1 In the first year of Koresh sovereign of Paras, in order to accomplish the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 by the mouth of Yirmeyahu,
2 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 stirred up the spirit of Koresh sovereign of Paras, so that he called out in all his reign, and also put it in writing,
3 saying, “Thus said Koresh sovereign of Paras; 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 of Yisra’ĕl, the Most High Ĕl, has made me sovereign of the whole world,
4 and commanded me to build Him a House at Yerushalayim in Yahuḏah.
5 “If therefore there are any of you who are of His people, let 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, even his Aḏon, be with him, and let him go up to Yerushalayim that is in Yahuḏah, and build the House of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 of Yisra’ĕl, for He is 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 who dwells in Yerushalayim.
6 “Whoever then dwells in the places round about, I say, let them help him – those who are his neighbours – with gold and with silver,
7 with gifts, with horses and with cattle, and other goods which have been presented with a vow, for the Hĕyḵal of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 at Yerushalayim.”
8 Then the chiefs of the families of Yahuḏah and of the tribe of Binyamin stood up; the kohenim also, and the Lĕwites and all those whose heart 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had moved to go up and to build a House for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 at Yerushalayim.
9 And those who dwelt round about them helped them in all matters with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many gifts of a great number whose hearts were stirred up to do so.
10 Sovereign Koresh also brought out the qodesh vessels, which Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar had carried away from Yerushalayim, and had put up in his temple of idols.
11 Now when Koresh sovereign of Paras had brought them out, he delivered them to Mithredath his treasurer;
12 And by him they were delivered to Shĕshbatstsar the governor of Yahuḏah.
13 And this was the number of them: one thousand gold cups, and one thousand of silver, twenty nine silver fire holders, thirty bowls of gold, and two thousand four hundred and ten of silver, and one thousand other vessels.
14 So all the vessels of gold and of silver which were carried away, were five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine.
15 These were brought back by Shĕshbatstsar, together with those in captivity, from Baḇel to Yerushalayim.
16 But in the time of Artaḥshashta sovereign of Paras Bishlam, and Mithreḏath, and Taḇe’ĕl, and Reḥum the governor, and Shimshai the scribe, with others that were in commission with them dwelling in Shomeron and other places, wrote to him against those who dwelt in Yahuḏah and Yerushalayim these following words:
17 To Sovereign Artaḥshashta our master, your servants – Reḥum the governor, and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their council and the judges that are in Koĕlĕ-Suria and Phoinikĕ.
18 Let it be known to our master the sovereign, that the Yahuḏim who came up from you to us, having come to Yerushalayim, that rebellious and wicked city, are building the marketplaces, and repairing the walls of it and laying the foundation of the Hĕyḵal.
19 Now if this city and its walls are built up again, they shall not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against sovereigns.
20 And because that which pertains to the Hĕyḵal are now in hand, we think it right not to neglect such a matter,
21 but to speak to our master the sovereign, to the intent that, if it be your pleasure, it may be sought out in the books of your fathers;
22 and you shall find in the annals which are written concerning these matters, and shall understand that this city was rebellious, troubling both sovereigns and cities;
23 and that the Yahuḏim were rebellious, and raised continuous wars; which is the very reason this city was made desolate.
24 Therefore we do now declare unto you, O master the sovereign, that if this city be built again, and its walls rebuilt, you shall no longer have passage into Koĕlĕ-Suria and Phoinikĕ.
25 Then the sovereign wrote back again to Reḥum the governor, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions, and dwellers in Shomeron and Suria and Phoinikĕ, after this manner:
26 I have read the letter which you have sent to me; therefore I commanded to make diligent search, and it has been found that this city was from the beginning exercising against sovereigns;
27 And the men within were given to rebellion and fighting, and that mighty and harsh sovereigns were in Yerushalayim, who reigned and exacted tributes in Koĕlĕ-Suria and Phoinikĕ.
28 Now therefore I have commanded to prevent those men from building the city, and take heed that there be no more done in it;
29 and that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of sovereigns.
30 Then when the letter from Sovereign Artaḥshashta had been read, Reḥum and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their companions hurried to Yerushalayim with a troop of horsemen, and a crowd of people in battle array began to hinder the builders; and the building of the Hĕyḵal in Yerushalayim ceased until the second year of the reign of Dareyawesh sovereign of Paras.