Esdra 4

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Audierunt autem hostes Iudae et Beniamin, quia filii captivita tisaedificarent templum Domino, Deo Israel,	1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
2 et accedentes ad Zorobabel et adprincipes familiarum dixerunt eis: “ Aedificemus vobiscum, quia ita ut vosquaerimus Deum vestrum et immolavimus victimas a diebus Asarhaddon regisAssyriae, qui adduxit nos huc ”.	2 they approached Zerubbabel and the family heads and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God just as you do, and we have sacrificed to him since the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who had us brought here."
3 Et dixit eis Zorobabel et Iesua et reliquiprincipes familiarum Israel: “ Non est vobis et nobis, ut aedificemus domumDeo nostro, sed nos ipsi soli aedificabimus Domino, Deo Israel, sicut praecepitnobis Cyrus rex Persarum ”.	3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the family heads of Israel answered them, "It is not your responsibility to build with us a house for our God, but we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus of Persia has commanded us."
4 Factum est igitur, ut populus terrae impediretmanus populi Iudae et turbaret eos in aedificando.	4 Thereupon the people of the land set out to intimidate and dishearten the people of Judah so as to keep them from building.
5 Conduxerunt autem adversuseos consiliatores, ut destruerent consilium eorum omnibus diebus Cyri regisPersarum et usque ad regnum Darii regis Persarum.	5 They also suborned counselors to work against them and thwart their plans during the remaining years of Cyrus, king of Persia, and until the reign of Darius, king of Persia.
6 In regno autem Asueri, in principio regni eius, scripserunt accusationemadversus habitatores Iudae et Ierusalem.	6 Also at the beginning of the reign of Ahashuerus they prepared a written accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 Et in diebus Artaxerxis scripsitBeselam, Mithridates et Tabel et reliqui, qui erant in consilio eorum, adArtaxerxem regem Persarum; scriptura autem accusationis erat scripta litterisSyriacis et composita sermone Syro.	7 Again, in the time of Artaxerxes, Mithredath wrote in concert with Tabeel and the rest of his fellow officials to Artaxerxes, king of Persia. The document was written in Aramaic and was accompanied by a translation. (Aramaic:)
8 Rehum praefectus et Samsai scribascripserunt epistulam unam de Ierusalem Artaxerxi regi huiuscemodi:	8 Then Rehum, the governor, and Shimshai, the scribe, wrote the following letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes:
9 “ Rehumpraefectus et Samsai scriba et reliqui socii eorum, iudices et duces,magistratus Persae, Erchuaei, Babylonii, Susanechaei, hoc est Elamitae,	9 "Rehum, the governor, Shimshai, the scribe, and their fellow judges, officials, and agents from among the Persian, Urukian, Babylonian, Susian (that is Elamite),
10 etceteri de gentibus, quas transtulit Asenaphar magnus et gloriosus et habitarefecit in civitatibus Samariae et in reliquis regionibus trans flumen in pace ”.	10 and the other peoples whom the great and illustrious Assurbanipal transported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in the province West-of-Euphrates, as follows. . . ."
11 Hoc est exemplar epistulae, quam miserunt ad eum: “ Artaxerxi regi, servi tui, viri, qui sunt trans fluvium. Igitur	11 This is a copy of the letter that they sent to him: "To King Artaxerxes, your servants, the men of West-of-Euphrates, as follows:
12 notum sitregi quia Iudaei, qui ascenderunt a te ad nos, venerunt in Ierusalem civitatemrebellem et pessimam, quam aedificant, exstruentes muros eius, fundamenta iamcomponentes.	12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived at Jerusalem and are now rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They are raising up its walls, and the foundations have already been laid.
13 Nunc notum sit regi quia, si civitas illa aedificata fuerit, etmuri eius instaurati, tributum et annonam et vectigal non dabunt, et ad ultimumregibus noxa erit.	13 Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are raised up again, they will no longer pay taxes, tributes, or tolls; thus it can only result in harm to the throne.
14 Nos autem, memores salis, quod in palatio comedimus, etquia laesiones regis videre nefas ducimus, idcirco misimus et nuntiavimus regi,	14 Now, since we partake of the salt of the palace, we ought not simply to look on while the king is being dishonored. Therefore we have sent this message to inform you, O king,
15 ut recenseas in libris historiarum patrum tuorum, et invenies in hishistoriis et scies quoniam urbs illa urbs rebellis est et nocens regibus etprovinciis, et seditiones concitantur in ea ex diebus antiquis; quam ob rem etcivitas ipsa destructa est.	15 so that inquiry may be made in the historical records of your fathers. In the historical records you can discover and verify that this city is a rebellious city which has proved fatal to kings and provinces, and that sedition has been fostered there since ancient times. For that reason this city was destroyed.
16 Nuntiamus nos regi quoniam, si civitas illaaedificata fuerit, et muri ipsius instaurati, possessionem trans fluvium nonhabebis ”.	16 We inform you, O king, that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are raised up again, by that very fact you will no longer own any part of West-of-Euphrates."
17 Verbum misit rex ad Rehum praefectum et Samsai scribam et ad reliquos, quierant in consilio eorum, qui habitabant in Samaria et in regione trans fluvium:“ Pax. Nunc igitur scriptura,	17 The king sent this answer: "To Rehum, the governor, Shimshai, the scribe, and their fellow officials living in Samaria and elsewhere in the province West-of-Euphrates, greetings and the following:
18 quam misistis ad nos, manifeste lecta estcoram me.	18 The communication which you sent us has been read plainly in my presence.
19 Et a me praeceptum est, et recensuerunt inveneruntque quoniamcivitas illa a diebus antiquis adversum reges rebellabat, et rebelliones etseditiones concitabantur in ea;	19 When at my command inquiry was made, it was verified that from ancient times this city has risen up against kings and that rebellion and sedition have been fostered there.
20 nam et reges fortissimi fuerunt in Ierusalem,qui et dominati sunt omni regioni, quae trans fluvium est, tributum quoque etannonam et vectigal accipiebant.	20 Powerful kings were once in Jerusalem who ruled over all West-of-Euphrates, and taxes, tributes, and tolls were paid to them.
21 Nunc ergo praecipite, ut desistant istihomines, et urbs illa non aedificetur, donec forte a me iussum fuerit.	21 Give orders, therefore, that will stop the work of these men. This city may not be rebuilt until a further decree has been issued by me.
22 Videte, ne negligenter hoc impleatis, et paulatim crescat malum contra reges ”.	22 Take care that you do not neglect this matter, lest the evil grow to the detriment of the throne."
23 Itaque exemplum edicti Artaxerxis regis lectum est coram Rehum praefectum etSamsai scriba et consiliariis eorum; et abierunt festini in Ierusalem ad Iudaeoset prohibuerunt eos in brachio et robore.	23 As soon as a copy of King Artaxerxes' letter had been read before Rehum, the governor, Shimshai, the scribe, and their fellow officials, they went in all haste to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped their work by force of arms.
24 Tunc intermissum est opus domusDomini in Ierusalem et non fiebat usque ad annum secundum regni Darii regisPersarum.	24 Thus it was that the work on the house of God in Jerusalem was halted. This inaction lasted until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.