1 But the enemies of Juda and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built a temple to our Lord the God of Israel.
1 Now the enemies of Juda and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to the Lord the God of Israel.
2 And coming to Zorobabel, & the Princes of the fathers, they said to them: Let us build with you, because even as you, so do we seek your God: Behold we have immolated victims from the days of Asor Haddan the king of Assur, which brought us hither.
2 And they came to Zorobabel, and the chief of the fathers, and said to them: Let us build with you, for we seek your God as ye do: behold we have sacrificed to him, since the days of Asor Haddan king of Assyria, who brought us hither.
3 And Zorobabel said to them, and Josue, and the rest of the Princes of the fathers of Israel: It is not for you and us to build a house to our God, but we ourselves alone will build to the Lord our God, as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us.
3 But Zorobabel, and Josue, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel said to them: You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God, but we ourselves alone will build to the Lord our God, as Cyrus king of the Persians hath commanded us.
4 It came to pass therefore that the people of the land hindered the hands of the people of Juda, & troubled them in building.
4 Then the people of the land hindered the hands of the people of Juda, and troubled them in building.
5 And they hired counsellers against them, to destroy their counsel all the days of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and until the reign of Darius the king of the Persians.
5 And they hired counselors against them, to frustrate their design all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of the Persians.
6 And in the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.
6 And in the reign of Assuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem.
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Beselam, Mithridates, & Thabeel, and the rest that were in their counsel writ to Artaxerxes king of the Persians: and the epistle of the accusation was written in Syriac, and was read in the Syrian language.
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Beselam, Mithridates, and Thabeel, and the rest that were in the council wrote to Artaxerxes king of the Persians: and the letter of accusation was written in Syrian, and was read in the Syrian tongue.
8 Reum Beelteem, and Samsai scribe wrote one epistle from Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, of this tenure:
8 Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe wrote a letter from Jerusalem to king Artaxerxes, in this manner:
9 Reum Beelteem, and Samsai scribe, and the rest of their counsellers, the Dineites, and the Apharsathaceites, the Terphaleites, the Apharsaites, the Erchueites, the Babylonians, the Susanecheites, the Dievites, and the Ælamites,
9 Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe and the rest of their counselors, the Dinites, and the Apharsathacites, the Therphalites, the Apharsites, the Erchuites, the Babylonians, the Susanechites, the Dievites, and the Elamites,
10 and the rest of the Gentiles, which Asenaphar the great and glorious transported: and made them dwell in the cities of Samaria, and in the rest of the countries beyond the River in peace:
10 And the rest of the nations, whom the great and glorious Asenaphar brought over: and made to dwell in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the countries of this side of the river in peace.
11 (this is the copy of the epistle, which they sent to him:) To Artaxerxes the king, thy servants, the men that are beyond the River, send greeting.
11 (This is the copy of the letter, which they sent to him): To Artaxerxes the king, thy servants, the men that are on this side of the river, send greeting.
12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews, which came up from thee to us, are come into Jerusalem, a rebellious & naughty city, which they build, making the rampires thereof, & repairing the walls.
12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews, who came up from thee to us, are come to Jerusalem a rebellious and wicked city, which they are building, setting up the ramparts thereof and repairing the walls.
13 Now therefore be it known to the king, that if that city shall be built, & the walls thereof repaired, they will not give tribute, and toll, and yearly rents, and this damage will come even to the kings.
13 And now be it known to the king, that if this city be built up, and the walls thereof repaired, they will not pay tribute nor toll, nor yearly revenues, and this loss will fall upon the kings.
14 But we mindful of the salt that we have eaten in the palace, and because we count it heinous to see the king's harms, therefore we have sent and certified the king,
14 But we remembering the salt that we have eaten in the palace, and because we count it a crime to see the king wronged, have therefore sent and certified the king,
15 that thou recount in the Books of the histories of thy fathers, and thou shalt find written in the commentaries, and shalt know that that city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to the kings, and provinces, and battles are raised in it of old time: for the which cause also the city it-self was destroyed.
15 That search may be made in the books of the histories of thy fathers, and thou shalt find written in the records: and shalt know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to the kings and provinces, and that wars were raised therein of old time: for which cause also the city was destroyed.
16 We certify the king, that if that city shall be built, and the walls thereof repaired, thou shalt have no possession beyond the River.
16 We certify the king, that if this city be built, and the walls thereof repaired, thou shalt have no possession on this side of the river.
17 The king sent word to Reum Beelteem, and Samsai scribe, and to the rest that were in their counsel inhabitants of Samaria, and to the rest beyond the River, sending greeting and peace.
17 The king sent word to Reum Beelteem and Samsai the scribe, and to the rest that were in their council, inhabitants of Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river, sending greeting and peace.
18 The accusation, which you have sent to us, was openly read before me.
18 The accusation, which you have sent to us, hath been plainly read before me,
19 and I gave commandment: and they recounted, and have found, that that city of old time rebelleth against the kings, & seditions and battles are raised in it.
19 And I commanded: and search hath been made, and it is found, that this city of old time hath rebelled against kings, and seditions and wars have been raised therein.
20 For there have been also most valiant kings in Jerusalem, which also had dominion over all the country that is beyond the River. They took also tribute, & toll and rents.
20 For there have been powerful kings in Jerusalem, who have had dominion over all the country that is beyond the river: and have received tribute, and toll and revenues.
21 Now therefore hear the sentence: Prohibit ye those men, that that city be not built, till it perhaps shall be commanded by me.
21 Now therefore hear the sentence: Hinder those men, that this city be not built, till further orders be given by me.
22 See that you do not negligently accomplish this thing, and by little there grow evil against the kings.
22 See that you be not negligent in executing this, lest by little and little the evil grow to the hurt of the kings.
23 Therefore the copy of the edict of Artaxerxes the king was read before Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counsellers: and they went in haste into Jerusalem to the Jews, and prohibited them with arm and strength.
23 Now the copy of the edict of king Artaxerxes was read before Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counselors: and they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and hindered them with arm and power.
24 Then was the work of the house of our Lord in Jerusalem intermitted, and was not done until the second year of the reign of Darius the king of the Persians.
24 Then the work of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was interrupted, and ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.