Ezra 5

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 Now Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, prophesying to the Jews who were in Judea and Jerusalem, prophesied 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 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, rose up and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, assisting them.
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 Then, at the same time, Tattenai, who was the governor beyond the river, and Shetharbozenai, and their counselors came to them. And they spoke in this way to them: “Who has given you counsel, so that you would build this house and repair its walls?”
4 What are the names of the men putting up this building?'	4 We responded to this by giving them the names of the men who were the founders of that building.
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 the eye of their God was set over the elders of the Jews, and so they were unable to hinder them. And it was agreed that the matter should be referred to Darius, and then they would give a reply against that accusation.
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 that Tattenai, the governor of the region beyond the river, and Shetharbozenai, and his counselors, the rulers who were beyond the river, sent to Darius the king.
7 They sent him a report which ran as fol ows: 'To King Darius, hearty greetings!	7 The word that they sent him was written in this way: “To Darius, the king of all peace.
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 went to the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which they are building with rough stones, and with timber set into the walls. And this work is being built up diligently, and it increases by their hands.
9 Questioning these elders, we asked them, "Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple andcomplete this structure?"	9 Therefore, we questioned those elders, and we spoke to them in this way: ‘Who has given authority to you, so that you would build this house and repair these walls?’
10 We also asked them their names, to inform you, so that we could record the names of the men whowere their leaders.	10 But we also required of them their names, so that we might report to you. And we have written down the names of their men, those who are leaders among them.
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 Then they responded a word to us in this manner, saying: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. And we are building the temple that was constructed these many years before, and which a great king of Israel had built and constructed.
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 afterward, our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, so he delivered them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean. And he destroyed this house, and he transferred its people 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 Then, in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, king Cyrus issued a decree, so that this house of God would be built.
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 And now the vessels of gold and silver from the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem, and which he had carried away to the temple of Babylon, king Cyrus brought out of the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one called Sheshbazzar, whom he also appointed as 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 said to him: “Take these vessels, and go, and set them in the temple that is in Jerusalem. And let the house of God be built in its place.”
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 And so this same Sheshbazzar then came and set the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. And from that time, even until now, it is being built, 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 then, if it seems good to the king, let him search in the king’s library, which is in Babylon, to see whether it was ordered by king Cyrus, that the house of God in Jerusalem should be built. And may the will of the king be sent to us about this matter.”