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¹ The prophetes Aggens, and Zachari the sonne of Iddo, prophecied vnto the Iewes that were in Iuda and Hierusalem in the name of the God of Israel, eue vnto them.² Then gat vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and began to builde the house of God at Hierusalem: and with them were the prophetes of God, which helped them.

³ At the same time came to them Thathanai which was captaine beyond the water, and Stharbuzanai, and their companions, and saide thus vnto them: Who hath commaunded you to builde this house, & to make vp these walles?⁴ Then saide we vnto them after this maner: What are the names of the men that make this building?⁵ But the eye of their God was vpon the elders of the Iewes, that they could not cause them to ceasse, till the matter was brought to Darius: and then they aunswered by letters thereunto.⁶ This is the copie of the letter that Thathanai which was captayne beyond the water, & Stharbuzanai, & the counsailours of Apharsath which were beyond the water, sent vnto king Darius.⁷ And the matter that they sent vnto him, was written thus within the letter: Unto Darius the king, all peace.⁸ Be it knowen vnto the king that we went into the prouince of Iurie to the house of the great God, which is builded with mightie great stones, and beames are layde in the walles, and the worke goeth fast foorth, and prospereth in their handes.⁹ Then asked we the elders, and saide vnto them as it foloweth: Who commaunded you to builde this house, and to make vp the walles thereof?¹⁰ We asked their names also, that we might certifie thee, and write the names of the men that were their rulers.¹¹ But they aunswered vs with these wordes, and saide: We are the seruauntes of him that is God of heauen and earth, and builde the house that was builded of olde and many yeres ago, which the great king of Israel builded, and set vp.¹² But after our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath, he gaue them ouer into the hande of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon & of the Chaldees, which brake downe this house, and caried the people away captiue vnto Babylon.¹³ But in the first yere of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus gaue commaundement concerning this house of God, that it shoulde be built againe.¹⁴ And the vessels of golde and siluer of the house of God which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple that was at Hierusalem, and brought them into the temple at Babylon: those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple at Babylon, and they were deliuered vnto one Sasbazar by name, whom he made captaine,¹⁵ And saide vnto him: Take these vessels, and go thy way, and set them in the temple that is at Hierusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.¹⁶ Then came the same Sasbazar, and layed the foundation of the house of God which is at Hierusalem: Since that time also vntill nowe hath it ben in building, and yet is it not finished.¹⁷ Now therefore if it please the king, let there be searche made in the kinges librarie which is there at Babylon, whether it haue ben king Cyrus commaundement that this temple of God at Hierusalem shoulde be builded: and let the king send his minde concerning the same matter.