Ezra 5

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 When the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah andJerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them,	1 Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo, began to prophesy to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.
2 Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began rebuilding the Temple of God inJerusalem; with them were the prophets of God, supporting them.	2 Thereupon Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, son of Jozadak, began again to build the house of God in Jerusalem, with the prophets of God giving them support.
3 It was then that Tattenai governor of Transeuphrates, Shethar-Bozenai and their associates came tothem and asked, 'Who gave you the order to rebuild this Temple and complete this structure?	3 At that time there came to them Tattenai, governor of West-of-Euphrates, and Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow officials, who asked of them: "Who issued the decree for you to build this house and raise this edifice?
4 What are the names of the men putting up this building?'	4 What are the names of the men who are building this structure?"
5 But the eyes of their God were watching over the elders of the Jews, so they were not forced to stopuntil a report could reach Darius and an official reply about the matter could be received from him.	5 But their God watched over the elders of the Jews so that they were not hindered, until a report could go to Darius and then a written order be sent back concerning this matter.
6 A copy of the letter which Tattenai, governor of Transeuphrates, Shethar-Bozenai and his associates,the officials in Transeuphrates, sent to King Darius.	6 A copy of the letter sent to King Darius by Tattenai, governor of West-of-Euphrates, and Shethar-bozenai, and their fellow officials from West-of-Euphrates;
7 They sent him a report which ran as fol ows: 'To King Darius, hearty greetings!	7 they sent him a report in which was written the following: "To King Darius, all good wishes!
8 'The king should be informed that we went to the province of Judah, to the Temple of the great God,which is being rebuilt with large stones; beams are being embedded in the walls; the work is being carried outenergetical y and is making good progress.	8 Let it be known to the king that we have visited the province of Judah and the house of the great God: it is being rebuilt of cut stone and the walls are being reinforced with timber; the work is being carried on diligently and is making good progress under their hands.
9 Questioning these elders, we asked them, "Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple andcomplete this structure?"	9 We then questioned the elders, addressing to them the following words: 'Who issued the decree for you to build this house and raise this edifice?'
10 We also asked them their names, to inform you, so that we could record the names of the men whowere their leaders.	10 We also asked them their names, to report them to you in a list of the men who are their leaders.
11 'They gave us the fol owing answer, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth; we arerebuilding the Temple built many years ago, which a great king of Israel had built and completed.	11 This was their answer to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house built here long years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
12 But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar theChaldaean king of Babylon who destroyed this Temple and deported the people to Babylon.	12 But because our fathers provoked the wrath of the God of heaven, he delivered them into the power of the Chaldean, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who destroyed this house and led the people captive to Babylon.
13 In the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, however, King Cyrus issued an official order that this Templeof God should be rebuilt;	13 However, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree for the rebuilding of this house of God.
14 furthermore, those gold and silver articles belonging to the Temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar hadremoved from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus in turn removed fromthe temple of Babylon and handed back to a certain Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed governor.	14 Moreover, the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and carried off to the temple in Babylon, King Cyrus ordered to be removed from the temple in Babylon and consigned to a certain Sheshbazzar, whom he named governor.
15 He said to him, 'Take these articles; go and return them to the Temple which is in Jerusalem and letthe Temple of God be rebuilt on its original site;'	15 And he commanded him: Take these utensils and deposit them in the temple of Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site.
16 this Sheshbazzar then came and laid the foundations of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and it hasbeen under construction ever since, and is not yet finished."	16 Then this same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. Since that time the building has been going on, and it is not yet completed.'
17 'Hence, if it please the king, let search be made in the royal treasuries in Babylon, to find out if it is truethat an official order was issued by King Cyrus for this temple of God in Jerusalem to be rebuilt; and let the king'sdecision on this matter be sent to us.'	17 Now, if it please the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether a decree really was issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And may the king's pleasure in this matter be communicated to us."