king.stylus34Therefore al so the Lord, whose name is inuocated there, destroy euery king & nation, that shal extend their hand to hinder or handle il that house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem.stylus35I Darius the king haue decreed, that it be done with al diligence.stylus
