1   And in the second yeare of the reigne of Darius prophecied Aggeus, and Zacharias the sonne of Addo the prophet to Iurie and Ierusalem in the name of God of Israel vpon them.

2   Then Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel standing vp, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec begane to build the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem.

3   When the prophetes of our Lord were present with them, and did helpe them. At the same time came Sisennes to them, the deputie of Syria, and of Phenice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes:

4   and they sayd to them: By whose

commandment, build ye this house, and this roofe, and perfite al other thinges? And who are the workmen that build these thinges?

5   And the ancicntes of the Iewes, which were left of the captiuitie by our Lord, had fauoure when the visitation was made vpon them.

6   And they were not hindered from building, til it was signified to Darius of al these thinges, and answer was receiued.

7   A copie of the letter, which they sent to Darius. Sisennes deputie of Syria and Phenice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes in Syria and Phenice presidents, to king Darius greeting:

8   Be al thinges knowen to our Lord the king, that when we came into the countrie of Iurie, and had entered into Ierusalem, we found them building the great house of God.

9   And the temple of polished stones, and of great and precious matter in the walles.

10   And the workes to be a doing earnestly, and to succede, and prosper in their handes, and in al glorie to be perfited most diligently.

11   Then we asked the ancients saying, by whose permission build ye this house, & found these workes?

12   And therfore we asked them, that we might doe thee to know the men & the ouerseers, and we required of them a rolle of the names of the ouerseers.

13   But they answered vs saying: We are the seruantes of the Lord, which made heauen and earth.

14   And this house was built these manie yeares past by a king of Israel. that was great and most valiant, and was finished.

15   And because our fathers were prouoking to wrath, and sinned agaynst God of Israel, he deliuered them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, king of the Chaldees.

16   And throwing downe this house they burnt it, and they led the people captiue into Babylon.

17   In the first yeare when Cyrus reigned the king of Babylon, Cyrus the king wrote to build this house.

18   And these sacred vessels of gold and siluer which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the house which is in Ierualsem, and had consecrated them in his owne temple, Cyrus brought themforth agayne out of the temple which was in Babylon, and they were deliuered to Zorobabel, & to Salmanasar the deputie.

19   And it was commanded them that they should offer these vessels, & lay them vp in the temple, which was in Ierusalem, and build the temple of God itself in his place.

20   Then did Salmanasar lay the fundations of the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem: and from that time vntil now it is a building, and is not accomplished.

21   Now therfore if thou thincke it good ô king, let it be sought in the kings liberaries of Cyrus the king, which are in

Babylon:

22   and if it shal be found, that the building of the house of the Lord, which is in Ierusalem, begane by the counsel of Cyrus the king, and it be thought good of our Lord the king, let him write to vs of these thinges.

23   Then Darius the king commanded search to be made in the libraries: and there was found in Ecbatana a towne that is in the countrie of Media, one place wherin were writen these wordes:

24   In the first yeare of the reigne of Cyrus, king Cyrus c&obar;manded to build the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem, where they did burne incense with dayly fire,

25   the height wherof shal be of ten cubits, & the bredth threescore cubites, foure square with three stones polished, and with a loft galerie of wood of the same countrie, & one new galerie, and the expenses to be geuen out of the house of Cyrus the king.

26   And the sacred vesseles of the house of the Lord, as wel of gold as of siluer, which Nabuchodonosor tooke from the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem where they were layed, that they be put there:

27   And he commanded Sisennes the deputie of Syria & Phœnice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes & them that were ordayned presidentes in Syria & Phœnice, that they should refraine themselues from that place.

28   And I also haue geuen commandment to build it wholly: and haue prouided, that they helpe them, which are of the captiuitie of the Iewes, til the temple of the house of the Lord be accomplished.

29   And from the vexation of the tributes of Cœlesyria & Phœnice, a quantitie to be geuen diligently to these men for the sacrifice of the Lord, to Zorobabel the gouernour, for oxen, and rammes, and lambes.

30   And in like maner corne also, and salt, and wine, and oyle continually yeare by yeare, according as the priestes which are in Ierusalem, haue prescribed to be spent dayly:

31   that libamentes may be offered to the most high God for the king & his children, & that they may pray for their life.

32   And that it be denounced, that whosoeuer shal transgresse anie thing of these which are writen, or shal despise it, a beame be taken of theyr owne, & they be hanged, & their goodes be confiscate to the king.

33   Therfore the Lord also, whose name is inuocated there, destroy euery king & nation, that shal extend their hand to hinder or to handle il the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem.

34   I Darius the king haue decreed that it be most diligently done according to these thinges.

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