Then the prophets, Chaggay (חַגַּי) the prophet, and Zekaryâhû (זְכַרְיָהוּ) the son of Iddô, prophesied unto the Yahûdâı̂y that were in Yahûdâh and Yerûshâlaim in the name of the ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) of Yâshârêl, even unto them.
Then rose up Zerûbbâbel the son of Shealtı̂yêl, and Yâshûah the son of Yôtsâdâq, and began to build the house of ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) which is at Yerûshâlaim: and with them were the prophets of ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) helping them.
At the same time came to them Tattenay (תַּתְּנַי), governor on this side the river, and Shethar bôzenay (שְׁתַר בּוֹזְנַי) and their companions, and said thus unto them, who has commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
Then said we unto them after this manner, what are the names of the men that make this building?
But the eye of their ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) was upon the elders of the Yahûdâı̂y, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Dâreyâwêsh: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
The copy of the letter that Tattenay, governor on this side the river, and Shethar bôzenay and his companions the Ăpharsekay, which were on this side the river, sent unto Dâreyâwêsh the king:
They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Dâreyâwêsh the king, all peace.
Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Yahûd (יְהוּד), to the house of the great ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ), which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands.
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Yâshârêl built and set up.
But after that our fathers had provoked the ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebûkadnetstsar the king of Bâbel, the Kasday (כַּסְדַּי), who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Bâbel.
But in the first year of Kôresh the king of Bâbel the same king Kôresh made a decree to build this house of ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ).
And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ), which Nebûkadnetstsar took out of the temple that was in Yerûshâlaim, and brought them into the temple of Bâbel, those did Kôresh the king take out of the temple of Bâbel, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Shêshbatstsar (שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר), whom he had made governor;
And said unto him, take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Yerûshâlaim, and let the house of ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) be built in his place.
Then came the same Shêshbatstsar, and laid the foundation of the house of ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) which is in Yerûshâlaim: and since that time even until now it is being built, and yet it is not finished.
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Bâbel, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Kôresh the king to build this house of ĔLÂHH (אֱלָהּ) at Yerûshâlaim, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.